TV picks for March 22: 'Sunset Boulevard,' 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' 'Station 19'

March 21, 2018 at 8:14PM
Jaina Lee Ortiz, left, and Ellen Pompeo in the premiere of "Station 19."
Jaina Lee Ortiz, left, and Ellen Pompeo in the premiere of “Station 19.” (ABC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Cream of the crop

If you were trying to impress someone with the power of American film, you could do a lot worse than starting with this mind-blowing marathon that kicks off with "Sunset Boulevard," followed, in order, by "Gone With the Wind," "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane." Wow.

7 p.m., TCM

It's all in the name

If there was a contest for best stage names, the contestants on a new season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" would win hands down. Strolling the runway this year are Dusty May Bottoms, Kalorie Karbashian and Miz Cracker. Someone who goes by the name of Christina Aguilera joins the judges table for the season premiere.

7 p.m., VH1

False alarm

If you think the title for this "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff is uninspiring, wait until you actually watch "Station 19." Set in a Seattle firehouse, the new series burns brightly during rescue scenes, but the snuggling and office politics back at the station fail to ignite. The only true heroes in the first episode are "Grey's" Ellen Pompeo and Chandra Wilson, whose cameos are clearly just a favor to executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

8 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5


Gloria Swanson (at left) and William Holden star in the Billy Wilder movie classic SUNSET BOULEVARD.
Clockwise from top left: “Sunset Boulevard,” “Gone With the Wind,” “Casablanca” and “Citizen Kane.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
gone with the wind
gone with the wind (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Humphrey Bogart (at left) and Ingrid Bergman (right) are shown in the 1943 movie classic "Casablanca." Handout file photo. ORG XMIT: MIN2013012814150035 ORG XMIT: MIN1301281422281803
Humphrey Bogart (at left) and Ingrid Bergman (right) are shown in the 1943 movie classic "Casablanca." Handout file photo. ORG XMIT: MIN2013012814150035 ORG XMIT: MIN1301281422281803 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
orson welles in citizen kane
orson welles in citizen kane (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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