TV Best Bets

Saturday, May 19: Kentucky Derby Winner Justify Runs in the Preakness Stakes

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

All Times Eastern.

Saturday, May 19

Horse Racing: 143rd Preakness Stakes
NBC, 5pm Live

The second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place today at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, as Kentucky Derby winner Justify looks to continue his run in the history books.

The Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Check Local Listings – Network coverage starts on CBS at 4am, NBC at 4:30am and ABC at 5am
Stations around the world will present live coverage of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Each station will add its own commentary to a pool of cameras providing live footage of the event. Coverage will also show the procession to the castle for the reception and the happy couple’s traditional first public kiss as husband and wife.

Dater’s Handbook
Hallmark Channel, 10:30am
Original Film!
In celebration of Meghan Markle’s nuptials, catch the actress in an encore of her 2016 Hallmark movie. Cassandra Barber (Markle) has the habit of picking the wrong type of guy, so she turns to the latest self-help book from relationship guru Dr. Susie to help with her ailing love life. After she follows the advice in Dater’s Handbook to evaluate potential suitors, she must ultimately choose between reliable George (Jonathan Scarfe) and fun-loving Robert (Kristoffer Polaha).

Soccer: FA Cup Final: Chelsea FC vs. Manchester United
FOX, 12pm Live

FOX has live coverage of the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester United from Wembley Stadium in London.

“Star Wars” Marathon
TNT, 1:55pm
With all the hype surrounding the theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story on May 25, TNT serves up three of the films in the epic space opera franchise beginning with 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which was the fourth film released. Immediately following are 2002’s Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and 2005’s Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: All-Star Race
FS1, beginning at 6pm Live
NASCAR’s All-Star festivities take place tonight at Charlotte Motor Speedway, beginning with the Monster Energy Open (formerly the Sprint Showdown), which gives drivers one last shot to qualify for the main event. In the All-Star Race, fans will see NASCAR’s top drivers compete in stages to qualify for the final 10-car sprint to the finish and $1 million prize.

Royal Romance: The Marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
CBS, 8pm
This two-hour primetime special will take a look back at the day’s events and present highlights of the wedding between Britain’s Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle.

Fahrenheit 451
HBO, 8pm
Original Film!
Purists may have a bone to pick with filmmaker Ramin Bahrani’s modernization of the Ray Bradbury book-burning classic, but if you’re addicted to your phone, your Snapchat or your smart speaker, it still makes a creepy, timely point. Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan plays go-getter fireman Montag, eagerly torching books and stripping bibliophiles of their very identity until he steals a novel, reads it and realizes how much he has contributed to and sacrificed for an insidious cause. “Bradbury’s biggest concern about the erosion of culture is now,” Bahrani says. “And with the speed at which this is advancing, will we actually be able to get ahead of the dam, or … will [it] be up to some other generation to bring back Bradbury’s heroes?”

Royally Ever After
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!
When Sara’s (Fiona Gubelmann) boyfriend Daniel (Torrance Coombs) proposes marriage, she discovers that he’s the prince of a small European monarchy, and the wedding requires royal approval. If Sara wants to become Daniel’s wife, she’ll have to impress her future in-laws and prove she’s got what it takes to become a princess.

Saturday Night Live: “Tina Fey/Nicki Minaj”
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Season Finale!
The venerable sketch-comedy series ends its 43rd season with former cast member Tina Fey returning to host for her sixth time. Nicki Minaj makes her third appearance as musical guest.

Sunday, May 20

Giada on the Beach
Food Network, 11:30am
New Series!
Summer has arrived, and Giada De Laurentiis and her daughter, Jade, are spending it on the California coast at a vacation home with a stunning beachfront view. The charming area has a true vacation vibe, but it’s also close enough to Los Angeles that Giada’s family and friends can visit on the weekends. Each weekend, Giada, Jade and their guests spend time cooking together in the kitchen and around the grill, sharing stories, laughs, and casual and delicious meals outside.

America’s Funniest Home Videos
ABC, 7pm
Season Finale!
Tonight’s season finale features the two $100,000 winners of the season competing for a magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

The Simpsons: “Flanders’ Ladder”
FOX, 8pm
Season Finale!
After getting struck by lightning, Bart receives visits from ghosts, who want closure that only he can provide.

Carriers at War
Smithsonian Channel, 8pm
New Series!

Today’s U.S. Navy faces very different challenges than its Cold War era counterpart. Conflicts are smaller and more regional. Terrorism impacts not only our allies’ sovereignty, but also the security of the United States. This new four-part series offers unique access to America’s elite fleet of mighty aircraft carriers as they engage in real-world action — giving viewers an intimate look at how the U.S. Navy maintains, operates and deploys to troubled spots around the globe. The series also unveils the newest generation of American supercarrier, designed to revolutionize naval warfare. Tonight’s series premiere, “Strike Force Arabian Gulf,” showcases the role the U.S. Navy plays in maintaining stability in the Middle East region. Aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, cameras capture the crew as they prepare for action and fulfill the Navy’s mission statement: to deter aggression and maintain freedom of the seas. The USS Bush travels through the dangerous waters of the Suez Canal and prepares to launch airborne attacks against ISIS in Iraq. The flight deck is such a chaotic place that one petty officer likens it to “playing dodgeball with 60,000-pound jets.” When the pilots return, tired and sore from a mission, they must land on a deck that heaves and sways with the sea. “Strike Force Arabian Gulf” shows the incredible focus of the air wing and all aboard, working like a well-oiled unit to achieve the mission — and some tense moments with equipment during the landing as the team returns.

Killing Eve: “I Don’t Want to Be Free”
BBC America, 8pm

In the penultimate episode of Season 1, Eve (Sandra Oh) faces a dangerous situation in Moscow that leaves her trusting no one. Meanwhile, Villanelle (Jodie Comer) receives orders for a surprising new target.

NCIS: Los Angeles: “A Line in the Sand/Ninguna Salida”
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
NCIS: Los Angeles completes its ninth season with a two-episode finale. In “A Line in the Sand” and “Ninguna Salida,” Sam (LL Cool J) is shot during a firefight with a cartel, and a suspect reveals new information on the whereabouts of Spencer Williams (guest star Lamont Thompson), the man who kidnapped Mosley’s (Nia Long) son five years ago. Despite several team members having grave reservations, NCIS travels to Mexico for a daring mission to locate and rescue Mosley’s son.

Legends & Lies: The Civil War: “Abraham Lincoln: The Campaign”
FOX News Channel, 8pm

On a new episode of FOX News Channel’s Legends & Lies: The Civil War titled “Abraham Lincoln: The Campaign,” host Brian Kilmeade examines President Lincoln as he faces a tough reelection against general-turned-candidate George McClellan. Ulysses S. Grant claims a victory at Chattanooga, leading him to head north to Virginia to take on Robert E. Lee, bringing the greatest generals of the Union and Confederacy head-to-head.

2018 Billboard Music Awards
NBC, 8pm Live
NBC airs its first telecast of the popular music awards show live coast-to-coast. The event showcases the hottest musical acts, biggest performances, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy pop culture moments. Finalists and winners are based on key interactions with music fans, as well as album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring, and social engagement, based on data reflecting a 12-month tracking period.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: “Jake and Amy”
FOX, 8:30pm
Season Finale!
Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and Kyle Bornheimer (Casual) guest-star on the episode — which revolves around Jake and Amy’s wedding day — that will serve not only as the season finale, but also as the series finale on FOX. A day after FOX announced it was pulling the plug on the Andy Samberg-led comedy after five seasons, NBC picked up the series for a 13-episode season.

Fear the Walking Dead: “Just in Case”
AMC, 9pm
Strand (Colman Domingo) struggles with Madison’s (Kim Dickens) decisions. Things take an unexpected turn at the Stadium.

Total Bellas
E!, 9pm
Season Premiere!
WWE Superstars Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, John Cena and Daniel Bryan give viewers an inside look at their lives outside of the ring.

Family Guy: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Peter”
FOX, 9pm
Season Finale!
After Peter falls into a coma, he meets God face-to-face, which leads him to ask some of life’s tough questions.

Westworld: “Akane No Mai”
HBO, 9pm
Shogun World is revealed!

Bob’s Burgers
FOX, 9:30pm
Season Finale!
Catch tonight’s Season 8 finale at a special time.

Madam Secretary: “Night Watch”
CBS, 10pm
Season Finale!
The last time Madam Secretary’s President Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine) nearly got the country into a war, the culprit was an undiagnosed brain tumor (which, though dangerous, was thankfully benign). POTUS is currently compos mentis, but in the drama’s tense season finale, he may have no choice other than retaliation when Russia seemingly launches a nuclear strike at the U.S.

Breaking Homicide: “The Blue Mustang”
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
Season Finale!
Kris and Derrick travel to Palmdale, Calif., to investigate a case involving a young woman brutally assaulted while walking to her car. Security guard Ray Jennings was convicted of killing 18-year-old Michelle O’Keefe in a parking lot where he worked in 2000. Eleven years later he was declared innocent. If he’s not guilty, how did he know things only the killer could know? The team probes the truths and lies in this tragic crime, providing the O’Keefe family peace and closure.

Monday, May 21

Dancing With the Stars: Athletes
ABC, 8pm Live
Season Finale!
Tune in to see which jock jives his or her way to the Mirror Ball trophy. Afterward, American Idol names its winner, too.

2018 Miss USA
FOX, 8pm Live
Vanessa and Nick Lachey host the 67th Miss USA pageant from the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, La. The winner of the competition will represent the United States in the Miss Universe 2018 pageant and will be crowned by the outgoing Miss USA, Kára McCullough of the District of Columbia.

The Final Year
HBO, 8pm
Get an enlightening, behind-the-scenes look at Barack Obama’s foreign policy team’s last year in office via this riveting documentary that offers an inside look at the Obama administration’s final efforts to promote American diplomatic leadership and human rights around the world.

Man With a Plan: “Family Business”
CBS, 8:30pm
In the Season 2 finale “Family Business,” Andi (Liza Snyder) proposes an exciting idea for Adam (Matt LeBlanc) and her to go into business together when she isn’t able to find work. CBS has picked up Man With a Plan for a third season.

The Terror: “We Are Gone”
AMC, 9pm
Season Finale!
The Arctic expedition’s survivors face off against the creature that’s been stalking them. From what we’ve seen of its teeth, we prefer death by frostbite.

Who Do You Think You Are?
TLC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The celeb genealogy series returns tonight with back-to-back episodes. First, Jon Cryer delves into the story of his forebears’ journey to America. Then, Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox learns about an ancestor who lived an impressive life following his emancipation from slavery.

Elementary: “Our Time Is Up”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Our Time Is Up,” Watson (Lucy Liu) considers making a major life change after reading her own therapy file while she and Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) investigate the murder of her former psychologist.

Running Wild With Bear Grylls: “Lena Headey”
NBC, 10pm
Bear takes Game of Thrones star Lena Headey on the ride of her life as they paramotor deep into the remote wilderness of Spain’s Iberian Peninsula. As the two battle the elements, the actress grants viewers exclusive details about her life on the HBO hit, her rise to stardom and her battle to overcome depression.

X Company: “Schein Und Sein”
Ovation, 10pm
With the Gestapo hot on their heels and no way out of France, the team must get creative to get Alfred and Rene (François Arnaud) back to Camp X.

Independent Lens: “ACORN and the Firestorm”
PBS, 10pm
Explore the politically charged battle to take down ACORN, a controversial national community-organizing group that worked with lower income communities and was investigated by undercover journalists, cutting to the heart of the political divide.

Tuesday, May 22

Roseanne: “Knee Deep”
ABC, 8pm
Season Finale!
In the season finale, Dan (John Goodman) is forced to make an important work decision when Roseanne’s (Roseanne Barr) knee worsens, but when a major storm hits Lanford, their fortunes change for the better. Later, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) realizes she needs to go back to her first passion: writing.

NCIS: “Date With Destiny”
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
Good news or bad news? Former military psychologist Sloane (Maria Bello) suspects that the man who held her team hostage and tortured her in Afghanistan is still alive and chilling in the States. And Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Vance (Rocky Carroll) suspect that she will risk everything to get even with him.

The Flash: “We Are the Flash”
The CW, 8pm
Season Finale!
It’s taken all season, several deaths (RIP, Ralph!) and a whole bunch of false starts, but it looks like the Flash (Grant Gustin) and his team may finally have a leg up on bringing down baddie DeVoe (Neil Sandilands). And if they don’t, well, there’s always next season … for those who make it.

The Great American Read
PBS, 8pm
New Series!
Meredith Vieira hosts this eight-part series that goes in search of America’s best-loved book. It kicks off tonight with a two-hour special that uncovers the 100 most-loved novels, according to a representative survey. Then, over the summer, voting online will whittle the list down, and The Great American Read will air more episodes in the fall looking at the titles in themed episodes, before determining America’s favorite book in an October special.

The Middle
ABC, 8:30pm
Series Finale!
The long-running, underappreciated sitcom that followed the adventures of the working-class Heck family comes to a close tonight.

The Voice
NBC, 9pm
Season Finale!
Tonight’s live two-hour finale will include musical performances from some A-list entertainers, but let’s face it: That’s merely filler to keep us hanging around until the final seconds. Darn it, Carson Daly — just tell us which of the four finalists wins already!

Splitting Up Together: “Heat Wave”
ABC, 9:30pm
Season Finale!
Divorce is a good thing! At least it has been for controlling Lena (Jenna Fischer) and laid-back Martin (Oliver Hudson), who continued cohabitating post-split for the sake of their family. But with their three children off to camp, a spark could reignite. Emily Kapnek, the comedy’s executive producer, teases, “What’s it like to be alone together for the first time without the kids?” Stick around through the end credits to find out. “There are two juicy cliffhangers,” she promises.

For the People: “This Is What I Wanted to Say”
ABC, 10pm
Season Finale!
When Sandra (Britt Robertson) defends a hydrologist accused of spying for the Chinese government, the similarities between this case and one she lost shake her confidence. Meanwhile, Jay (Wesam Keesh) faces his fears, going up against Kate (Susannah Flood) in a case involving a PTA president accused of dealing drugs to students.

Hunting Nazi Treasure: “Nazi Gold”
AHC, 10pm
In April 1945, American soldiers blasted a hole in the wall of an underground mine in Germany. Inside they found neatly stacked canvas bags full of looted gold that would be worth an incredible $9 billion today and was amazingly just a fraction of the gold stolen by the Nazis during the war. In this episode, the team investigates why gold was so vital to the Nazis, the brutal methods they used to get it and where some still-missing gold may be hidden today.

Hidden Potential
HGTV, 10pm
There goes the (cookie-cutter) neighborhood. Designer Jasmine Roth helps California couple Donald and Dina make their abode stand out. Three words: rainbow ombré staircase.

Forged in Fire: Knife or Death
History, 10pm
Season Finale!
Dreams — and some very sharp blades — may shatter as the knife-wielding competition comes to a close. The contestants must slice through a 20-pound fish and flying watermelons for a $20,000 prize.

Wednesday, May 23

Empire: “The Empire Unpossess’d”
FOX, 8pm
Season Finale!
As the Empire ownership bid presentation nears, Eddie shows no sign of backing down, and Lucious must make a difficult decision to save the future of the company and his family.

Survivor
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!
The torch goes out on Season 36 as we finally learn which Ghost Island castaway outwitted, outlasted and outplayed the others.

Nature: “The World’s Most Wanted Animal”
PBS, 8pm
Join conservationist Maria Diekmann in the crusade to save pangolins, the most trafficked animal in the world. Learn about these little-known yet highly desired scaly mammals whose basic biology remains a mystery, hampering conservation efforts.

Star: “Thirty Days to Famous”
FOX, 9pm
Season Finale!
Brandy Norwood returns as Carlotta’s sister Cassie, and the rivalry between the siblings comes to a head. And Take 3’s future as a group is at risk when egos clash.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: “Remember Me/Remember Me Too”
NBC, 9pm
Season Finale!
Season 19 comes to an end with two episodes tonight. In “Remember Me,” when a young woman (guest star Genesis Rodriguez) takes a man hostage at gunpoint, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) makes a dangerous attempt to defuse the situation. Meanwhile, the SVU discovers the shocking motive behind the abduction. In “Remember Me Too,” Benson’s suspicions about a kidnapping victim (guest star Carlos Miranda) uncovers a dangerous criminal network prepared to silence anyone who gets in their way.

NOVA Wonders: “Can We Make Life?”
PBS, 9pm
Discover the breakthroughs in genetic engineering enabling scientists to create and manipulate DNA as never before. Explore the promise and peril of CRISPR. Can we cure genetic diseases? Bring extinct animals back to life? Even edit our own genes?

The Expanse: “Delta-V”
Syfy, 9pm
All eyes turn to the edge of the solar system as a mysterious new presence emerges; Naomi (Dominique Tipper) recommits to her roots; Drummer (Cara Gee) butts heads with a seasoned new commander aboard the Behemoth; a young Belter makes a name for himself.

Wood Work: “Creating a Family Retreat”
DIY, 10pm
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ go-to woodworker has carved out a niche for himself. Fixer Upper favorite Clint Harp headlines his own series and takes viewers inside the Waco, Texas, shop where he finds creative solutions to requests for built-ins, mantels and custom pieces. This week, he creates a ping-pong table made from solid ash (with a walnut inlay) for a couple who want to create a fun retreat for their college son’s weekend visits.

The Split
SundanceTV, 10pm
New Miniseries!
Set in the fast-paced, emotionally charged world of divorce law, this six-part miniseries stars Nicola Walker (Unforgotten, Last Tango in Halifax) as divorce lawyer Hannah Defoe. The Split explores contemporary marriage and relationships through the personal and professional lives of Hannah and her legal-eagle family.

Krypton: “The Phantom Zone”
Syfy, 10pm
Season Finale!
With Brainiac (Blake Ritson) close to taking over the city of Kandor, Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe) realizes that saving his planet means making tough choices … possibly at the expense of his allies.

Colony: “Hospitium”
USA Network, 10pm
Will (Josh Holloway) and Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies) fear they might be in danger when the Resistance camp is put in lockdown. A risky plan makes Broussard (Tory Kittles) question Amy’s intentions.

Thursday, May 24

Terrence Howard’s Fright Club
FOX, 8pm
Empire star Terrence Howard shows off his skills as a prankster when he invites his biggest fans to what they believe to be a meet-and-greet at his remote New Orleans estate, but it’s actually a weekend filled with scary pranks. Hidden cameras follow the fans as Howard pushes them to the limit and exposes them to wild experiences including swamp monsters and voodoo spells.

Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day
NBC, 8pm
Kicking off NBC’s night of programming related to the Red Nose Day charity event, this special installment of American Ninja Warrior features stars from all areas of entertainment as they attempt to overcome the famed obstacle course in the name of charity. Derek Hough, Ne-Yo, Nikki Bella, Colton Dunn, Scott Evans, Nastia Liukin and Gregg Sulkin will all compete. For the first time, cohost Akbar Gbajabiamila will take on the course he has seen so many ninjas face. Matt Iseman and Kristine Leahy are also on hand to cohost.

Carnival Eats: “Beach Eats”
Cooking Channel, 9pm
Deep-fried Oreos, anyone? Host Noah Cappe had better have packed his sweet tooth because he’s touring beachside fairgrounds this week, and you know those creative food vendors are cooking up something crazier than just your average funnel cake and corn dogs.

Swamp People: “Speed Demons”
History, 9pm
Alligator hunting isn’t getting any easier, as we’ve seen so far on Season 9 of the reality hit. Our heroes in Louisiana have struggled to maintain their way of life — and tonight, hunter and fisherman Robert “Frenchy” Crochet takes a gamble by searching for prey in unfamiliar territory.

Hollywood Game Night: “Red Nose Day”
NBC, 9pm
Jane Lynch hosts this special Red Nose Day installment of her popular game show, with some of the biggest names in entertainment competing to raise money to ensure that children in need are safe, healthy and educated.

Mysteries at the Museum
Travel Channel, 9pm
What do teacups and facial hair have in common? Host Don Wildman delivers an entertaining history lesson as he heads to the Bell County Museum in Texas to check out their collection of mustache cups, a Victorian-era invention that kept guys’ whiskers dry.

The Red Nose Day Special
NBC, 10pm Live
Chris Hardwick hosts this night of fun and goodwill as celebrities come together to raise money and awareness to help end childhood poverty. “When you can actually use comedy for some good and to help people … so many people jump onboard and want to play around,” Hardwick tells of the event.

Friday, May 25

Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life
Netflix
Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short team up for musical sketches and conversations about their legendary lives in show business and standup.

Ibiza
Netflix
Original Film!
Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer and Phoebe Robinson star in this original romantic comedy film about a woman looking to shake up her routine who finds her two best pals accompanying her on a business trip to Barcelona.

Trollhunters
Netflix
Season Premiere!
Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Diego Luna (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) join the voice cast of Guillermo del Toro’s animated series for its third and final season, with Maslany and Luna set as the new series leads.

Undercover Boss: Celebrity Edition: “Bethany Mota”
CBS, 8pm
Bethany Mota is a YouTube sensation and author with more than 12.7 million subscribers, and is one of the most powerful and inspiring voices in social media. In this episode, Mota goes undercover to identify up-and-coming YouTube talent.

My Last Days
The CW, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Your problems will suddenly seem tiny after checking out this heart-wrenching docuseries featuring brave individuals who have terminal illnesses. With their time running out, they all “live fully in the moment,” says executive producer Justin Baldoni.

Memorial Day Movie Marathon
TCM, 8pm
All Memorial Day weekend (starting tonight and through early Tuesday morning), Turner Classic Movies airs the most memorable military movies of all time, beginning with 1961’s The Guns of Navarone. Other notable titles airing throughout the marathon include The Dirty Dozen (1967), From Here to Eternity (1953), Where Eagles Dare (1968), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and more.

Great Performances: “The Opera House”
PBS, 9pm
Explore the rich history of the Met Opera’s Lincoln Center home and the cultural life of 1950s-60s New York City. Features famed soprano Leontyne Price, the Met’s general manager Rudolf Bing, city planner Robert Moses and architect Wallace Harrison.

Night Flight
IFC, 1:30am (late-night)
Totally rad! Tonight’s episode of the revived 1980s pop culture show features a deep dive into punk music with vintage interviews and performances from AC/DC, Henry Rollins and Bad Brains. Plus, catch a baby-faced Rosie O’Donnell starting out in standup comedy.

Saturday, May 26

Soccer: UEFA Champions League Final: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
FOX, 2:30pm Live

Europe’s premier club soccer tournament season comes to a close in the final match today in Kiev, Ukraine, between Real Madrid and Liverpool.

MLB on FOX
FOX, 7pm
FOX opens its schedule of Major League Baseball primetime Saturdays leading up to July’s All-Star Game with three events. Depending on their location, viewers can check out the Los Angeles Angels at the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros at the Cleveland Indians or the San Francisco Giants at the Chicago Cubs.

Ransom: “Anatomy of a Lost Cause”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Anatomy of a Lost Cause,” after a hostage is executed in the midst of a high-stakes negotiation, Eric (Luke Roberts) is charged with aiding and abetting a kidnapper, and he faces self-doubt in the wake of his fatal error.

Taken: “Imperium”
NBC, 8pm
The series based on Luc Besson’s popular feature-film franchise returns to NBC’s lineup on Saturdays as it finishes out the rest of its second season (the series has recently been canceled). In “Imperium,” when a dangerous weapons dealer smuggles his wares into New York City, Bryan (Clive Standen) teams with the FBI in a race to stop him before he reaches the safety of international waters.

The Tale
HBO, 10pm
Original Film!
Filmmaker Jennifer Fox shares her personal experience of childhood sexual abuse and recovery in this difficult but important film, a Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee. Laura Dern and a preteen Isabelle Nélisse (Mama) play Fox at different times in her life, as the adult Jennifer (Dern) realizes, via a chance revisiting of a story she wrote as a prepubescent student, that the decades-older track coach she considered her first “boyfriend” actually groomed and raped her. Jason Ritter is eerily genial as Fox’s abuser while Ellen Burstyn is fiery as Fox’s mother Nettie, whose own guilt, shame and confusion helped her daughter assemble the real story.