TV's Best Bets
Wednesday, Aug. 17
“Abbott Elementary,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Arriving at mid-season, “Abbott” has soared. It swept the Television Critics Association awards — program of the year, plus best new show, comedy and comedy individual (Quinta Brunson); it also has seven Emmy nominations, including best comedy. Now ABC celebrates with four reruns, starting with the pilot. At 8:30, Janine (Brunson) tries to know her colleagues better. Then come a step-dance class and “desking.”
“MasterChef,” 8 and 9 p.m., Fox. “So You Think You Can Dance” has ended its season, so Gordon Ramsay gets the whole night. Last week’s episode (rerunning at 8 p.m. Thursday) trimmed the field to 12 home chefs. Now they pick partners and try items from Ramsay’s restaurants. In the second hour, they work with GrubHub to elevate a take-out meal. Then the show will have its top 10.
“Password,” 9 p.m., NBC. After the “America’s Got Talent” results show at 8, we get some fun when an exuberant Martin Short faces Jimmy Fallon. The first half-hour includes two people who won on “Password” decades ago. One played with the master (Betty White), whose husband (Alan Ludden) was hosting.
“Black Panther” (2018), 8-11 p.m., FX. Here’s a fresh chance to see this richly crafted epic, with the late Chadwick Boseman as a young ruler. The final battle scene is way too prolonged (following the current custom), but the rest is splendid, getting us ready for “Wakanda Forever,” arriving Nov. 11.
More movies. There are some popular recent ones, including “Despicable Me” (2010), at 7 p.m. on Nickelodeon and “The Hangover” (2009), at 8 on FX. But the real pleasure could be when the Spencer Tracy marathon on Turner Classic Movies peaks with two comedies putting Tracy with Katharine Hepburn — “Adam’s Rib” (1949) at 8 p.m. ET and “Pat and Mike” (1952) at 10.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Wednesday TV's Best Bets
