What’s Worth Watching: ‘Roots’, ‘America’s Got Talent’, ‘Maya & Marty’ and more for Tuesday, May 31

Matt Roush May 31, 2016, 3:00 am

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 100^th 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.

ABC

Miniseries

1977

TVPG

Miniseries

Historical drama

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CyanPumpkin
May 31, 2016
I really hope I like Maya and Marty, as I'm a big fan of both. And I did love The Carol Burnett Show back in the day, and am loving the Carol Burnett and Friends skit show on MeTV, which are skits from the show that are cobbled together in half-hour episodes.
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  CyanCoathanger
  May 31, 2016
  PBS has longer Burnett skit shows coming up later this week here. Check your listings to see if your local station is running them too.
  
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  CyanPumpkin
  May 31, 2016
  Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be sure to check it out.
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RedButton
May 31, 2016
I certainly won't be desperate to hear Simon Cowell's remarks on AGT. I don't care for his caustic style and if that's what he brings to AGT, I won't watch it. Yes, Howard Stern could be critical, but at least he wasn't rude and demeaning in his commentary unless the act was a complete farce. I didn't always agree with Stern, but I generally respected his opinion. I have no respect for Cowell. The only thing I can say positive about Cowell is that at least he's not Piers Morgan.
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CyanCoathanger
May 31, 2016
I just finished watching this year's Britain's Got Talent with Cowell, and although he still speaks his mind, he's a lot more fun than he used to be. He actually voted to keep one act with someone in a giant polar bear suit and another with a huge dancing rubber dinosaur not to mention hitting his golden buzzer for a group of dancing Star Wars Stormtroopers! Maybe having a kid has mellowed him.