Sunday TV: 'Race,' 'Downton,' 'Wife'
- The Emmy-winning %27Amazing Race%27 returns %28CBS%2C 8 ET/PT%29
- Nat Geo adapts Bill O%27Reilly%27 %27Killing Lincoln%27 %288 ET/PT%29
- %27Downton Abbey%27 ends its short season %28PBS%2C 9 ET/PT%29
Amazing Race |CBS, Sunday, 8 ET/PT
Emmy voters' favorite reality series — and with good reason — returns for another run. And never has a TV term been more appropriate.
The Simpsons |Fox, Sunday, 8 ET/PT
It's two-treats-in-one tonight for Simpsons fans. First, of course, you get a regular outing of this long-running cartoon, as a shaving experiment gives Milhouse a chance to impersonate his father — and introduces Bart and Milhouse to the world of adults. That's followed by a special broadcast of The Simpsons' Oscar-nominated short film Maggie Simpson in: The Longest Daycare. And yes, my bet is, when The Simpsons started, no one ever imagined we'd be writing about a Simpsons Oscar-nominated short — or that, 23 years later, we'd still be writing about The Simpsons at all.
Killing Lincoln |National Geographic, Sunday, 8 ET/PT
National Geographic premieres its first original scripted project with this two-hour adaptation of Bill O'Reilly's book, hosted and narrated by Tom Hanks and starring Billy Campbell, Geraldine Hughes and Jesse Johnson. Despite its scripted billing, Lincoln plays less like a "docudrama" than it does a documentary with reenactments (Hanks seems to get more airtime than any of the historical figures). But the reenactments are very well cast and performed, and despite its abuse of a ticking-clock countdown, the film conveys its information in entertaining fashion.
Downton Abbey |PBS, Sunday, 9 ET/PT, times may vary
This fabulous British drama concludes tonight with a finale that may leave some wishing it had just wrapped up last week. Oh, it's an excellent episode and one no fan will want to miss, seeing as it sets up the series for next season. But it does bring change — and like the Dowager Countess, I'm no great fan of Abbey change.
The Good Wife |CBS, Sunday, 9 ET/PT
Anyone who thinks TV's creative energy is confined to cable or PBS probably hasn't been watching The Good Wife lately. Tonight's episode, which once again delves into the law firm's politics, boasts both a strong plot and rare-for-network-drama willingness to explore the moral ambiguities of its heroine's behavior. Plus in addition to the already-terrific ensemble, you get a guest cast that's almost an embarrassment of riches, featuring such stars as Carrie Preston, T.R. Knight, Hamish Linklater, Kyle MacLachlan and Colm Feore. Sunday is an incredibly busy night — but Monday isn't, so this is a good evening to store some future viewing pleasure on your DVR.
