We’ve seen peak TV come and go. I think we’ve entered an era of “weak TV.” Sometimes I blame the pandemic, other times the endless and indulgent nature of podcast storytelling.
Then there’s Netflix’s recent launch “Worn Stories.” In this show, folks from all walks of life discuss their favorite piece of clothing and the emotional, spiritual or personal “meaning” they invested in these garments.
Oddly enough, “Worn” kicks off at a nudist colony in Kissimmee, Florida, where a retired couple from Wisconsin dairy farm country have invested great meaning in their birthday suits. In some ways, this husband and wife reminded me of characters in “Nomadland,” a film about rootless people searching for community and belonging.
But it’s still a Florida nudist colony, so I just wanted to avert my gaze.
Other “Worn” subjects discuss the talismanic nature of their motorcycle jackets, their team uniforms or a yellow sweater somehow wrapped up in Buddhism. Or something.
This is hardly the first tale of garments endowed with special powers. The 1953 Technicolor blockbuster “The Robe” saw centurion Richard Burton haunted by a red blanket that once cloaked the crucified Christ. And then there’s Linus’ blanket. Or a whole episode of “Seinfeld” about his favorite T-shirt, “Golden Boy.” And the “Puffy Shirt.” In each, clothes offered material for a bigger story. Something with a beginning, a middle and an end.
The stories and storytellers in “Worn Stories” are so random and purposefully self-important that they’re almost amusing. Almost. None dare call them boring.
Seriously, if you were at a cocktail party and somebody regaled you with a long story about their favorite socks, would you listen or go freshen your drink? Or flee via the fire escape?
Too many of us would kill for a cocktail party right now. Or any party. And a chance to get away from the small-bore nature of COVID-era weak TV, a genre where people spin legends from their laundry baskets.
— Chris Pine stars in the 2014 thriller “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” (8 p.m., BBC America), based on a character created by novelist Tom Clancy. Elsewhere, Ryan has been played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck and John Krasinski.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— The Phillies host the Mets in Major League Baseball (7 p.m., ESPN).
— Some watch “Live From the Masters” (7 p.m., Golf) just for a glimpse of a glorious Georgia spring.
— Cain gets caught in traffic on “The Resident” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— The Spanish Civil War offers a new canvas as “Hemingway” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-14, check local listings) continues.
— Beastly attacks on “FBI” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— Family bonding on “This Is Us” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— The devil you know on “Prodigal Son” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— A drug deal goes south on “FBI: Most Wanted” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— Max targets bias on “New Amsterdam” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Exploring 21st-century African American society in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, “Soul of a Nation” (10 p.m., ABC) concludes.
CULT CHOICE
A tormented truant turns to crime in the 1959 French New Wave drama “The 400 Blows” (10 p.m., TCM, TV-14), directed by Francois Truffaut.
SERIES NOTES
Foreign affairs on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … An overconfident celebrity believes his biography is the stuff of sitcoms on “Young Rock” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Rebel Wilson hosts “Pooch Perfect” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … The gang seems stuck in 1998 on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … Mom visits and seems transformed on “Kenan” (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
Junior disregards sound advice on “black-ish” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Lena sets her limits on “Supergirl” (9 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … Alicia accessorizes on “mixed-ish” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Ronan Farrow and Brandi Carlile are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Pete Davidson, Gaten Matarazzo and Glass Animals on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Joel McHale, Yara Shahidi and Mark Harris visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r).
