Deep Thoughts on CBS Comedies, A Real Cowboy Dynasty, Fishy ‘MasterChef Junior,’ More ‘Queens’ of Nature

Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer) is slowly coming to terms with the recent news of a surprise grandbaby on the way, courtesy of Marty (Marcel Spears) and Courtney (Skye Townsend). Cue the existential crisis as he contemplates getting older and the challenges of modern parenting. Next door, Dave’s (Max Greenfield) dad Lamar (Kevin Pollak) returns, hoping to spend more time with his grandson Grover (Hank Greenspan) despite the parents’ trepidations.

Deep thoughts also occupy Bob (Billy Gardell) and Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku) when Dottie (Christine Ebersole) finds a new place for her late husband Max’s urn: their living room. This triggers debates about death and the afterlife, while back at the MaxDot workplace, Dottie’s empty office creates competition between Douglas (Matt Jones) and Kofo (Anthony Okungbowa).

The streaming home of Yellowstone presents a reality-TV version of a contemporary Western family saga, set at the McBee Farm and Cattle operation in rural Missouri. Patriarch Steve McBee, newly divorced, is making his way through the local female population while the ranch’s future lies with a potential $100 million venture capital investment. Three of his four sons—the eldest, CEO Steven Jr., Jesse and Cole—are jockeying for succession should their dad decide to hang up his Stetson. The 10-episode first season is available for binge-watching on Peacock, with episodes airing weekly on USA.

Something fishy’s going on at the pint-sized cooking competition. Namely, a mystery seafood lurking in the show’s first mystery treasure chest challenge. The young cooks also have to use seaweed in their dish to win the round. Followed by So You Think You Can Dance (9/8c), with more auditions that are so expressive and emotional it can bring judges (and viewers) to tears.

Season Finale

The nature series devoted to the female of many species concludes with three back-to-back episodes and a behind-the-scenes special profiling the women filmmakers and conservationists who spent four years capturing these fascinating stories. The night begins with a sisterhood of elephants protecting a newborn, then moves to the Ethiopian mountains for vignettes involving a gelada monkey and Ethiopian wolf. The final episode, featuring a family of orca whales and a first-time mother bear, is followed at 11/10c by the “Behind the Queens” making-of special.

INSIDE MONDAY TV:

• Monster High (2 pm/1c, Nickelodeon): The teen monsters from Mattel return for a second season of animated shenanigans, as Clawdeen learns to balance her studies with her new status as Were-Ruler.
• Lakefront Empire (10/9c, HGTV): Real-estate agents based in Missouri’s booming Lake of the Ozarks show clients desirable lakefront properties and a dream cabin perfect for weekend getaways.
• Carpe DM (streaming on The Roku Channel): Mexican social-media star Juanpa Zurita visits the USA for once-in-a-lifetime adventures including bronco riding, climbing Mt. Rainier, flying on a trapeze and reaching 10Gs in a combat plane.
• The Governor (streaming on BritBox): New exclusives on the British-based streamer include two seasons of the prison drama starring Ozark’s Janet McTeer as the youngest woman in charge of an all-male prison, as well as all 22 seasons of Lynda LaPlante’s (Prime Suspect) Trial & Retribution. Binge away!