TV Best Bets

Monday, April 12: The Going Gets Tough on ‘Race to the Center of the Earth’

National Geographic

ALSO SEE: 2021 NASCAR TV Schedules on FOX Sports & NBC Sports

All Times Eastern.

Monday, April 12

Race to the Center of the Earth: “The Going Gets Tough”
Nat Geo, 10pm

As the grueling race continues, it will take physical and mental strength for the teams to endure. In Russia, car troubles jeopardize the team’s lead. In Canada, relationships are put to the test. In South America, the team must make a risky decision. And in Southeast Asia, the team will face their most exhausting challenge yet.

Keeping Faith
Acorn TV
Season Premiere!

The BBC thriller comes to a close in a dramatic final season, with the first two episodes available this week and remaining four debuting weekly. Season 3 finds small-town lawyer Faith Howells attempting to navigate the disillusion of her marriage, while taking on an emotionally wrenching legal medical case involving a gravely ill young boy. Into this mix, Faith is confronted by a long-buried figure from her past: her mother, whose reappearance uncovers secrets in Faith’s background and will force audiences to ask the question, “Who is Faith Howells?”

Small Sacrifices
This TV, 9:30am

Farrah Fawcett is chilling in this 1989 TV movie (based on Ann Rule’s true-crime book) as Diane Downs, who shot her three children, then concocted a carjacking story.

TechCheck
CNBC, 11am
New Series!

This live, hourlong tech-driven program is the destination for compelling, in-depth reporting and analysis of the tech industry. It is the first CNBC broadcast anchored from multiple locations across the country, with the network’s Jon Fortt and Carl Quintanilla on the East Coast and Deirdre Bosa on the West Coast. CNBC’s Senior Media & Entertainment Correspondent Julia Boorstin will play a key role from Los Angeles, delivering reporting, analysis, and interviews around streaming, social, and the convergence of media and technology.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
TCM, 5:15pm
Catch a Classic!

Comedy films aren’t often produced on a grand and epic scale, nor are they often nominated for Oscars, but once in a while there are exceptions to one or both of these cases. Such an exception is this hilarious 1963 classic from director Stanley Kramer that was one of the first — and is still one of the greatest — epic comedy productions. Nominated for six Academy Awards (winning one for its sound effects), the sprawling film boasts a roughly two-hour-and-40-minute runtime as it chronicles a wild road trip among various memorable characters racing to be the first to find the location of a stolen fortune divulged by a mysterious stranger they have each come upon while driving along a desert highway. Spencer Tracy heads the unforgettable cast that includes featured roles for some of Hollywood’s greatest comedians and comic actors — Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers, Terry-Thomas and Jonathan Winters among them. The film also includes cameo appearances (some uncredited) from nearly every other legendary joker in the business, including Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny and the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and “Curly” Joe DeRita, who get one of the movie’s biggest laughs without even saying a word in a very brief appearance). A comedy this big and star-studded had not previously been seen, and we’re unlikely to experience anything like it again, so enjoy. — Jeff Pfeiffer

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7:30pm Live

An NBA twin bill on ESPN has the L.A. Lakers at New York’s Madison Square Garden for a matchup against Julius Randle and the Knicks, followed by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco to clash with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee
FS1, 7:30pm Live

The Chicago Cubs start a three-game series at Milwaukee’s American Family Field as they take on the Brewers in an NL Central rivalry game.

Hoarders: “Cobra”
A&E, 8pm

To be part of his unborn granddaughter’s life, Cobra must clean up his hoarded house and turn his 37-acre property into a safer environment. The Hoarders team of experts really have their hands full with a completely unsanitary and unstable house, a trailer home, multiple ruined cars and ultimately Cobra’s stubborn attitude about getting rid of junk.

American Idol: “Top 12 Live Reveal”
ABC, 8pm

American Idol gets closer to crowning a winner as it continues. Following America’s overnight vote, 10 contestants will be revealed from the Top 16, leaving six contestants to perform for a chance at one of two spots picked by the judges, rounding out the Top 12.

The Neighborhood: “Welcome to the Art Class”
CBS, 8pm

When Tina and Gemma (Tichina Arnold and Beth Behrs) get more than they bargained for in a revealing art class, Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer) can’t hide his jealousy and takes drastic action in the new episode “Welcome to the Art Class.”

All American: “Testify”
The CW, 8pm

Spencer (Daniel Ezra) is upset with Olivia (Samantha Logan), which leaves him to face some difficult truths of his own. Olivia makes things even worse, leaving Billy (Taye Diggs), Laura (Monet Mazur) and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) worried. Billy is in search of a kicker and holds school tryouts and is surprised at who the number one candidate turns out to be. Meanwhile, Coop (Bre-Z) makes a decision about school after talking with her mom.

The Voice: “The Battles Part 3”
NBC, 8pm

The Battle Rounds continue as the coaches enlist music industry stars to prepare their artists to go head-to-head in hopes of advancing to the Knockouts. Each coach has one steal and one save.

Bob (Hearts) Abishola: “A Big African Bassoon”
CBS, 8:30pm

Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku) has difficulty taking charge of the nursing staff while Gloria (Vernee Watson) is on vacation in the new episode “A Big African Bassoon.”

All Rise: “Forgive Us Our Trespasses”
CBS, 9pm

In the new episode “Forgive Us Our Trespasses,” Ness (Samantha Marie Ware) assists Emily (Jessica Camacho), who has the difficult case of a repeat offender.

Running Wild With Bear Grylls: “Danica Patrick in the Moab Desert”
Nat Geo, 9pm

Bear Grylls takes champion racer Danica Patrick out into the Moab desert for some high-octane, pulse-pounding action in the wild. Together they face off against venomous creatures, sheer cliffs and scorching heat as they make their way across some of the harshest terrain around. Still, nothing is more intimidating than the final challenge that leaves even Danica unnerved.

Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations: “Calabria”
Cooking Channel, 10pm

Foodie Andrew Zimmern gives us the boot: Italy! In the southern region of Calabria, eggplant parm is on the menu.

Breeders: “No Baby”
FX, 10pm

Tonight on the wry comedy, London parents of two Paul (Martin Freeman) and Ally (Daisy Haggard) struggle with the possibility of baby No. 3, only to discover their firstborn is acting more grownup than they’re comfortable with.

People Magazine Investigates: “The Delphi Killer”
Investigation Discovery, 10pm

In February 2017, on an unseasonably warm day in Delphi, Indiana, middle school friends Libby German and Abby Williams decide to go on a hike in the local woods. When the girls fail to show at the predetermined pickup point and darkness falls, a massive search ensues. The next day the girls are found murdered. Police have few clues as to the identity of the killer until they discover a key piece of evidence: Libby may have recorded her killer on her cellphone.

Debris: “You Can Call Her Caroline”
NBC, 10pm

Bryan (Jonathan Tucker) and Finola (Riann Steele) head to Maine to pursue an INFLUX lead. Meanwhile, Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) learns Anson’s (Scroobius Pip) secrets.

Miz & Mrs
USA Network, 11pm
New Episodes!

The reality series following the lives of married WWE stars Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and Maryse Mizanin returns with new Season 2 episodes.

Tuesday, April 13

Retro Tech
YouTube
Season Premiere!

Season 2 of the Emmy-nominated series starring YouTube creator Marques Brownlee explores the technological promises of the past. Episode 1 premieres on Brownlee’s official YouTube channel, with new episodes dropping daily as part of a weeklong channel takeover. YouTube Premium subscribers will be able to view an additional episode exclusively on April 13th. In each episode Brownlee will be joined by prominent experts, celebrities and YouTube creators who will provide their professional knowledge and comedic takes on a range of subjects from teleportation and robotics to hyperconnectivity and smart homes. The impressive lineup of featured guests this season includes Bill Gates, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael Ian Black, Wyatt Cenac and more.

Judgment at Nuremberg
TCM, 8:15am
Catch a Classic!

This powerful 1961 film, one of the most impactful courtroom dramas of all time, is a fictionalized account of the third of the 12 military tribunals that tried Nazi war criminals after World War II. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director (Stanley Kramer), and won for Best Actor (Maximilian Schell as defense counsel Hans Rolfe) and for its screenplay by Abby Mann, based on his earlier teleplay for Playhouse 90. Best Actor Oscar nominee Spencer Tracy portrays American judge Dan Haywood, who presides over the trial of four German jurists accused of “legalizing” Nazi atrocities. But as graphic accounts of sterilization and murder unfold in the courtroom, mounting political pressure for leniency forces Haywood to make the most harrowing and difficult decision of his career. The stupendous cast also includes Judy Garland, who received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination in one of her final film roles; Best Supporting Actor nominee Montgomery Clift; Burt Lancaster; Richard Widmark; Marlene Dietrich; and William Shatner. — Jeff Pfeiffer

NHL Hockey: Philadelphia at Washington
NBCSN, 7pm Live

James van Riemsdyk leads the Philadelphia Flyers against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in D.C.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 7:30pm Live

Kawhi Leonard and the L.A. Clippers hit the road to take on and the Indiana Pacers. Following that game, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics are in the Pacific Northwest to battle Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Flash: “Growing Pains”
The CW, 8pm

When a mysterious ice-powered enemy frames Frost (Danielle Panabaker) for a brutal crime, she must find a way to clear her name. Meanwhile, Barry (Grant Gustin) and Iris (Candice Patton) have a surprise houseguest, and Joe (Jesse L. Martin) continues to deal with Kristen Kramer (guest star Carmen Moore).

The Resident
FOX, 8pm
New Episodes!

In the new episode “Doors Opening, Doors Closing,” a case becomes personal for the staff when they treat a pregnant woman who is carrying Jake’s (guest star Conrad Ricamora) future adopted child.

Star Trek: “Assignment: Earth”
H&I, 8pm

This polarizing 1968 episode sent the USS Enterprise to … 1968, for historical research. “Assignment: Earth” also introduced Gary Seven (Robert Lansing) and Roberta Lincoln (Teri Garr) for a potential spinoff, which didn’t happen.

Young Rock: “My Baby Only Drinks the Good Stuff”
NBC, 8pm

A new episode of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s semiautobiographical sitcom premieres tonight.

Kenan: “Wednesday’s Gal”
NBC, 8:30pm

A premiere episode of Kenan Thompson’s new sitcom debuts tonight.

Big Sky: “Catastrophic Thinking; All Kinds of Snakes”
ABC, 9pm
New Episodes!

This thrilling David E. Kelley-helmed series returns for its spring premiere tonight with two back-to-back episodes. Three months after Ronald’s escape, Cassie and Jenny have officially partnered up to take down a fresh slew of troublemakers, but all isn’t coming up roses; Ronald is still on the loose, a domestic case takes a macabre and deadly turn and a U.S. Marshal is sticking his nose in their case files. Right as the women of Dewell & Hoyt seem to be getting used to the new normal, Jenny gets an alarming call from an old flame, leading her and Cassie headfirst into a new case, a new jurisdiction and a whole lot of new trouble. It’s time to meet the Kleinsassers.

Chopped: Martha Rules: “Pantry Surprise!”
Food Network, 9pm

Host Ted Allen heads to a Maine kitchen where Martha Stewart lords over a five-episode tournament that pits a total of 16 chefs against the clock, mystery baskets … and Martha’s ever-changing challenges. Trust us, that’s a good thing.

Prodigal Son: “Ouroboros”
FOX, 9pm
New Episodes!

The devilishly fun crime drama returns with new Season 2 episodes and new cases for NYPD profiler Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne). Michael Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bellamy Young and Catherine Zeta-Jones star. Alan Cumming is back in a recurring role.

Our Towns
HBO, 9pm

In this upbeat documentary, shot before the pandemic, journalists James and Deborah Fallows explore how communities such as Bend, Oregon, and Eastport, Maine, are facing challenges in inspiring ways. It’s based on the Fallowses’ book Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America. Tom Hanks is a fan!

This Is Us: “Brotherly Love”
NBC, 9pm

Kevin (Justin Hartley) visits Randall (Sterling K. Brown) in Philadelphia.

New Amsterdam: “The Legend of Howie Cournemeyer”
NBC, 10pm

Max (Ryan Eggold) offers free care to all HIV+ patients who come to New Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Bloom (Janet Montgomery) and Reynolds (Jocko Sims) butt heads.

Frontline: “American Insurrection”
PBS, 10pm

An investigation in partnership with ProPublica of the rising threat of far-right violence in America, this program exposes the individuals and ideologies behind a wave of crimes, culminating in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Wednesday, April 14

The Circle
Netflix
Season Premiere!

A new cast of allies, enemies and not-so-subtle catfish connect and compete for a major cash prize in Season 2 of this reality competition series.

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
Netflix
New Series!

Brian Dixon (Jamie Foxx), successful business owner and bachelor, just unexpectedly became a full-time father to his teenage daughter Sasha (Kyla-Drew). Determined to turn over a new leaf, Brian is going to need all the help he can get from his dad (David Alan Grier) and sister (Porscha Coleman) — and Sasha’s going to need all the help she can get learning how to fit into her new, lovingly imperfect home. Full of heart and humor, this multi-camera sitcom is inspired by Foxx’s real-life relationship with daughter Corinne Foxx, who also serves as executive producer.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7pm Live

The Brooklyn Nets are on the road to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, and Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks are in Memphis to tussle with Jonas Valančiūnas and the Grizzlies.

The Goldbergs: “Who’s Afraid of Brea Bee?”
ABC, 8pm

After realizing there may be trouble in lovers’ paradise for Erica and Geoff, Beverly involves herself in their relationship as well as Barry and Joanne’s to make sure everyone stays together. Meanwhile, Adam and Brea are cast opposite of each other in the school play, but their excitement for one another’s success grows dim when one starts to outshine the other onstage.

The Big Interview With Dan Rather
AXS TV, 8pm
Season Premiere!

Legendary newsman Dan Rather returns for Season 9 of his interview series. The season kicks off with Hillary Scott of the chart-topping country band Lady A and her husband, drummer Chris Tyrrell. The couple reflects on their 10-year relationship (which was the inspiration behind the group’s smash hit “Just a Kiss”), the band’s decision to change their name and raising their three daughters.

Tough as Nails
CBS, 8pm
Season Finale!

Before one person wins $200,000 and a 2021 Ford F-150 truck, the final four pair off to build an iron structure, with the duo finishing last going into overtime.

Kung Fu: “Silence”
The CW, 8pm

When adjusting to life back at home doesn’t go as planned, Nicky (Olivia Liang) turns to Henry (Eddie Liu) for help in her hunt for Zhilan (guest star Yvonne Chapman). Meanwhile, as Jin (Tzi Ma) looks forward to life getting back to normal, Mei-Li (Kheng Hua Tan) isn’t as optimistic. Finally, after lending a hand to a young woman in need, Nicky finds the mental clarity she desperately needs.

The Masked Singer: “Group A Finals — In the Nick of Time!”
FOX, 8pm

In the new episode “Group A Finals — In the Nick of Time!,” Group A returns to the stage as the remaining singers battle it out for their spot in the Super Eight, and another wildcard enters the competition for a chance to steal a spot in the game.

Nature: “The Leopard Legacy”
PBS, 8pm

Follow the story of a leopard mother as she raises her cubs near the Luangwa River, facing a constant battle to hunt successfully, defend her territory and protect her cubs against enemies.

Home Economics: “Mermaid Taffeta Wedding Dress, $1,999”
ABC, 8:30pm

The Hayworth family is invited to the wedding of longtime family friend Spags. When Connor enlists Tom’s help to write and rewrite a wedding toast, things take an unexpected turn between the brothers. Sarah realizes Denise is upset they never had a real wedding, while Marina meticulously plans her drinking schedule for a night out without the kids.

The Conners: “Regrets, Rehabs and Realtors”
ABC, 9pm

Dan encounters a surprise visitor who shares some unsolicited advice, leaving him feeling guilty. Meanwhile, Darlene welcomes a new employee to Wellman Plastics.

Expedition X
Discovery Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!

Explorer Josh Gates, scientist Phil Torres and paranormal researcher Jessica Chobot return for another season of investigating mysteries. In the season premiere, they hunt the legendary Beast of Bray Road across rural Wisconsin.

Game of Talents
FOX, 9pm

According to the episode title, we can expect tonight’s performances to involve “Flying Dogs, Flipping Tricks and Flaming Cocktails.” We’re in!

Bargain Block
HGTV, 9pm
New Series!

There grows the neighborhood! Areas of Detroit are getting major upgrades thanks to home-renovation experts Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, who buy up multiple properties on a single block, overhaul ’em on a budget and sell them at fair prices to first-time buyers. Tonight, one place’s chipped old paint inspires the guys’ so-called “desert modern” design.

Forged in Fire: “Memory Game”
History, 9pm

You try to re-create a complicated blade after having just 20 seconds to commit it to memory. The weapons masters who slice through that challenge have to make something called an elephant tusk sword. This is clearly not for amateurs!

Call Your Mother: “The Prime of Miss Jean Rains”
ABC, 9:30pm

Before Sharon leaves town, she and Jean decide to plan a trip to Vegas. Meanwhile, Celia and Freddie have a serious conversation about whether or not they want kids.

I Survived a Crime
A&E, 10pm
Season Finale!

Back-to-back episodes close out the season. In the first installment, a protective father fends off a would-be home invader with a shovel; a street fight over a parking spot turns into an action film-like disaster for a bakery owner; a robber throws gasoline on a clerk, threatening to light him on fire; and more. Second, a retail store worker puts her life on the line to save a prized puppy stolen before her very eyes; a homeowner witnesses his family held at gunpoint and fights back against the assailants; a woman working at her family business battles a knife-wielding assailant who demands money; and more.

A Million Little Things: “Trust Me”
ABC, 10pm

Sophie is distraught after a disturbing encounter, and Gary calls in Maggie and Regina for support. Meanwhile, Eddie makes an unexpected friend.

Josh Gates Tonight
Discovery Channel, 10pm
Season Premiere!

Expedition X host Josh Gates returns for a new season of his talk show, a unique cocktail of celebrity guests, exciting excursions into the field and comedy. In these all-new episodes, Gates will be joined by Christopher Lloyd, Kevin Bacon, Craig Robinson, Gabriel Iglesias, Haley Joel Osment, Giancarlo Esposito, Larry the Cable Guy and many more stars.

NHL Hockey: Vegas at Los Angeles
NBCSN, 10pm Live

Mark Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights head to Los Angeles to skate against Anže Kopitar and the Kings.

The Last Picture Show
TCM, 11:45pm
Catch a Classic!

Set in the early 1950s, this critically acclaimed, Best Picture Oscar-nominated film from 1971 follows the loves, dreams and fates of a group of high schoolers in a small Texas town that is slowly dying, both culturally and economically. Peter Bogdanovich, who had only had three small films to his directing credit before this, ended up receiving a Best Director Oscar nomination for his masterfully rendered drama. Bogdanovich also shared, with Larry McMurtry, an Oscar nomination for the screenplay, which is based on McMurtry’s novel. The stellar cast boasts a top-notch mix of then-newer stars as well as classic character actors, including Jeff Bridges (Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee), Timothy Bottoms, Cloris Leachman (Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner), Cybill Shepherd (who, at age 20, was appearing in her first film after having success as a fashion model in her teens), Ben Johnson (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner), Ellen Burstyn (Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee), Eileen Brennan, Clu Gulagar and Randy Quaid. Robert Surtees also received an Oscar nomination for his stark and lovely black-and-white cinematography that enhances the film’s bleak beauty. — Jeff Pfeiffer

Thursday, April 15

Spy City
AMC+
New Series!

In this Cold War espionage drama, Dominic Cooper (Preacher) plays an English spy who is sent to Berlin in 1961 to sift out a traitor in the U.K. embassy or among the Allies, shortly before the construction of the Berlin Wall. The city, declared by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev as “the most dangerous place on earth,” is teeming with spies and double agents, and one wrong move could trigger the threat of nuclear war as American, British and French troops in West Berlin remain separated from their Soviet and East German counterparts by nothing more than an imaginary line.

Restaurant Recovery
discovery+
New Series!

Todd Graves, founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing food chains in the world, is on a mission to help struggling restaurateurs recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. With his deep industry knowledge and undeniable passion, Todd is rolling up his sleeves with his team to bring restaurants back to glory, one city at a time, and he’s got some surprising, high-profile friends who help out along the way.

Wahl Street
HBO Max
New Series!

This six-episode docuseries offers fans a glimpse into star Mark Wahlberg’s life as he juggles the demands of a rigorous film schedule coupled with an ever-growing network of diverse businesses including his clothing line, Municipal; his gym studio, F45; the Wahlburgers chain of restaurants; and his production company, Unrealistic Ideas. The series also introduces the cast of colorful characters who make up Wahlberg’s real-life entourage.

Infinity Train
HBO Max
Season Premiere!

In Book 4 of the animated series, Min-Gi and Ryan are childhood best friends who dream of performing in a band and traveling across Canada together. After a sudden falling out splits them apart, both find themselves aboard the mysterious Infinity Train. Lost and confused, they meet Kez, a free-spirited concierge bell, who accompanies them on their journey. As tensions rise and old wounds come to light, both Min-Gi and Ryan must decide if they can work together or risk losing themselves forever aboard the train.

Ride or Die
Netflix
Original Film!

This dramatic road movie/psychological thriller from Japan is based on Ching Nakamura’s manga series Gunjo, and asks viewers about the true nature of love as it weaves a tale of extreme love and hate between two women who have transcended all boundaries of right and wrong, love and hate.

Younger
Paramount+
Season Premiere!

The seventh and final season of Darren Star’s critically acclaimed, smash-hit comedy debuts on streaming service Paramount+. The first four episodes are available today; the remaining eight episodes will drop on Thursdays. The full season will then air on the linear TV Land network later this year. In the final season, Liza’s (Sutton Foster) personal life is on shaky ground as she tries to stay true to herself. After a setback at work, Kelsey (Hilary Duff) doubts her career decisions and discovers a new creative outlet, while Maggie (Debi Mazar) gets “canceled.”

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 7:30pm Live

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks welcome Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to State Farm Arena. Then the great L.A. Lakers-Boston Celtics rivalry is renewed as the Lakers play host to Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.

Station 19: “Here It Comes Again”
ABC, 8pm

Maya, Jack, Vic, Travis and Sullivan respond to a burn call at an ice rink. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman and her husband seek out the station for help, and Maya and Carina have a difficult conversation.

Walker: “Rule Number 17”
The CW, 8pm

Walker (Jared Padalecki) and Captain James (Coby Bell) investigate a high stakes poker game where one of the players may have information on Emily’s killer. However, the night takes a turn when Geri (Odette Annable) shows up to join the game. Meanwhile, Micki (Lindsey Morgan) takes August (Kale Culley) and Stella (Violet Brinson) on an unusual adventure.

Hell’s Kitchen: “What Happens in Vegas…”
FOX, 8pm

In the new episode “What Happens in Vegas…,” the remaining three chefs get a tour of Chef Ramsay’s top-secret Las Vegas spots. At the last stop, they’ll cook a five-course meal to determine which two chefs will advance to the finals.

Manifest: “Wingman”
NBC, 8pm

Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) is sidelined by devastating news; Ben (Josh Dallas) teams up with a gifted 828er to aid a young teen.

United States of Al: “Shorts/Neykar”
CBS, 8:30pm

In the new episode “Shorts/Neykar,” Al (Adhir Kalyan), unaccustomed to seeing women’s bare legs, becomes flustered when he goes to the DMV to take his driver’s license test and the female instructor is wearing shorts.

Grey’s Anatomy: “Sign o’ the Times”
ABC, 9pm

Maggie is preoccupied with Winston while trying to treat a patient wounded in the Seattle protests. Meanwhile, Levi is tested by an emergency, and the doctors struggle to treat a patient who doesn’t believe in COVID.

Mom: “Endorphins and a Toasty Tushy”
CBS, 9pm

Put some ice on that bruised ego! Critical Bonnie’s (Allison Janney) self-esteem takes a hit when her childhood foster sis, Tammy (Kristen Johnston), finds success. Plus: Their AA buddy Jill’s (Jaime Pressly) new hobby brings a surprise.

Last Man Standing: “Butterfly Effect”
FOX, 9pm

Mike and Vanessa (Tim Allen and Nancy Travis) help Mandy and Kyle (Molly McCook and Christoph Sanders) with their estate planning in the new episode “Butterfly Effect.”

A Time to Kill
Investigation Discovery, 9pm
New Episodes!

The key to solving the toughest homicides lies somewhere in the final hours of a victim’s life. In this series, determined investigators must piece together events during this critical window to reconstruct the timeline, unlock the motive and ultimately close in on the killer. Season 1 of A Time to Kill picks up with new episodes starting tonight.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: “Our Words Will Not Be Heard”
NBC, 9pm

As Jayvon Brown’s (Blake Morris) false-arrest lawsuit against Capt. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) gains traction, she and Deputy Chief Garland (Demore Barnes) lobby NYPD brass to address departmental racial bias. SVU is also called into a case involving the alleged kidnapping of a civil rights advocate’s sister by a hate group.

B Positive: “Love Life Support”
CBS, 9:30pm

Gina (Annaleigh Ashford) sabotages her relationship with Eli (Terrence Terrell) after he invites her to a wedding in Las Vegas in the new episode “Love Life Support.”

The Moodys
FOX, 9:30pm

Sean Sr. (Denis Leary) copes with ill feelings after being benched on his hockey team right before the championship game.

Fear Thy Neighbor
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
Season Premiere!

Season 7 of this true-crime series that tells chilling tales of those who have unwittingly taken up residence with a psycho, or even a killer, begins tonight.

Law & Order: Organized Crime: “Say Hello to My Little Friends”
NBC, 10pm

Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) team up to investigate a major lead. Meanwhile, Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) makes moves to elevate his business.

Little Caesar
TCM, 10pm
Catch a Classic!

“This is Rico speaking! R-I-C-O! Rico! Little Caesar, that’s who!” Edward G. Robinson’s title character bellows into the phone near the end of this seminal 1931 gangster drama, one of the earliest of that genre. Things don’t end too well for Rico after that, but for the actor, Hollywood got the message loud and clear: The 37-year-old Robinson, not gifted with matinee-idol looks, powerfully introduced himself as a first-class star of the silver screen with his mesmerizing performance here. Moviegoers would also begin to hail the hard-hitting social consciousness dramas like this one that would become the Depression-era mainstay of Warner Bros. The film, based on the novel by William R. Burnett (and nominated for an Oscar for its screenplay adaptation) is the tale of pugnacious Caesar Enrico “Rico” Bandello, a hoodlum with a Chicago-sized chip on his shoulder, few attachments, fewer friends and no sense of underworld diplomacy as he rises to the upper echelons of organized crime. And Robinson — in real life a genteel art collector who disdained guns (while filming the movie, his eyelids were taped to keep them from blinking when he fired a pistol) — instantly became forever associated with the screen’s archetypal gangster, with his attitude and dialect becoming a staple among impressionists for decades to come. — Jeff Pfeiffer

Joseline’s Cabaret: Miami
WE tv, 10pm
New Series!

This acquired original series from Zeus Network follows Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta superstar alum Joseline Hernandez in her hometown of Miami as she creates a sensual cabaret featuring her own original music and a group of dancers who aren’t quite ready to fall in line just yet. The “Puerto Rican Princess” faces her biggest professional challenge to date, all while juggling life as a mother, fiancée, mogul and music artist.

Taxi: “Hollywood Calling”
Decades, 12am (late-night)

A Hollywood director (Martin Mull) and his entourage invade the garage to research a movie about cabbies in this 1979 episode. Bobby (Jeff Conaway) will do anything for a part, but Alex (Judd Hirsch) doesn’t want his privacy invaded.

Friday, April 16

Frank of Ireland
Amazon Prime Video
New Series!

This six-episode half-hour comedy is a coproduction between Amazon Studios and Britain’s Channel 4. Set in an idyllic suburb of Dublin, it is the hilarious story of a man’s hapless search for respect as he struggles to grow up and get his life together, while hopefully not burning everything to the ground in the process. Brian Gleeson (Peaky Blinders) stars as Frank Marron, a 32-year-old misanthropic fantasist in arrested development who is convinced that the world owes him.

Earth at Night in Color
Apple TV+
Season Premiere!

The natural history series returns for a second season with six all-new episodes narrated by Tom Hiddleston. With the use of cutting-edge cameras and a revolutionary post-production process, the series presents nature’s nocturnal wonders with striking new clarity. Some never-before-seen behaviors of animals after dark, captured using low-light cameras and light from a full moon, include elephants battling hyenas around starlit waterholes and kangaroos embracing under the cover of darkness to find a mate. Other animals in the new season include pumas, polar bears, manta rays and tiny planktonic life in the ocean.

Tiny World
Apple TV+
Season Premiere!

Paul Rudd returns to executive produce and narrate Season 2 of this series that offers a unique perspective into the natural world, illuminating the ingenuity and resilience of the planet’s smallest creatures. With over 200 species filmed, and with 3,160 hours of footage, the six-episode season shares surprising stories and spectacular cinematography that spotlight tiny creatures and the extraordinary things they do to survive. Captured on film for the first time are anemone shrimp, which clap to signal their intent as cleaners of predatory fish; the “biting” behavior of fang blenny fish, filmed in slow-motion with unprecedented use of phantom high-speed cameras; and Etruscan shrews, known to be the hungriest mammals on earth.

The Year Earth Changed
Apple TV+

David Attenborough narrates this documentary special that showcases footage from around the world after an unprecedented year. The program takes a fresh new approach to the global lockdown and the uplifting stories that have come out of it. From hearing birdsong in deserted cities and seeing whales in Glacier Bay, to meeting capybara in suburbs across South America, people worldwide have had the chance to engage with nature like never before. Witness how the smallest changes in human behavior — reducing cruise ship traffic, closing beaches a few days a year, identifying more harmonious ways for humans and wildlife to coexist — can have a profound impact on nature.

Ghost Adventures: “Mayhem in Millville”
discovery+

Zak Bagans and the crew investigate a Utah home owned by a descendent of the prominent Jessop polygamist family. Tenants fear evil has taken up residence in the basement, putting the guys in serious danger.

Magnolia Table With Joanna Gaines: “Italian”
discovery+

With a little help from Chip, Joanna prepares an Italian feast featuring Dutch-oven lasagna, focaccia bread, fig and grapefruit salad, and chocolate souffles.

Paranormal Caught on Camera: “Long Island Ghosts and More”
discovery+

A man leaves his childhood ghosts behind in New York; a woman conjures a stunning encounter with a UFO in Philadelphia; and a mysterious entity roams the streets of Turkey at night.

Big Shot
Disney+
New Series!

John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig and Yvette Nicole Brown lead the cast of this 10-episode series from cocreator David E. Kelley. Stamos plays hotheaded men’s basketball coach Marvyn Korn, who, after getting ousted from his job in the NCAA for throwing a chair at a referee, must take a job at Westbrook School for Girls, a private all-girls high school, in an effort to redeem what’s left of his career and reputation.

Earth Moods
Disney+
New Series!

This series from National Geographic is a visual and soundscape experience that takes viewers on the ultimate retreat — transporting them to a vast array of colorful and calming corners of the world. Visit places with blue glaciers, arid deserts, lush rainforests and pulsating metropolises to escape from the cacophony of everyday life. With an original score produced by Neil Davidge (Massive Attack), each “mood” gives the audience an opportunity to relax and reset as the sound of music and the natural world washes over them. All five episodes — “Frozen Calm,” “Night Lights,” “Tropical Serenity,” “Desert Solitude” and “Peaceful Patterns” — are available today.

Fast & Furious Spy Racers
Netflix
Season Premiere!

In Season 4 of the animated spinoff of the blockbuster feature film franchise, when the Spy Racers are framed for a crime they didn’t commit, they flee to Mexico to clear their name. There, they uncover a new evil scheme.

Why Are You Like This
Netflix
New Series!

This Australian sitcom, a razor-sharp satire of millennial life in Melbourne, follows three best friends as they negotiate work, fun, identity politics, hookups and wild nights out.

The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs
Shudder & AMC+
Season Premiere!

The hit series returns with Briggs, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic, presenting eclectic horror movie double features, interrupting the films to expound upon their merits, histories and significance to genre cinema. This series has become as much of a cult favorite as many of the films it features; the show’s hashtag, #TheLastDriveIn, has trended in the top 10 on Twitter in the U.S. during the premiere of every episode and special, often reaching No. 1.

The Magnificent Ambersons
TCM, 4:15pm
Catch a Classic!

If Orson Welles had never made another movie after his first feature, 1941’s iconic Citizen Kane, he would still be remembered as a genius filmmaker. The fact that his second film, 1942’s The Magnificent Ambersons — a daring study of the decline of a wealthy family in the late 19th-century Midwest and the relationship between an arrogant son and his family’s matriarch — is now regarded as highly as that first one really solidifies his place in the moviemaking pantheon. Written, produced, directed and narrated by Welles, Ambersons is based on the Booth Tarkington novel. The film has sort of followed Citizen Kane’s trajectory in that it wasn’t well received upon release by all critics — though it was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture — but over the years has become renowned as a landmark drama. Unfortunately, Welles’ original vision was lost after the studio, RKO, wrested control of the film’s editing from the director and removed more than an hour of footage, which was destroyed. But Welles’ artistry still shines in what we have, making the movie all that more impressive a viewing experience. The experience is enhanced by a top-notch cast of actors — many of whom worked with Welles on Kane — including Joseph Cotten, Tim Holt, Dolores Costello and Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee Agnes Moorehead. — Jeff Pfeiffer

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 7pm Live

Kawhi Leonard leads the L.A. Clippers against Joel Embiid and the 76ers in Philadelphia. ESPN’s second game has Julius Randle and the New York Knicks visiting Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks.

MacGyver: “H20 + Orthophosphates + Mission City + Corrosion + Origins”
CBS, 8pm

In the new episode “H20 + Orthophosphates + Mission City + Corrosion + Origins,” Bozer (Justin Hires) learns that his aunt’s death may not have been an accident, but she may have been murdered for trying to expose the city’s contaminated water supply.

The Blacklist: “Anne”
NBC, 8pm

Red (James Spader) enjoys a quiet visit with a friend at her home in rural America.

Magnum P.I.: “Whispers of Death”
CBS, 9pm

In the new episode “Whispers of Death,” a psychic hires Magnum and Higgins (Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks) to prevent a murder she claims to have foreseen.

Everything but the House: “Hiding Tons of Treasure”
HGTV, 9pm

Siblings help their mom downsize her New Jersey home, but they don’t know how much their stuff is worth. Lara Spencer and her team help uncover everything from classic dolls to designer coats, and the family hopes it’s enough to fund a trip to Germany.

Blue Bloods: “Happy Endings”
CBS, 10pm

Baker (Abigail Hawk), the police commissioner’s (Tom Selleck) trusted aide, is assaulted on the street. Meanwhile, officer Eddie (Vanessa Ray) publicly undermines her husband — and NYPD superior — Jamie (Will Estes).

Van Helsing
Syfy, 10pm
Season Premiere!

In the 13-episode fifth and final season, Vanessa (Kelly Overton), Violet (Keeya King) and Jack (Nicole Muñoz) must figure out ways to escape and evade the various obstacles in their path to prevent them from their mission, leading to an epic final showdown between the Van Helsings and the Dark One (Tricia Helfer). Who will win the battle between light and dark?

Saturday, April 17

Ghost Brothers: Lights Out
discovery+
New Series!

In their new series, the Ghost Brothers — Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass and Marcus Harvey — explore haunted hotspots across the country, checking out and sizing up local legends and supernatural stories. In the premiere episode, “Roff Family Rituals,” when the spirit of an infamously possessed girl starts calling, the Ghost Brothers pick up the line. But as they communicate with the ghostly caller in Watseka, Illinois, they find there’s more to her death than anyone suspected.

Portals to Hell: “Pennhurst Asylum”
discovery+

Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman investigate Pennhurst Asylum, an infamous paranormal hotspot in Spring City, Pennsylvania. With its long and dark history of inhumane treatment of its patients, this sprawling campus is well known for both powerful and diverse spirit activity. The pair enlist the help of guest investigator Heather Taddy and psychic Michelle Belanger to tackle the massive complex and its rampant hauntings.

The Beverly Hillbillies
Decades, 12pm

Dip into your liquor cabinet every time the Clampetts call their swimming pool a “cement pond” during this classic sitcom binge of 86 ’60s episodes.

NHL Hockey: Pittsburgh at Buffalo
NBC, 3pm Live

An NHL Saturday matinee on NBC sees Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins facing off against Sam Reinhart’s Sabres at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.

Major League Baseball
FS1, beginning at 4pm Live

Saturday MLB action on FS1 begins with José Abreu and the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox. Later tonight, the Minnesota Twins are in Anaheim for a tilt with Mike Trout and the L.A. Angels.

NBA Basketball
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 4:30pm Live

Bojan Bogdanović and the Utah Jazz visit the L.A. Lakers on ESPN. Then in primetime on ABC, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are at Boston’s TD Garden to take on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.

Murders at the Boarding House: “Part One”
Oxygen, 7pm

When the Sacramento Police Department receives a missing person’s report from a concerned social worker, they send Detective John Cabrera to the boarding house where the individual was last seen. The elderly landlady, Dorothea Puente, is friendly and cooperative, but when Cabrera discovers human remains in the backyard, Puente falls under suspicion of murder. Now, with police getting closer to unearthing the rest of the bodies, the old lady gives Cabrera the slip and goes on the run.

One Wild Day
BBC America, 8pm
New Series!

This three-part natural history series embarks on a 24-hour journey with the most extraordinary animals on our planet. The series begins with “Deserts,” exploring a day in the life of creatures in Earth’s hottest, driest environments.

Pit Bulls & Parolees: “Sound of Silence”
Discovery Channel, 8pm

Villalobos Rescue Center founder Tia Torres travels to Mississippi and meets a hybrid wolf-dog in need of a fresh start, while VRC helper Lizzy Chock hangs back in NOLA and faces a hard choice with one of the animals.

Boxing: Tony Harrison vs. Bryant Perrella
FOX, 8pm Live

This Premier Boxing Champions event features Tony Harrison vs. Bryant Perrella in a super welterweight bout at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

Envy: A Seven Deadly Sins Story
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!

Gabrielle Flores (Rose Rollins) has it all — a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter and one of the best PR firms in the country. When Gabrielle’s father suddenly reveals she has a half sister, Keisha (Serayah), as a result of a brief affair, only child Gabrielle is delighted to welcome her into her life. But Keisha, who grew up with nothing, wants more than a sisterly bond from Gabrielle — she wants her life, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Right in Front of Me
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!

Carly (Janel Parrish) gets a second chance at romance with her college crush but isn’t sure how to impress him until her new friend Nick (Marco Grazzini) starts giving her advice. Soon she learns who the right man for her really is.

Storm of Suspicion
The Weather Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!

The true-crime series returns for Season 2 with back-to-back episodes tonight. The show examines murders where weather played a central role in solving or covering up the crime. Each episode features experts and forensic meteorologists, and is shaped as a real-life mystery with weather ultimately playing the pivotal role in how the deadly event was resolved.

Mister Roberts
TCM, 10pm
Catch a Classic!

During today’s “31 Days of Oscar: Oscars From A to Z” lineup, Turner Classic Movies dials “M” for its movie titles, a lineup that includes the must-see (or -see again) classic Mister Roberts. Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway stage role in this Best Picture Oscar-nominated 1955 comedy/drama about the dehumanizing aspects of war. Onboard a supply ship in the Pacific theater during the waning days of World War II, cargo officer Doug Roberts (Fonda) longs for combat duty, but in the meantime serves as a buffer between the men and their tyrannical captain (James Cagney). The terrific cast also includes William Powell, in his final film appearance, as the ship’s doctor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Jack Lemmon as Ensign Pulver, who would later be played by Robert Walker Jr. in a 1964 sequel named after the character.