‘American Crime’ is back for a third season
“American Crime” (9 p.m., WATNTV Channel 24) enters its third season. As it has in the past, it offers interconnected stories with a specific theme, in this case, how Americans of all classes benefit and even prosper from a system of exploitation that goes on right under our noses.
We meet Luis Salazar (Benito Martinez), an undocumented worker who learns that his chance to prosper as a migrant farmer amounts to little more than slavery. On the other side of the divide, Cherry Jones plays the proud head of a family tomato farm squeezed by buyers like Wal-Mart whose demand for low prices all but force her to hire black market workers at illegal wages.
Parallel stories look at male and female teens turned into prostitutes by their boyfriends and relatives, and a social worker (Regina King) who tries to help them, perhaps at the expense of her own health.
“Crime” features important stories, compelling characters, solid performances and a definite point of view. For the third season in a row, I found myself thinking, “I really should watch this.”
And maybe that’s just the problem. In life, as in television, there is a difference between the things we should do and those we really want to. Particularly when there are simply so many choices.
I find “Crime” shrouded in a grim importance — even self-importance — that turns it into a bit of a chore. This is a serious show about serious topics. We get that. But there are no light moments here at all, no characters with weird tics or quirks to make them seem more human, three-dimensional and relatable.
There’s a difference between seriousness and humorlessness, and I’m afraid “American Crime” suffers from the latter.
» Not unlike The Rock, wrestler John Cena has turned himself into a go-to TV host and entertainment figure. Cena, who hosted “Saturday Night Live” in December, will be the master of ceremonies at the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards (7 p.m. Saturday, Nickelodeon).
The Kids Choice Awards also leads into Nickelodeon’s new series “Hunter Street” (8:30 p.m.), a live-action adventure about five foster children who band together to find their missing parents.
» Not necessarily for the kids, the stand-up special “Jerrod Carmichael: 8” (9 p.m. Saturday, HBO) features the comedian and star of NBC’s “Carmichael Show” offering his off-center take on such subjects as Trump’s victory, climate change, supporting the troops, animal rights and being a good boyfriend.
Saturday’s other highlights
» After her soccer coach spurns her romantic overtures, a disturbed young woman sets out to destroy his girlfriend in the 2017 shocker “The Wrong Student” (7 p.m., Lifetime).
» Hostility between male sea lions calls for their separation and some seriously heavy lifting on “The Zoo” (9 p.m., Animal Planet).
» Scarlett Johansson hosts “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., WMC-TV Channel 5), featuring musical guest Lorde.
Sunday’s other highlights
» Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., WREG-TV Channel 3): profiles of twice-poisoned anti-Putin activist Vladimir Kara-Murza and former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi.
» “The Simpsons” (7 p.m., WHBQTV Channel 13) parodies ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary format with a tale of Bart’s basketball career.
» A delivery does not go as planned on “The Walking Dead” (8 p.m., AMC, TV-MA).
» Carrie and Saul make their case on “Homeland” (8 p.m., Showtime).
» A conspiracy seems plausible on “Elementary” (9 p.m., WREG-TV Channel 3).
Kevin McDonough can be reached at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.