‘Damien’
Monday, 10 p.m., A&E
One of the striking features of the new series “Damien” is its use of footage from the film it’s based on — the 1976 blockbuster “The Omen.” Executive producer Glen Mazzara, formerly of “The Walking Dead,” was inspired to draw on the Gregory Peck-Lee Remick classic to explain the psychology of the adult Damien (Bradley James). The first few episodes drew widely on the film, but Mazzara tells The Post there are more echoes in store.
Why did you want to use scenes from “The Omen”?
I was approached by Fox about creating the show based on “The Omen.” They had looked at the success of “Hannibal” and “Bates Motel,” and they were going through their library and asked, “Can we do this?” I had never seen anyone use footage from a classic film to push a story forward. In our show, Damien has repressed his childhood, so I thought the flashbacks could drive him into action. So when I suggested using clips, everyone thought I was nuts. I just kept acting as if it would happen. I wrote the cuts [to the movie] into the script.
How did you go about securing the rights? Was it pretty expensive?
It was Fox [TV] paying Fox [movies], but I think it was worth it. It was easy, but it was a process. I said, “Let’s pay the estate of these actors the fees they’re entitled to.”
You’ve selected four or five scenes. Why those scenes?
For example, as Episode 1 progresses, he’s following his father’s footsteps, then goes to a church to seek comfort and remembers that his father tried to kill him and that he is responsible for his father’s death. He finds out his childhood.
Will any future scenes hearken back to others from the movie?
We are very mindful always of the original film. We have the seven daggers, which is a major through-line for the season. There are some things in the finale that bring you back to the first episode and to the original movie. We’re not done playing with that movie. — RR
AND HERE’S WHAT ELSE TO WATCH THIS WEEK:
‘The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Prime Time Special’
Tuesday, 10 p.m., CBS
James Corden celebrates his first year on the air with a special organized around one of his show’s most popular featurers: carpool karaoke. In his post-Super Bowl edition, Corden did the segment with Adele, which now holds the YouTube record for the most-watched late-night clip with 89 million views. Let’s see if Jennifer Lopez can surpass that figure.
‘The Alcatraz Escape’
Tuesday, 9 p.m., PBS
On June 11, 1962, Alcatraz prisoners Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin escaped in a raft made of raincoats. They were never seen or heard from again. Is it possible they could have survived the choppy waters of San Francisco Bay? After researching 1962 tidal conditions, a team of Dutch scientists constructs a raft of their own, and tries to make it to the shore.
‘Empire’
Wednesday, 9 p.m., Fox
After losing the company he built, Lucious (Terrence Howard) announces he will stop at nothing to regain his power, but Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) has her own way of handling things. Meanwhile, Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday), Andre (Trai Byers) and the rest of the Lyon family come to terms with a horrific, life-changing tragedy that changes their lives as they know them.
‘Shades of Blue’
Thursday, 10 p.m., NBC
Season finale. Unable to deliver Donnie (Michael Esper) and Linklater (Stephen Lang) to the FBI, Harlee (Jennifer Lopez) makes a deal with Stahl (Warren Kole). Harlee comes face to face with Miguel (Antonio Jaramillo), who reveals his darkest side as he demands to be a part of Cristina’s (Sarah Jeffery) life. With Ray Liotta.
‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’
Tuesday, 10 p.m., FX
Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) and F. Lee Bailey (Nathan Lane) head across the country to get the Mark Fuhrman (Steven Pasquale) tapes. Judge Ito (Kenneth Choi) must decide whether the tapes are admissible.
‘Scandal’
Thursday, 9 p.m., ABC
Following the Republican debate, Olivia (Kerry Washington) is presented with damaging information about Mellie’s (Bellamy Young) political opponent and enlists the Gladiators to verify its authenticity. Meanwhile, David (Joshua Malina) deals with fallout from his dating life, and Cyrus (Jeff Perry) works on his own agenda.
‘The Good Wife’
Sunday, 9 p.m., CBS
Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Diane (Christine Baranski) defend the privacy rights of a therapist. Also, Assistant US Attorney Connor Fox (Matthew Morrison) attempts to use Eli’s (Alan Cumming) daughter, Marissa (Sarah Steele), as leverage in the case against Peter (Chris Noth). The power struggle at Lockhart, Agos (Matt Czuchry) & Lee (Zach Grenier) reaches a boiling point.