Good Company

SKIP “The Pitt” returned for its second season recently, and I realized I’d been anticipating its premiere the way one greets the impending arrival of old friends: excitement at seeing the characters again, curiosity about what they’ve been up to, wondering if we’ll be able to pick up with the same intimacy as before.That cozy familiarity with the characters on shows we love is one of the rewards of being a fan. When the real world feels hostile and unpredictable, there’s comfort in returning to a familiar cast, characters whose behavior is scripted by a team of writers.But what of the long-ended show that returns, zombie-like, from the dead? The critic Mike Hale recently issued his list of shows to watch this winter, and there are some surprising ones. For instance, have you heard “Scrubs” is coming back after 16 years, with all its stars intact? (ABC, Feb. 25) And fancy seeing you here, “Malcolm in the Middle”! The last time we talked was in 2006 and you were dashing out to get some cigarettes. (It’s back as a mini-series. Hulu, April 10.) I can’t say I’m getting the same warm feeling imagining a visit with these characters the way I did about the personnel of “The Pitt,” but I am betting there are many for whom these familiar faces will provide comfort.I’m more excited about “The Forsytes” (PBS, March 22). It’s a prequel to the events of John Galsworthy’s “Forsyte Saga” novels and the perfect, in my memory, 2002 mini-series. The old characters are back (Soames! Irene! If these names mean nothing to you, I’m jealous — you have a delightful binge ahead) but with new actors. Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”) as Old Jolyon seems like a brilliant fit.There’s a new “Game of Thrones” spinoff, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” (HBO, Jan. 18). Tom Brady narrates “Rise of the 49ers,” a four-episode documentary (AMC, Feb. 1). “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” looks exciting: Tracy Morgan plays a former football player, Daniel Radcliffe a filmmaker helping him rehab his tarnished image. Tina Fey and some of her “30 Rock” crew are behind it (NBC, Feb. 23).Kerry Washington and Elisabeth Moss as old friends? Yes, in “Imperfect Women,” wherein a third friend is murdered (Apple TV, March 18). And David E. Kelley’s interpretation of “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” will intrigue the many who loved Rufi Thorpe’s novel. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Elle Fanning (Apple TV, April 15). Pfeiffer will always feel to me like an old friend, as she will forever live in my memory as Stephanie Zinone from the underrated 1982 masterpiece, “Grease 2.” I don’t know that I would recommend you watch that one before “The Forsyte Saga,” but it has its own dramatic allure.THE LATEST NEWSImmigrationImageA memorial for Alex Pretti In Minneapolis.Credit...Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York TimesThe Justice Department, in a reversal, said it would open a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor who now works as an independent journalist, was arrested in connection with a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minn. Lemon said he was covering the protest, not participating in it.The Senate passed a bipartisan spending package to fund most of the government while Democrats and President Trump negotiate ICE reforms.In an internal memo this week, ICE gave its agents broader power to arrest people without a warrant.“Craftivists” are knitting red tasseled hats to galvanize opposition to ICE, and to mourn the two Minnesotans killed by federal agents.Epstein FilesThe Justice Department released more than three million pages of documents from its Jeffrey Epstein investigation, along with thousands of photos and videos. Here are takeaways.The release includes revelations about Epstein’s relationships with Elon Musk; the Google co-founder Sergey Brin; a co-owner of the New York Giants, Steve Tisch; and Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick.The documents show that the F.B.I. put together a summary of more than a dozen unverified tips involving Trump.InternationalThe United Nations says it is facing imminent financial collapse and will run out of money by July if countries — namely the U.S. — do not pay their dues.Iran will not engage in direct negotiations with the U.S. unless Trump stops threatening it, the country’s foreign minister said.Argentina may soon become a destination for U.S. deportations.Other Big StoriesLuigi Mangione won’t face the death penalty in his trial over the killing of the C.E.O. of UnitedHealthcare.Elena Rybakina won her first Australian Open title, beating Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.Texas A&M University is ending its women’s studies program. Hundreds of courses have altered their syllabuses to limit the teaching of race and gender issues.A winter storm has the potential to drop a historic amount of snow on the coastal areas of the Carolinas.THE WEEK IN CULTURE‘Melania’ImageMelania and Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center this week.Credit...Eric Lee for The New York Times“Melania,” a new documentary about Melania Trump, follows the first lady in the 20 days leading up to her husband’s 2025 inauguration. Read our review.The red carpet at the film’s Kennedy Center premiere this week featured a who’s who of right-wing influencers and Republican officials.Amazon is spending $35 million to promote the film — 10 times what other studios have spent to hype high-profile documentaries.GrammysThe Grammy Awards are tomorrow. The hosts of “Popcast,” The Times’s pop music show, explain why they think Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter should win.If you want to be on the cutting edge, our critic Lindsay Zoladz has a primer (and a playlist) for the Best New Artist nominees.More CultureImageCatherine O’Hara in 2019.Credit...Ryan Pfluger for The New York TimesCatherine O’Hara, who got her start on the cult comedy show “SCTV” and went on to star in hits like “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek,” has died at 71.Call it Brontë-maxxing: Ahead of the release of a new film adaptation, young readers are diving into “Wuthering Heights,” often with friends.The Shakers, 19th-century utopians famous for communal living and ecstatic worship, are having a modern renaissance.Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei are both samurai action games set in long-ago Japan. In the video below, Zachary Small explains the differences — and which one you should get. Click to play.VideoAssassin’s Creed Shadows vs. Ghost of Yotei2:41Zachary Small looks at two new games with similar premises and compares them for value. Which should you play, which one has a more impressive design, and which one will will be the most fun: Ghost of Yotei or Assassin’s Creed Shadows?CULTURE CALENDAR“The Muppet Show” (Thursday): Have you lately felt a dearth of the most sensational? The inspirational? The celebrational? Then rejoice: “The Muppet Show” has returned, as Kermit the Frog says, “back on the very stage where it all started and then ended and is maybe starting again, depending on how tonight goes.” An exemplar of kiddie sketch comedy and puppeteering panache, the show will arrive on Disney+ and ABC for a revival special, with the usual fleece and polyfoam stars as well as special guests including Maya Rudolph, Sabrina Carpenter and Seth Rogen. Carpenter, a recent Grammy winner, has big Miss Piggy energy. (Complimentary.)RECIPE OF THE WEEKImageCredit...Kate Sears for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff.Chile Crisp Fettuccine AlfredoThis weekend, let’s bid goodbye to January with a spicy, buttery bang, namely Genevieve Ko’s chile crisp fettuccine Alfredo with spinach. Don’t let the simple technique and minimalist ingredient list fool you; this creamy dish can really pack a wallop. Toasting the chile crisp in butter increases its complex, toasty notes that are rounded out by the Parmesan and heavy cream, and baby spinach adds freshness and color. Even better, you don’t need to get out your knife. This speedy, no-chop recipe practically cooks itself.REAL ESTATEImageJodie Horton at home in New Orleans.Credit...Edmund D. Fountain for The New York TimesLIVINGImageCredit...Erika P. Rodriguez for The New York TimesEscape: Take a break from the snow and cold in Vieques, a small isle just east of Puerto Rico’s main island that attracts travelers with its raw beauty and uncrowded beaches.The new guidance counselor: People use A.I. chatbots as doctors, therapists, even friends. Now some high schoolers are using them for help with college decisions.I ate it: These mushroom gummies claim to stimulate your brain. Do they work?ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTERImageCredit...CB2Make your lighting more sereneIf your LED bulbs flicker, buzz or just make the room feel washed-out, don’t fret; it doesn’t have to be this way. Upgrading to higher-quality bulbs can prevent your home from feeling like a drab office building. And for more tranquillity, layer your lighting. Many people think lights need to be high up and overhead. But lower lights can have a calming effect, like the setting sun. Wirecutter’s home décor experts recommend several durable, well-designed floor lamps — all of which cast a mood-setting glow and look lovely, even when unlit. — Annemarie ConteGAME OF THE WEEKImageNovak Djokovic celebrates during his semifinal match.Credit...Tingshu Wang/ReutersNovak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s final: Novak Djokovic has won this tournament 10 times, more than anyone else. But he had begun to worry that he could no longer keep up with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the young stars who have dominated the sport in the past couple of years. “It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams,” the 38-year-old Djokovic said last year, after losing to Alcaraz in the U.S. Open.But he overcame that hurdle on Friday, outlasting Sinner in a five-set classic that went more than four hours. Alcaraz, for his part, won an extraordinary five-hour semifinal, playing through an illness that had him vomiting into a towel between games. Alcaraz will now try to earn his first Australian Open title — and the distinction, at 22 years old, of being the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam.Sunday at 3:30 a.m. Eastern on ESPN (and a replay at 9 a.m. on ESPN2, if you can avoid spoilers).NOW TIME TO PLAYImageMelissa Kirsch covers wellness and lifestyle and writes The Morning newsletter on Saturdays.SKIP