Does ‘Fahrenheit’ resonate in digital world?
Does “Fahrenheit 451” (8 p.m. today, HBO, TV-14) still matter in a post-print world? Does the title even make sense? While the original Ray Bradbury novel was named after the temperature at which paper ignites, the futuristic firemen of this HBO production have to take on a world of digital downloads and internet connections.
The sight of Guy Montag (Michael B. Jordan) and his superior, Capt. Beatty (Michael Shannon), dousing desktop computers and servers with gasoline and setting them ablaze just doesn’t quite seem the same as the literary conflagrations in the 1966 Francois Truffaut adaptation.
As in that film, Montag is bewitched by a literary beauty, Clarisse, a sphinxlike woman of few words. Portrayed here by Sofia Boutella, Clarisse inspires him to resist the system and join the bookish underground.
This version of “Fahrenheit 451” emphasizes the visuals and evokes memories of “Blade Runner” with a shared web experience called “The Nine” that’s projected on glass skyscrapers in dazzling fashion. The film hedges its dystopian bets, blaming a vague civil war for inspiring a crackdown on any books or ideas that disturb collective societal happiness.
This totalitarian vision seems more like political correctness run amok than a traditional dictatorship. Like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” this movie was in production for some time before the election of 2016. But that won’t stop some from projecting current concerns about authoritarianism and anti-intellectualism onto this adaptation.
MUSICAL NOTES
Networks strike a musical note as “American Idol” (8 p.m. Sunday, ABC, TV-PG) airs its final performances on its first season on ABC. Also, NBC will be airing the Billboard Music Awards (8 p.m.) for the first time. Kelly Clarkson, the first winner for “Idol” when it aired on Fox, will host the event.
SWAP AROUND
Network switching and swapping appears to be the theme of the month. Just as ABC picked up Fox’s cast-off, “Idol,” Fox has announced that it will relaunch “Last Man Standing” a year after ABC canceled the series.
Jake and Amy tie the knot on what was supposed to have been the series ender for “Brooklyn NineNine” (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox, TV-14). But the series will go on to live again on NBC.
These are hardly the first series dropped by one network and picked up by another. “JAG” was developed by NBC but later dropped and then picked up by CBS. It inspired “NCIS,” arguably the most popular prime-time drama of this century. The classic comedy “Taxi” aired four seasons on ABC and a fifth on NBC from 1978-83.
Two CBS dramas wrap up their seasons in true cliffhanger fashion Sunday. Sam (LL Cool J) takes a bullet during a firefight with the cartel on a two-hour helping of “NCIS: Los Angeles” (8 p.m., TV-14). Meanwhile, on “Madam Secretary” (10 p.m., TV-14) the fourth season concludes with the threat of a nuclear missile exchange. Both series will return next season.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
› “Royal Romance: The Marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle” (8 p.m., CBS) recaps the day’s events. Other royal recaps air on BBC America (8 p.m.) and CNN (7 p.m.) as well.
› The Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final (7:15 p.m., NBC).
› A flashback to Patrick’s upbringing explains much about his addictions on “Patrick Melrose” (9 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
› “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC) recalls the royal wedding.
› Tina Fey hosts the season finale of “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14), featuring musical guest Nicki Minaj.
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
› “Great Performances at the Met” (noon, PBS) presents “La Boheme,” produced by Franco Zeffirelli.
› Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (7 p.m., CBS, repeat): questions about Google’s dominance of internet search; inside the Theranos corporate scandal; allegations against a celebrity chef.
› Dire news about Mr. March rattles the family on the conclusion of the 2018 adaptation of “Little Women” on “Masterpiece” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG).
› Intrigue in Moscow on “Killing Eve” (8 p.m., BBC America, TV-14).
› “Carriers at War” (8 p.m. Smithsonian) is a fourpart series documenting life aboard the U.S. Navy’s supercarriers. Episode one features the nuclear-powered USS George H.W. Bush and its spring 2017 deployment in the Arabian Gulf.
› Eddy continues to grieve on “Vida” (8:30 p.m., Starz, TV-MA).
› “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (9 p.m., CNN, TV-PG) visits Armenia.
› Strange doings at the Stadium on “Fear the Walking Dead” (9 p.m., AMC, TV-MA).
› It’s a Shogun world on “Westworld” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
› Axe looks for money from a sketchy source on “Billions” (9 p.m., Showtime, TV-MA).
Kevin McDonough can be reached at kevin.tvguy@ gmail.com.