TV

‘American Masters’ salutes legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet

By Sidney Lumet

Tuesday, 8 p.m., PBS

Every New Yorker knows the films of Sidney Lumet. Dark, gritty portraits of underdogs, rebels and lost men, they left an indelible mark on American cinema. Lumet, who went 0-for-5 at the Oscars before an embarrassed Academy finally gave him an honorary award in 2005, is the fitting subject of “American Masters” this week.

A child actor who worked on Broadway and in the Yiddish theater, he made more than 40 movies in 50 years, getting great performances from artists as diverse as Henry Fonda (“12 Angry Men”), Rod Steiger (“The Pawnbroker”), Al Pacino (“Serpico”, “Dog Day Afternoon”) and Peter Finch (“Network”). Lumet was held in such high esteem even the elusive Charlotte Rampling submitted to being slapped across the face by Paul Newman in “The Verdict.”

Treat Williams, 65, who played cop-turned-informant Danny Ciello in the incendiary 1981 film “Prince of the City,” spoke to The Post about what it was like to work on a movie with Lumet, who died in 2011 at age 86.

Treat Williams in “Prince of the City”Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

I read that you went out on drug busts with New York City cops in preparation for your role. What was that like?
I watched them getting hurt, falling down the stairs, chasing guys who were very fast. I remember this one cop, sitting, exhausted, just staring out into space, saying, “I’m too old for this s- -t.” They were chasing people down who were driving better cars than they did and living in nicer houses. I could see that sense of frustration over their lack of power to be able to stop this. I learned so much from them. I began to understand their point of view.

In the “American Masters” film you say that you auditioned for a role in “Dog Day Afternoon.” Do you remember which one?
John Cazale’s part [Sal, Al Pacino’s doomed sidekick]. I was not ready. I was playing the lead in “Grease” on Broadway. I think they said, “Thank you, that was very interesting.” What I lacked in talent, I had in enthusiasm [laughs].”

Lumet on the “Dog Day Afternoon” set. Al Pacino (right) starred as a real-life Brooklyn bank robber in the Oscar-winning film.Everett Collection

So what happened when you were being seriously considered to play the lead in “Prince of the City?”
Sidney said, “I know you can do the young tough cop stuff, but I need you to gain a sense of gravitas over what you had done to your partners in search of absolution.” There’s a scene in the script where a drug dealer spits in my face.In my audition Sidney played the drug dealer, and he spit in my face. I stayed in character and used all the rage I felt at that moment.

What’s your favorite Lumet film?
You’re not going to believe this: “Murder on the Orient Express.” It isn’t dark and it isn’t gritty. I just love that movie. He used a lot of English theater actors who really knew how to bring it to the table. I loved the ambience of it. It’s just joyous.

And here’s what else to watch this week:

The Mick

Sunday, 8 p.m., Fox
Series premiere.
Party girl Mackenzie “Mickey” Murphy (Kaitlin Olson) finds herself looking after her niece and nephews. Snotty Sabrina (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is 18-going-on-30. Chip (Thomas Barbusca), 13, is a neo-con-in-the-making. Seven-year-old Ben (Jack Stanton) is a fragile nerd who needs help. Can Mickey change these brats into tolerable children? She may kill herself trying.

Emerald City

Friday, 9 p.m., NBC
Series premiere.
In this modern reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz,” a tornado blows through town while Dorothy (Adria Arjona) is searching for her mother, and she is transported to a mystical land where the local ruler has outlawed magic. Florence Kasumba has a cameo as Wicked Witch of the East.

One Day at a Time

Friday, Netflix
Series premiere.
Norman Lear has taken his 1970s comedy “One Day at a Time” and updated the story line. Meet Army vet Penelope (Justina Machado), who works as a nurse at a doctor’s office and tries to keep things light at home with her kids — one boy, one girl — and her unenlightened mother, Lydia (Rita Moreno). Social issues arise.

Bright Lights

Saturday, 8 p.m., HBO
The turbulent and loving relationship between Carrie Fisher (below left) and Debbie Reynolds (below right) is captured in this documentary, filmed at the Coldwater Canyon compound where they lived, the Mohegan Sun casino where Reynolds performed and at a “Star Wars” convention, where Fisher signs autographs.

Fisher Family Archives/Courtesy of HBO

Wishful Drinking

Sunday, 9 p.m., HBO
The late Carrie Fisher filmed her one-woman stage show (based on a memoir) and HBO decided to rebroadcast it, following her untimely death last week in LA.

Star

Wednesday, 9 p.m., Fox
Roland Crane (Lenny Kravitz) and his wife, Rose (Naomi Campbell), come to Atlanta to bring their daughter, Alexandra (Ryan Destiny), back to New York. Meanwhile, Carlotta (Queen Latifah) and Jahil (Benjamin Bratt) have a huge argument.

Nashville

Thursday, 9 p.m., CMT
Season premiere.
Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) deals with being a lone plane crash survivor. Later, she tells Rayna (Connie Britton) she has messed up her life. Meanwhile, when Avery (Jonathan Jackson) professes his love, Juliette responds, “We’ll see how you feel in a few weeks.”