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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

TV Notes: ‘Game of Thrones’ kicks off second season

Chuck Barney Contra Costa Times

Don’t miss

“GAME OF THRONES” – The electrifying adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series returns for a second season and war is raging all over the land of Westeros. The Iron Throne, currently held by evil (and psychotic) teen Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), is about to come under assault on many fronts. Among those jockeying for power is Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), who has three freshly hatched dragons at her disposal. But there are also some new faces in the mix, including a mysterious redheaded sorceress named Melisandre (Carice van Houten). It all adds up to a lot of chaos, turmoil, bloodshed and bitter backstabbing. We couldn’t be more pleased. Game on. 9 p.m. today, HBO.

Other Bets

TODAY: Blake Shelton takes a break from his duties on “The Voice” to co-host “The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards,” along with Reba McEntire. The show’s roster of performers includes Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, The Band Perry and Toby Keith. 8 p.m., CBS.

TODAY: Expect more red herrings, plenty of shady shenanigans and lots and lots of rain as “The Killing” returns for its second season. But will the show’s frustrated fans be back? 8 p.m., AMC.

TODAY: “Masterpiece Classic” celebrates the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth with a new adaptation of “Great Expectations.” You might hardly recognize Gillian Anderson (“The X Files”), who shines in the prize role of the wealthy – and mentally unhinged – spinster, Miss Havisham. 8 p.m., KSPS/9 p.m. KCDT.

MONDAY: Hoop dreams are on the line tonight as the lone survivors of March Madness face off in the finals of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg call all the action. 6 p.m., CBS.

MONDAY: “Bones” is back on a new night and with a big episode: Brennan (Emily Deschanel) goes into labor while on the road and Booth (David Boreanaz) is forced to play doctor, delivering their daughter in a stable. Seriously. 8 p.m., Fox.

TUESDAY: On “The Biggest Loser,” the contestants undergo major makeovers before traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet one of the nation’s most prominent fitness advocates: first lady Michelle Obama. 8 p.m., NBC.

WEDNESDAY: It began with a basketball grudge match between two half-brothers who eventually bonded. Now, nine seasons, 187 episodes and countless heart-tugging moments later, “One Tree Hill” bids farewell with a two-hour series finale. Have the tissues handy. 8 p.m., The CW.

WEDNESDAY: “Best Friends Forever” is a new sitcom featuring Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham as longtime pals who live on opposite sides of the country. That is, until one is served with divorce papers, falls into a funk and moves in with the other. 8:30 p.m., NBC.

THURSDAY: Whoopi Goldberg narrates the fascinating documentary “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey.” It’s an “Independent Lens” offering that provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the magic that goes into making “Sesame Street,” and chronicles the life of puppeteer Kevin Clash, the man behind the furry red creature. 10 p.m., PBS.

THURSDAY: Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”; “Private Practice”) just might be the busiest producer in prime time. Tonight she launches another soapy drama called “Scandal.” It stars Olivia Pope as the head of a Washington, D.C., crisis-management firm that counts the president among its clients. 10:01 p.m., ABC.

FRIDAY: “Magic City,” a lush drama about a luxury hotel in 1959 Miami, is teeming with beautiful people and beautiful scenery. But with the mob stepping in, it’s about to get ugly. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Olga Kurylenko head the cast. 10 p.m., Starz.

SATURDAY: In what has become an Easter programming tradition, Cecil B. DeMille’s grandiose epic, “The Ten Commandments,” returns to the screen, giving us another chance to watch Charlton Heston wander through the desert and turn the Red Sea into his personal express aisle. 7 p.m., ABC.