ON TV ■ THE PORTER
BET+
New Series! This eight-part limited series is a coproduction of the CBC and BET+. Set in the early 1920s and inspired by real events, the drama follows train porters Junior Massey (Aml Ameen) and Zeke Garrett (Ronnie Rowe Jr.), and their friends and families, as a tragedy on the job sets them on starkly different paths to better lives — and on a direct collision course with each other. Mouna Traoré, Loren Lott, Olunike Adeliyi and Alfre Woodard also star.
HBO Max
New Series! This eight-episode true-crime drama explores the life of Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). Three episodes are available; subsequent new episodes are available Thursdays.
■ CLARK ■ THE STAIRCASE Netflix
New Series! This drama from Sweden stars Bill Skarsgård as Clark Olofsson, the notorious criminal whose actions gave rise to the expression “Stockholm syndrome.” Based on the truths and lies revealed in Olofsson’s autobiography, the series offers a fictional take on how he was able to make all of Sweden fall in love with him despite several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies.
■ THE PENTAVERATE Netflix
New Series! What if a secret society of five men, the Pentaverate, has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? In this sixepisode comedy, Canadian journalist Ken Scarborough (Mike Myers) finds himself on a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world in the process. Myers plays eight different characters in the series, which also stars Ken Jeong, Keeganmichael Key, Debi Mazar, Richard Mccabe, Neil Mullarkey, Lydia West and Jennifer Saunders. Jeremy Irons narrates.
■ STAR TREK: PICARD
Paramount+
Season Finale! This “Star Trek: The Next Generation” spinoff series led by Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role of Jean-luc Picard concludes its second season. The series will be back for a third and final season, in which Stewart will be joined by costars Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates Mcfadden, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner.
■ STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS
Paramount+
New Series! This newest entry in the “Star Trek” franchise is a spinoff of “Star Trek: Discovery,” itself a spinoff of “Star Trek: The Original Series.” Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck reprise the roles they originated during the second season to positive fan reaction as, respectively, Capt. Christopher Pike, Number One (Una Chin-riley, Pike’s second in command) and science officer Spock in this series that picks up after the events of Season 2. It follows the voyages of the starship Enterprise — on a mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before, as the famous intro narration of “TOS” described — in the decade before Capt. Kirk’s command of the ship. Speaking of James Tiberius Kirk, the character will appear in the second season of “Strange New Worlds,” which has already begun filming, and will be portrayed by Paul Wesley. Other characters familiar to fans of “TOS” regularly appearing in “Strange New Worlds” are Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and a young Cadet Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). Christina Chong portrays Enterprise
crew member La’an Noonien Singh. La’an is confirmed to be a relative of famous villain Khan Noonien Singh, who will pose a grave threat to Kirk and crew in the future, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamics play out here.
■ GIRLS5EVA Peacock
Season Premiere! The comedy about a one-hit-wonder ’90s girl group that reunites to give their dreams another shot is back for Season 2. Three episodes are available, with subsequent new episodes available Thursdays.
■ STATION 19: “DEATH AND THE MAIDEN”
ABC, 8 p.m.
Andy’s fate remains unknown as a trial date is set. Vic and Sullivan are approached by an unexpected guest, and the crew responds to a row of town houses on fire.
■ MASTERCHEF JUNIOR EDITION: “JALAPEÑO BUSINESS”
FOX, 8 p.m.
The nine remaining junior chefs create a spicy, fried finger-food favorite.
■ LAW & ORDER: “SEVERANCE”
NBC, 8 p.m.
When the CFO of a Fortune 500 company is found strangled in her home, Bernard (Anthony Anderson) and Cosgrove (Jeffrey Donovan) work to connect multiple dead ends to find her killer. The prosecution is faced with an uphill battle as Mccoy (Sam Waterston) and Price (Hugh Dancy) butt heads over a choice that could cost them the case.
■ THIS OLD HOUSE: “SARATOGA SPRINGS: NEW VISION”
PBS, 8 p.m.
Working with a tight budget, the owners of the house in Saratoga Springs take on demo and backyard preparations; the architect shares his vision for the project; a local docent shares the history of the area’s springs; and the builder installs an air scrubber system.
■ STAR OF THE MONTH: ANNA MAY WONG
TCM, 8 p.m.
Catch a Classic! For those who are unaware of actress Wong Liu Tsong — better known as Anna May Wong — the next few months will offer some opportunities to discover this pioneer of Hollywood’s early era who is regarded as the first Chineseamerican movie star. Later this year, Wong will round out 2022’s inaugural group of women spotlighted in the U.S. Mint’s four-year American Woman Quarters Program (this also makes Wong the first Asian-american to appear on U.S. currency). More immediately, enjoy the star’s charismatic acting when she is honored by Turner Classic Movies each Thursday night in May — which is Asian-american and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — with lineups featuring a number of her films. The titles primarily include her work in the silent and early sound eras. Those were particularly tough times for Asian-american actors in Hollywood, who often faced being typecast in stereotypical supporting roles and losing out on lead roles entirely due to the practice of “yellowface,” where white actors would portray Asian characters, often as a caricature. Despite such hurdles and frustrations throughout her career, Wong was able to achieve international stardom as an actress and a fashion icon, and you can see why this month on TCM beginning with this lineup, which kicks off with “The Toll of the Sea” (1922). A variation of the “Madame Butterfly” tale set in China instead of Japan, this silent
film is one of the earliest Hollywood productions shot in color and features Wong in her first leading role, albeit one that placed her in one of the limited character stereotypes Hollywood offered Asian American actresses at that time, that of a naive, self-sacrificing young woman. Also airing tonight are two silent films Wong made in 1927: “Mr. Wu,” a drama featuring her in one of the supporting roles she was often relegated to as a result of Hollywood’s censorship against depicting mixed-race couples onscreen; and “Old San Francisco,” with Wong, in a supporting role as a gangster’s right-hand woman, stepping into another of Hollywood’s Asian female character stereotypes: the cunning and deceitful “dragon lady.” Airing in between “The Toll of the Sea” and “Mr. Wu” is the TCM premiere of a 2019 documentary called “Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood.” The hourlong production expands its focus beyond just Wong to take a look at Hollywood’s treatment of Asian-americans onscreen and off from World War II through the Cold War. Shirley J. Lim, an associate professor in the history department of Stony Brook University and author of the 2019 book “Anna May Wong: Performing the Modern,” will cohost the titles with TCM’S Ben Mankiewicz.
■ GREY’S ANATOMY: “SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO”
ABC, 9 p.m.
Bailey faces an unhappy Catherine who is facing audits for several of her Foundation hospitals.
■ CALL ME KAT
FOX, 9 p.m.
Season Finale! Kat (Mayim Bialik) tries to keep her anxiety under control while coming up with a plan to save the café.
■ WINDY CITY REHAB: “CHANGE OF SCENERY”
HGTV, 9 p.m.
Alison Victoria joins forces with a husband-and-wife Realtor team to restore a three-bedroom Spanish Revival in California’s Hollywood Hills.
■ LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: “DID YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?”
NBC, 9 p.m.
When a student’s school reports a girl missing, the squad must track down a trusted family friend for answers. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) gets a Mother’s Day surprise.
■ HOW WE ROLL: “THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING”
CBS, 9:30 p.m.
Tom (Pete Holmes) asks Archie (Chi Mcbride) to listen to a podcast about positivity in order to change his coaching style.
■ WELCOME TO FLATCH: “DINNER, DRESSES AND DUMPS”
FOX, 9:30 p.m.
Kelly (Holmes) plans a special dinner for when her father (guest star Jason Macdonald) comes home.
■ LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME: “LOST ONE”
NBC, 10 p.m.
When a 9-year-old girl is kidnapped in connection with the Brotherhood, Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and the task force must work together with Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the SVU to track down the culprits before it’s too late.
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