What’s Worth Watching: ‘Roots’, ‘America’s Got Talent’, ‘Maya & Marty’ and more for Tuesday, May 31
Roots (9/8c, History, Lifetime, A&E, LMN): Though Kunta Kinte’s (Malachi Kirby) dreams of freedom are brutally cut short, his desire to start a family and thus preserve his name and legacy is realized with marriage to the proud Belle (Emayatzy Corinealdi) and the birth of their daughter, Kizzy (played as an adult by Anika Noni Rose). Several time jumps speed along the compelling narrative in the miniseries’ second chapter.
America’s Got Talent (8/7c, NBC): American Idol was never the same once Simon Cowell left. Imagine the boost he’ll give to summer’s most popular talent competition, joining the judges’ table on a show where he’s already creator and executive producer. Fellow judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Mel B return for the auditions, but it’s Simon’s remarks after hitting the buzzer that viewers will be most desperate to hear.
Maya & Marty (10/9c, NBC): America’s Got Talent should provide a powerful lead-in to NBC’s latest attempt to revive the comedy-variety genre. Produced by Saturday Night Live impresario Lorne Michaels, Maya & Marty is headlined by flamboyant SNL veterans Maya Rudolph and Martin Short, who are joined by versatile current SNL cast member Kenan Thompson and an opening-night guest list that includes Tom Hanks, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Larry David (no doubt channeling Bernie Sanders). Anyone harboring fond memories of classics like The Carol Burnett Show will want this to succeed.
Person of Interest (10/9c, CBS): Against the odds, this underappreciated underdog of a crackerjack cyber-thriller reaches its 100th episode—and it sounds like a great one, and certainly pivotal, in which Finch’s (Michael Emerson) cover is blown, triggering harrowing confrontations with Samaritan’s army of relentless thugs. Hard to believe there are only three more episodes to go.
