86th Annual Academy Awards
Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ABC
After what seems like a year of campaigning, there is no clear frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. “Gravity” has it on technique and box office. “12 Years a Slave” has it on, well, gravitas. Will the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences use this ceremony to make a statement about a singular film or bow to popular taste, as it did last year with “Argo”? The precursor acting awards have favored Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”), Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Jared Leto for the same film and Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”), but there is still the chance for an upset in at least of three of these categories. So who knows what will happen? With Ellen DeGeneres as the host, audience members will not fidget over the sexist jokes Seth MacFarlane made last year; she’s about as vanilla as they come. The annual “stars we lost this year” film package is bound to be a downer, with the recent drug death of Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The Trip to Bountiful
Saturday, 8 p.m., Lifetime
We should all live so long and be as talented as Cicely Tyson. Last year, she won a Tony Award for her moving performance in Horton Foote’s play “The Trip to Bountiful.” Presented on television once before with Lillian Gish, the play offers a foolproof role for an actress of certain age; Geraldine Page won an Oscar in the same part, in 1987. The woman at the center of the story is Carrie Watts, who begrudgingly lives with her underachieving son, Ludie (Blair Underwood, left), and her high-steppin’ daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae (Vanessa Williams), who is happy to cash Carrie’s monthly government check for her “share” of the rent. Carrie hides her check in her dress and hightails it out of the apartment to take a memorable bus trip back home to Bountful, with her son and overheated daughter-in-law in begrudging pursuit.
The Blacklist
Monday, 10 p.m., NBC
When a prominent prosecutor is found after being missing for 12 years Red (James Spader) believes that this is the work of Ruth Kipling (Dianne Wiest) also known as “The Judge.” Only a myth, The Judge runs an underground criminal appeals process in which those who have wrongly imprisoned and punished others are judged and punished themselves. Meanwhile, Red also investigates the woman who tempts Tom (Ryan Eggold) while in Orlando at a teacher’s conference. Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, and Harry Lennix co-star.
The Goldbergs
Tuesday, 9 p.m., ABC
Adam (Sean Giambrone) is obsessed with “The Goonies” and when his grandma’s jewelry goes missing, he bands together Erica (Hayley Orrantia), Barry (Troy Gentile) Emmy (Stephanie Katherine Grant), Dana (Natalie Alyn Lind) and Chad (Jacob Hopkins), to look for it.
The Americans
Wednesday, 10 p.m. FX
The shocking murders at the amusement park hotel have thrown Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) for a loop. They always thought their kids would be safe from their spying activities, but now they know that isn’t the case. Philip tries to find out what went wrong, while Elizabeth sticks close to home. Meanwhile, a walk-in arrives at the Rezidentura, providing both Nina (Annet Mahendru) and Stan (Noah Emmerich) with unique opportunities.
Scandal
Thursday, 10 p.m., ABC
Old feelings and jealousies arise at a presidential event causing Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) to face a harsh reality. Meanwhile, Quinn (Katie Lowes) tries to prove herself to B613, and Leo Bergen sets up a meeting between Sally (Kate Burton) and an old friend. Co-starring Kerry Washington.