Top TV picks for May 6-8: 'The Good Wife' finale, 'The American Nurse,' 'Grace and Frankie,' 'Dear Mama'

May 5, 2016 at 4:32PM
Karen Ballard/Netflix Lily Tomlin,left, and Jane Fonda in the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie."
Lily Tomlin, left, and Jane Fonda star in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Veterans day

The cast of "Grace and Frankie" — Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston — may not be doing their most demanding work in this second season (all 13 episodes are now available). But it's nice to see them on the diamond, even if they're just playing Wiffle ball. Driving the action in the first few installments: life-threatening surgery, an impromptu wedding and a gnawing desire to steal a pair of salt shakers from an ex-lover's possessions.

Now streaming on Netflix

Angels of mercy

Those who forgot to send a bouquet of flowers to their local hospital in honor of National Nurses Day can atone for their transgression by watching "The American Nurse," a documentary that explores a number of pressing social issues through the eyes of five caregivers, including Wisconsin-based nun Sister Stephen.

8 p.m. Friday, Discovery Life

Parental guidance

Queen Latifah, Willow Smith, Alicia Keys and Anthony Anderson are among the stars who wriggled out of Mother's Day brunch by participating in "Dear Mama." The tribute to their No. 1 fan was taped this week at St. Bart's Church in New York. Rising star Alessia Cara performs her new single, "Wild Things," which, for the sake of mom, we hope has nothing to do with the 1998 Denise Richards-Neve Campbell movie.

8 p.m. Sunday, VH1

Case closed

"The Good Wife" has long been network TV's most compelling show, thanks to a power struggle more deeply addictive than the one being drawn out on "Game of Thrones." Will Alicia trade in a corner office for true love in this weekend's series finale? Can network TV ever again routinely offer up such rich, grown-up drama? Both questions will be tackled in this Sunday's Variety section.

8 p.m. Sunday, WCCO, Ch. 4

Neal Justin

Alessia Cara arrives at the Radio Disney Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, April 30, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Cara (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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