It’s about time Christopher Guest got into the TV biz; his approach to mockumentary has inspired a handful or more of the best comedies on TV in the last decade. What he chooses to go with, though, is so subtle at first it’s almost not there.
“Family Tree” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.) stars Chris O’Dowd (known to the late Sunday HBO crowd from his roles in “Girls” and “Bridesmaids”) as a man seeking a new chapter in his life, having lost his girlfriend and job. So he looks into genealogy instead. His immediate family is already pretty weird — his dad just loves old British TV comedies (which Guest also produced quite meticulously); his sister forever has a monkey puppet on her hand, who speaks with a mind of its own, through ventriloquism (and sounds a little like Glenda Jackson).
Things pick up next week, honest, when he tracks down an uncle who was the back half of a pantomime horse. Eventually, he’ll go to America to find relatives as well.
A night long finale comes for a pretty good season of “Survivor Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites” (CBS, 8 p.m.), with some pretty stinging blindsiding likely to still have its effect as the five whittle themselves down to three and others vote on a winner. Cochran may be a sentimental favorite to win, but he can be pretty ruthless as well. Dawn may have lost her good will with her stab at Brenda last week. I might just go for Eddie because his hands have been free of such treachery and he’s simply survived all these weeks. But one of the finalists has a medical emergency that throws a wrench into everything.
Those taping the proceedings better include the “Survivor Reunion” (CBS, 10 p.m.), since that’s when the winner is usually announced.
Eight men test themselves in the new “Ultimate Survival Alaska” (National Geographic Channel, ) but less for a prize (there isn’t one) than for pure survival. They have been enlisted to reproduce a Nat Geo expedition first conducted in 1890; can the 21st century guys hack it?
According the premise of “10 Buildings That Changed the World” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), all architectural designs can be traced back to these specific buildings. Even if you don’t buy the over-reaching premise, there are interesting things to learn about buildings from the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond to the Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry in Los Angeles.
Also new tonight is “XOX Betsey Johnson” (Style, 8 p.m.), about the flamboyant designer, working on a new plan after bankruptcy.
The title of “Holly Has a Baby” (E!, 9 p.m.) gives away the main idea of the series, featuring former “Girl Next Door” Holly Madison.
Daenerys tries to free more slaves for her army on “Game of Thrones” (HBO, 9 p.m.) as unwilling wedding planning occurs at King’s Landing.
There’s a lot of ‘splainin’ to do at the office once Don tells everyone he’s decided to merge on “Mad Men” (AMC, 10 p.m.).
It will take two hours to unravel this season’s wayward “Revenge” (ABC, 9 p.m.) on its finale. Finales also come for “Once Upon a Time” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) and “American Dad” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
Guest voices on a new episode of “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.) includes Bill Hader, Jane Krakowski, Patrick Stewart and Justin Bieber.
Selena’s trip to Finland doesn’t go so well on “Veep” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
Isabella Rossellini has done some fanciful work portraying bugs for her insect series. Tonight, in honor of the day she puts on costumes to talk about motherhood in the animal kingdom in the special “Mammas” (Sundance, 5:30 p.m.).
Who would think that there would be a new season of “Breaking Amish” (TLC, 10 p.m.). But there is one, subtitled “Brave new World” as the cast moves to Sarasota, Fla., which may be a little easier for the ex-Amish than New York City was.
“Long Island Medium” (TLC, 9 p.m.) also returns for a new season, but she could have predicted that.
Fareed Zakaria hosts a special, “Beyond the Manhunts: How to Stop Terror” (CNN, 10 a.m.).
A Mother’s Day double feature on Turner Classic Movies has “Roughly Speaking” (8 p.m.) and “I Remember Mama” (10 p.m.). What else is there for mom? Er, how about “As Good as It Gets” (AMC, 7 p.m.), “Dr. T and the Women” (Flix, 8 p.m.) or “The Help” (TMC, 8 p.m.)?
There is also your Elvis Presley movie of the night: “Spinout” (Encore, 8 p.m.).
Stanley Cup playoff games today have Washington at Rangers (CNBC, 4:30 p.m.), Boston at Toronto (NBC Sports network, 7:30 p.m.) and Detroit at Anaheim (NBC Sports network, 10 p.m.). In the NBA playoffs, it’s San Antonio at Golden State (ABC, 3;30 p.m.).
Nationally-broadcast baseball today are Toronto at Boston (TBS, 1:35 p.m.) and Angels at White Sox (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sens. John McCain, Jack Reed and Kirsten Gillinbrand, Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Linda Sanchez, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Retired Gen. James Cartwright, former Sen. Olympia Snowe, Donna Brazile. CBS: Former Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former Defense Seretary Robert Gates, Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Dick Durbin. NBC: Reps. Darrell Issa and Adam Kinzinger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Pickering. CNN: Pickering, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Tammy Duckworth and Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic consultant Mo Elleithee. Fox News: Rep.-elect Mark Sanford, Reps. Mike Rogers and Adam Smith, former Rep. Dennis Kucinich.