Comedy Central debuts “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” (10:30 p.m., TV-14). Said to be semi-autobiographical, this broad, goofy take on life in the Flushing neighborhood, home to the New York Mets and a polyglot Asian and ethnic community, has not been made available for review.
Snippets shared by Comedy Central reveal a familiar take on the unemployed 20-something with grandiose dreams and zero work ethic. The girls on “Broad City” appear to be Horatio Alger types compared to Nora.
Lori Tan Chinn plays Nora’s grandmother, a woman who can play a reticent old lady when it is convenient to her, then turn suddenly into a vicious video game competitor. Nora’s father is played by BD Wong.
Born Nora Lum, Awkwafina has appeared in films including “Ocean’s 8,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Jumanji: The Next Level.” She starred in the 2019 comedy-drama “The Farewell,” and received a Golden Globe for her performance.
It’s not unheard of for actors and actresses to migrate from throwaway comedies to “prestige” projects that win them Golden Globes and Oscars. Jamie Foxx and Mo’Nique were in comedies on the WB and UPN before receiving Academy Awards for “Ray” and “Precious,” respectively.
This series was in the works before Awkwafina’s status changed to make her the first Asian American to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress. She also bucks an industry trend by going from an award-winning role to a silly project. Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”) guest stars and directs.
— Survivors recount harrowing tales of close encounters with dangerous predators including grizzlies, crocodiles, a Brahma bull and deadly raccoons on “I Was Prey: Under Attack” (8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Animal Planet, TV-PG).
— Scientists and medical professionals working to prevent influenza and other killers are profiled in the documentary miniseries “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak,” streaming on Netflix.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A school bus crash fills the wards on “Chicago Med” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— A New York fireman (Rob Lowe) with links to 9/11 tries to rebuild a devastated Austin firehouse on a two-hour chance for viewers to catch up with the spin-off series “9-1-1: Lone Star” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— Ewan MacGregor narrates “Wild Way of the Vikings” on “Nature” (8 p.m., PBS, r, TV-G, check local listings), a look at Norse explorers who arrived in North America in the 11th century.
— Preppies go on a false alarm spree on “Chicago Fire” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, r, check local listings) makes use of imagery provided by the Cassini spacecraft to offer unprecedented glimpses at Saturn, her rings and unique conditions on its moon Enceladus.
— Dirty cops steal and deal drugs from the evidence vault on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Dex befriends the owner of a gentleman’s club on “Stumptown” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— Demolition experts do their thing on “The Explosion Show” (10 p.m., Science, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
— A family of four is set upon by violent intruders who turn out to have a disturbing resemblance to their victims in the 2019 horror movie “Us” (7:35 p.m., HBO Signature), directed by Jordan Peele and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker. Writing in the New Yorker, Richard Brody criticized the “fossilized” mindset that kept this film from any Oscar nominations.
SERIES NOTES
A CEO searches for weak links in his franchised chain on “Undercover Boss” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Geoff’s big secret on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14) … Betty studies the history of a gridiron rivalry on “Riverdale” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Dress codes on “Schooled” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
A day off is anything but relaxing on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … An old neighbor’s big news on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … A new case dredges up paternal resentments on “Nancy Drew” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Something catching on “Single Parents” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Family ties get complicated on “S.W.A.T.” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Steve Buscemi appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Halsey, Leslie Jones and Claire Saffitz on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Terry Crews, Philip Rucker, Carol Leonnig and Adam Marcello visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC).
