Ellen returns to host Oscars
Don’t miss
“THE 86TH ACADEMY AWARDS”: Don’t expect any songs about female breasts as Ellen DeGeneres returns to host Hollywood’s big bash. She’s sure to be more of a soothing presence than last year’s naughty-minded emcee, Seth MacFarlane. As for the competition, “Gravity,” “12 Years a Slave” and “American Hustle” are the leading contenders in a tight Best Picture race. Our hope? To make it through the night without any gasbag acceptance speeches by production-design types and sound-mixing guys. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC.
Other bets
SUNDAY: If you haven’t been watching “True Detective,” you’re missing some astonishing television. The crime drama nears its conclusion as Hart and Cohle (Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey) set aside their differences to investigate new leads in the troubling case they worked years ago. 9 p.m., HBO.
MONDAY: Wipe that smile off your face, Juan Pablo. It’s time for “The Bachelor: The Women Tell All” edition and we don’t expect the conversation to be all that rosy. 8 p.m., ABC.
MONDAY: Hide the silverware! The “Psycho” prequel, “Bates Motel,” returns for another season of shivery thrills. The opener airs right before the debut of “Those Who Kill,” a crime drama starring Chloë Sevigny (“Big Love”) as a Pittsburgh homicide detective. 9 p.m., A&E.
TUESDAY: Bill Paxton (“Big Love”) gets a chance to show off his action chops as he joins “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” in a recurring role. He plays agent John Garrett, who brings some “attitude and cigar-smoking swagger.” 8 p.m., ABC.
WEDNESDAY: The new reality series “Bring It!” takes viewers into the elite world of highly competitive hop-hop dance, where every pump, thrust and high kick apparently is very significant. 10 p.m., Lifetime.
THURSDAY: “Suits” is finally back with some fresh episodes and, yes, that’s Olympic swim sensation Michael Phelps dropping by in a cameo role. Seems that Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Dana (Abigail Spencer) are determined to sign the star athlete as a client. 9 p.m., USA.
THURSDAY: “Scrubs” meets “Rescue Me” in the new sitcom “Sirens.” Produced by Denis Leary, it follows three emergency medical technicians who are aces when it comes to the job, but can’t seem to get their personal lives together. 10 p.m., USA.
FRIDAY: On “Grimm,” a horrible new predator creeps into Portland and it’s targeting a young expectant couple who are close friends with Wu (Reggie Lee). Funny how this stuff never happens on “Portlandia.” 9 p.m., NBC.
SATURDAY: Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood star in “The Trip to Bountiful.” It’s a TV adaptation of the Broadway revival hit about an elderly woman (Tyson) who dreams about returning to the town where she was raised and defiantly heads out on a bus trip to make it happen. 8 p.m., Lifetime.