Worth Watching: ‘Agatha Raisin’ Returns, a Twisted Family Reunion on ‘Prodigal Son,’ ‘Friends’ Marathon on TBS
A selective critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Agatha Raisin & the Deadly Dance (streaming on Acorn TV): The delightfully blithe spirit, created by the late M.C. Beaton, returns with three new movie-length comedy-mysteries. Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty) mugs charmingly as the former PR maven who’s now a full-fledged private eye, operating a detective agency in the bucolic Cotswolds. In her latest case, Agatha follows up on a death threat to a bride-to-be, only for the would-be assassin to turn up dead.
Prodigal Son (9/8c, Fox): The season’s most merrily twisted crime thriller scores again with the arrival of a so-called “Carousel Killer,” who’s got his sights set on the Whitly family: particularly a terrified Jessica (Bellamy Young), forced to follow diabolical instructions or another victim will be killed. While profiler Malcolm (Tom Payne) looks on, sister Ainsley (Halston Sage) is reluctantly pulled into the story with on-air TV interviews — including one with her deranged dad from jail, the notorious “Surgeon” Martin (Michael Sheen, enjoying himself immensely). It all builds to an impromptu and intense reunion of father (Martin), ex-wife (Jessica) and son (Malcolm) in the Surgeon’s cell. Good times!
Friends (10 am/9c, TBS): Still a hot commodity in its 25th-anniversary year, the iconic sitcom returns to TBS as its full-time home — having left Netflix in advance of its streaming launch on the forthcoming HBO Max later this spring. In a month-long marathon (through March 6), Friends will air in order from start to finish with episodes airing weekdays from 10 am/9c to 4 pm/3c. Taking a break is not an option.
Inside Monday TV: The syndicated Live with Kelly and Ryan (check local listings) airs its ninth annual “After Oscar Show” from L.A.’s Dolby Theatre, with the hosts appearing in a pre-taped homage to the nominated movies, recapping the big moments from the Oscar show and featuring the TV debut of Kesha’s new song, “Tonight.” Maria Menounos and Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness are on hand to talk red-carpet fashion… Bounce Celebrates Black History (8/7c, Bounce) is the channel’s overview of African-American history, with Queen Latifah, Common, Harry Belafonte and ambassador Andrew Young among the headliners… CBS’s All Rise (9/8c) ventures into politics when supervising Judge Benner (Marg Helgenberger) decides to run for Attorney General and asks Lola (Simone Missick) to look for anything that could cloud her campaign… Jack Black joins host Keegan Michael-Key for a music-inspired episode of National Geographic Channel’s Brain Games (9/8c), with experiments designed to show how music can affect our perceptions. Meghan Trainor stops by for a climactic jam session… No one craves the spotlight less than Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), better known as ABC’s The Good Doctor (10/9c), which could make things uncomfortable when he treats a social influencer.
