Weekend TV: Mel Brooks, 'Blacklist,' Super Bowl

Mel Brooks Live at the Geffen

HBO, Saturday, 9 ET/PT

Salutes to two great writers pave your way to the Super Bowl: Shakespeare Uncovered on PBS (Friday, 9 ET/PT, times may vary), and this Mel Brooks concert on HBO. Because great writing comes in many different styles.

The Super Bowl/The Blacklist

NBC, Sunday, 6:30 ET/3:30 PT

NBC hopes you'll linger after the Super Bowl for the series it's put in the much-coveted post-game slot — which once launched shows, and of late has been used to relaunch them. Which is what the network is doing with The Blacklist, a series that has shed some heat this season. Let's see if the Super Bowl can reheat it ahead of its move to Thursday nights, where it will face the molten-hot Scandal.

Grantchester

PBS, Sunday, 10 ET/PT (times may vary)

This Downton Abbey companion airs its best outing yet as accusations lodged by a nasty old woman (the wonderful Jean Marsh of Upstairs Downstairs fame) lead to murder — and to an exploration of whether ends can justify means. Grantchester is light viewing fare, but lingering war guilt and modern class warfare help add a bit of weight to the mystery without diminishing the cozy country charm personified by stars James Norton and Robson Green. And if there are one too many red herrings, the solution is still admirably unexpected.