American Masters: Carole King
Friday, 9 p.m., PBS
Carole King has been on an amazing winning streak. “Beautiful,” the Broadway show based on her hits, won two Tonys. King received a Kennedy Center honor in December and was also the first woman to be awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. On Friday, PBS joins the parade, honoring the composer of “Up on the Roof” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” on its “American Masters” series. Doug McGrath, who appearꦕs on the show and also wrote the book for “Beautiful,” spoke to The Post about King’s legacy.
What’s the secret of King’s appeal?
As a performer, she deceives people into thinking she’s just like they are. That’s why they love her so much. She’s not a diva. She looks like someone you could talk to while picking up the mail at your mailbox. She has a preternatural gift for melody. Some of her best songs, like “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” and “A Natural Woman,” were written in one night [each]. They𒁃 are so full of feeling and a rich complexity that you would think would take a little longer.
Why did it take “American Masters” so long to catch up to her?
“Serious” people didn’t take pop music seriously. Everybody knew the Beatles🐭 were special. But most people don’t know that Carole was writing songs from the time she was 16. Her manner is so modest. When “Tapestry” won [Album of the Year] she wasn’t at the Grammys. She was at home with the kids.
When you met her, what was your first impression?
She had no trouble saying exactly how she felt. My idea for [“Beautiful”] was that these kids writing songs at the Brill Building were kicking out the old guard. She leaned across the table, took my hand and said, “That is so wrong. We loved those writers. We loved Cole Porter.🐷 It’s what we grew up on.” I thought, “You’re much more interesting than I expected.”
American Crime
Wednesday, 10 p.m., ABC
Taylor (Connor Jessup) continues to become emotionally strung-out as he tries to find a way to stop feeling like a victim. Anne’s (Lili Taylor) private medical records are anonymously posted online in an effort to shame her. Meanwhile, Leslie (Felic🌸ity Huffman) offers a generous settlement to Evy’s (Angelique Rivera) father in order to protect the school from litigation, and Eric (Joey Pollari) arranges for a hookup with a married man.
The Walking Dead
Sunday, 9 p.m., AMC
The second half of the season kicks off with an angry confrontation in which Darryl (Norman Reedus) shocks everyone. Michonne (Danai Gurira) comes to the rescue of a vulnerable friend, with unexpected results. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) achieves a new understanding tಌhat helps him go forward.
The People v. O.J. Simpson
Tuesday, 10 p.m., FX
O.J. Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) has been charged with the double murders of his ex-wife, Nicole, and Ron Goldman. Robert Shapiro (John Travolta) comes up with a provocative defense strategy: His client has been set up by the cops bec𝔉ause he is black. To which Simpson declares, “I’m not black. I’m O.J.” Shapiro has his work cut out for 🤡him when he tries to persuade O.J. to hire Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) to lure “downtown” jurors. Says Cochran to O.J., “They give me one black juror, I can get a hung jury. And you go home.”
TCM presents a marathon of classic Hollywood romances for Valentine’s Day:
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
12 p.m.
Tabloid reporters crash a society wedding in this sparkling comedy starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart. Classic line: “You’re too good for me, George. You’re a hundred times too good. And I’d make you most unhappy, most. That is, I’d do my best to.”
Sabrina (1954)
6 p.m.
Two wealthy brothers fall for the chauffeur’s daughter. Audrey Hepburn and William Holden (right) star with Humphrey Bogart. Classic line: “If you love her, take her. This is the 20th century.”
Casablanca (1942)
8 p.m.
An American saloon owner in North Africa is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are the lovers. Classic line: “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”
Now, Voyager (1942)
10 p.m.
A repressed spinster with caterpillar eyebrows is transformed into a swan by psychiatry and the company of a married man. Bette Davis, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains star. Classic line: “Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.”