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I’m a TV critic. It’s almost March. This part of the story writes itself: college basketball, shows back from hiatus, shows the networks were too chicken to put on in the fall.
OK, that’s about it. Let’s roll:
“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (12:35 p.m. weeknights beginning Monday, NBC). The “SNL” star will bring a nerdy, smart-aleck sensibility to the show; his house band, The Roots, brings a hip-hop sound to network TV.
“Harlem Heights” (10 p.m. Mondays beginning March 2, BET). This series follows the lives of black social climbers who don’t just roll in the usual MTV-VH1-BET worlds of commerce and entertainment but politics and culture as well.
“Saving Grace” (10 p.m. Mondays beginning March 2, TNT). Grace (Holly Hunter) has a new temporary partner, played by Christina Ricci, and a nifty new serial killer case.
“Reaper” (8 p.m. Tuesdays beginning March 3, CW). The nicest son of Satan you’ll ever meet, Sam (Bret Harrison) is still trying to figure out how to work Dad’s (Ray Wise) constant demands into his slacker lifestyle and win back his girlfriend Andi (Missy Peregrym).
“Ashes to Ashes” (9 p.m. Saturdays starting March 7, BBC America). The sequel to the Brit hit “Life on Mars” is even better than the original. It fast-forwards the action to 1981, introduces a new female lead in Keeley Hawes and marks a big advance in the show’s storytelling.
“Breaking Bad” (10 p.m. Sundays beginning March 8, AMC) Bryan Cranston’s Emmy-winning turn as a terminally ill chemistry teacher by day, meth kingpin by night isn’t to be missed.
“Castle” (10 p.m. Mondays starting March 9, ABC). Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”) stars as a crime novelist who, surprise, helps solve crimes.
“Chopping Block” (8 p.m. Wednesdays beginning March 11, NBC). The only question I have about this NBC restaurant competition — which will remind you of similar shows starring Gordon Ramsay but stars famed British chef Marco Pierre White instead — is why it isn’t airing on a real network. Like Bravo.
“Kings” (two-hour premiere airs 8 p.m. March 15, NBC). “Deadwood’s” Al Swearsalot, Ian McShane, stars in this modern-day retelling of the King David story, starting with the Goliath incident.
“Better off Ted” (8:30 p.m. Thursdays starting March 18, ABC) stars Jay Harrington as Ted, a model employee for a large corporation with some unsavory business practices he’s starting to question. Portia de Rossi costars as Veronica, his beautiful and ruthless boss with whom he’s previously had an affair.
March Madness starts March 19, and many CBS affiliates will once again feature extra games on their extra digital channels.