What to Watch the Week of April 7: Wedding Bells on Young Sheldon and Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart Returns

©2024 Hallmark Media/Ricardo Hubbs; Robert Voets/CBS; Getty Images; HBO/Max

Young Sheldon returns this week now that March Madness is nearly over, and that means wedding bells for Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment). It won't be a traditional wedding à la Sheldon (Georgie's brother) and Amy on The Big Bang Theory, but then again, nothing's been traditional about Georgie and Mandy's relationship.

From age differences (which they both lied about when they met) to living arrangements, this relationship technically shouldn't have lasted a day, but thanks to Georgie's sweetness and Mandy's sarcastic nature, their storyline has become one of my favorites the last couple seasons. (CBS and Warner Bros. must have thought so too, because Mandy and Georgie's story will continue this fall in a new, untitled sitcom on CBS once Young Sheldon signs off.)

So what can we expect when they tie the knot in this Thursday's episode? Well, the unexpected, of course. What we do know is that the Cooper and McAllister families will be attendance, as well as Georgie and Mandy's baby daughter, CeeCee. (However, do you notice that Sheldon is absent? Hmm…)

Elsewhere this week, awards season may be over, but don't tell that to the CMT Music Awards, which airs live tonight. Also, this evening: the season 11 premiere of When Calls the Heart over on the Hallmark Channel. A lot of changes are in store this season, so check out that preview below.

Of course, what everyone is going to be talking about this week is the solar eclipse. Whether you've been counting down to this moment since the last solar eclipse in 2017 or not, it will be easy to watch on TV, especially if you're not in the direct path. ABC, National Geographic, Hulu, Disney+, CBS, PBS, etc., are going all out, in addition to all the other major broadcast networks and cable channels.

Finally, Ryan Gosling closes out the week by hosting Saturday Night Live for the third time, and don't think for one second there won't be a skit or a reference to his iconic performance of “I'm Just Ken” at the Oscars.

With that, check out what else is premiering this week, and I'll see you back here next Sunday.

Sunday, April 7

Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News (NBC): NBC News’s Hallie Jackson officially takes over for Kate Snow in the Sunday evening anchor chair beginning tonight. Since Jackson is also NBC News’s senior Washington correspondent, NBC Nightly News will be based in Washington, DC, on Sundays. 6:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. CT

When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel): Schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) embarks on a fresh start this season. She and Mountie Nathan Grant navigate their feelings for each other, while newly elected governor Lucas Bouchard must confront his past in order to lead Hope Valley into the future. Retired Mountie Bill Avery and newspaper reporter Rosemary Coulter team up to stop a possible threat to the community. Per Hallmark, this season explores renewal, redemption, and of course, romance, as Hope Valley enters the 1920s. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT

2024 CMT Music Awards (CBS/Paramount+): Kelsea Ballerini returns as host for the annual ceremony, live from Austin’s Moody Center. Country icon Trisha Yearwood is set to receive the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award (she'll also perform). And Little Big Town and Sugarland will also collaborate for a special performance during the three-hour awards show. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Monday, April 8

Eclipse Across America (ABC, Disney+, Hulu, NatGeo, etc.): Approximately 32 million people across America will be in a prime location (see that map here) for the highly anticipated total solar eclipse, where the moon will completely block the sun. According to scientists smarter than me, the next time this is scheduled to happen is in 2044, so now's your chance. To mark the special occasion, ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis will be reporting live from Burlington, Vermont, while Mariana van Zeller (National Geographic's Trafficked), Cristina Mittermeier (National Geographic's Photographer), astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi, and astrophysicists Jedidah Isler and Ved Chirayath will be on site to show viewers how to safely observe and photograph the eclipse. 2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. PT

Total Eclipse of the Heartland (CBS): First off, well done on that title, CBS. That alone makes me want to tune in. Also, they're going to have Bill Nye and William Shatner. Bravo. Let's cue up some Bonnie Tyler below, shall we? Anyway, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and CBS Mornings cohost Tony Dokoupil will do most of the heavy lifting during this 90-minute special, anchoring their respective broadcasts and the special coverage from Indianapolis, but what's an eclipse without Nye and Shatner? 2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. PT

Total Eclipse 2024 (NBC): In addition to the above networks, NBC News will feature extensive live coverage of the eclipse with Lester Holt anchoring the two-hour special from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest viewing site of the 2024 eclipse. He will also anchor NBC Nightly News that evening from Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer, and Jenna Bush Hager will join the special coverage live from the Museum of Natural History in New York City, along with Al Roker live from Dallas.

Tuesday, April 9

Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion (HBO/Max): Fashionistas, unite. This documentary examines how Brandy Melville became the must-have clothing brand for young girls across the world in the early 2010s. Per HBO, “Through a calculated social media presence and promoting an unattainable aesthetic, fueled by Instagram campaigns featuring its own employees and select ‘Brandy girls,’ Brandy Melville conferred a sense of coolness to the teens who wore the tiny ‘one size fits most’ clothes that quickly exploded and today has nearly 100 stores in over 15 countries and over 80 cities worldwide. However, candid interviews with former employees and fashion insiders, as well as troubling accounts from former executives, reveal a troubling toxic work environment and discriminatory recruiting methods at the company and shed light on the inner workings of a business that flourished by setting impossible beauty standards on social media and in real life for its customers and employees.” The release goes on to say that the doc “exposes a wide system of exploitation within the global fashion industry.” Featured participants include former Brandy Melville employees and former executives, former Teen Vogue fashion editor Alyssa Hardy, and more. 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT, and streaming on Max

Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise (Freeform): This new docu-soap follows a group of wealthy and on-the-rise locals and expats navigating relationships, friendships, and careers in Grand Cayman. It stars Elizabeth Chambers, Selita Ebanks, Courtney McTaggart, Craig Jervis, Julian Foster, Aaron Bernardo, Cass Lacelle, Victoria Coleman, Chelsea Flynn, Teri Bilewitch, Trevor Coleman, Dillon Claassens, and Connor Bunney. 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CT, and streaming the next day on Hulu

Palm Royale (Apple TV+): Episode six drops today. Titled “Maxine Takes a Step,” Maxine and Douglas schmooze a visiting prince in order to help secure the success of the upcoming Beach Ball as well as a real estate deal. Streaming

Wednesday, April 10

Tryouts (ESPN+): The seven-episode series does a deep dive into the high-stakes tryouts, competitions, and auditions of everything from Monster Jam to Texas Smoke Softball. In episode one, Long Beach Lifeguards get their moment in the spotlight. Streaming

Thursday, April 11

Young Sheldon (CBS/Paramount+): In the episode titled, “A Proper Wedding and Skeletons in the Closet,” Georgie and Mandy tie the knot surrounded by their families. In less happy news, Meemaw’s gambling room gets raided. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Friday, April 12

The Greatest Hits (Hulu): After premiering at SXSW last month, the romantic drama starring Lucy Boynton and David Corenswet hits Hulu. Here's the logline: “Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time—literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders—even if she could change the past, should she?” Streaming

Franklin (Apple TV+): In this eight-episode limited series, Michael Douglas plays Benjamin Franklin. Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, Franklin explores the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin's career. Three episodes streaming at launch, followed by a new episode every Friday

Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead: In this reimagining of the classic ’90s film, Simone Joy Jones takes over Christina Applegate's role alongside an ensemble cast including Nicole Richie, June Squibb, Donielle Tremaine Hensley, Jermaine Fowler, and Ms. Pat. Here's what we know: “Seventeen-year-old Tanya Crandell (Simone Joy Jones) can’t wait to spend the summer living it up with her friends in Spain before heading to Howard University in the fall. But when her mom (Ms. Pat) decides to head to a much-needed wellness retreat in Thailand, Tanya is forced to stay home with her three siblings instead. Following the unexpected death of their elderly babysitter (June Squibb), Tanya gets a job working for the confident and ambitious Rose (Nicole Richie). Juggling work, family, and a complicated romance, Tanya faces the responsibility of adulthood at the cost of her summer of freedom.” In theaters

Saturday, April 13

Saturday Night Live (NBC/Peacock): Ryan Gosling, hot off his stint as star of this year's Oscars, returns to host SNL for the third time. He's about to gear up promotion for his new film with Emily Blunt and Hannah Waddingham, called The Fall Guy, which is in theaters May 3. Meanwhile, Chris Stapleton is the musical guest (and also making his third appearance on the show). He's currently headlining the All-American Road Show tour with his new album, Higher. 11:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 p.m. CT, 8:30 p.m. PT, and streaming on Peacock

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the NYT best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

Originally Appeared on Glamour