Would we care more about climate change if celebrities were involved? That’s the motivation behind “Years of Living Dangerously” (Showtime, 10 p.m.), a new 10-part series that examines different aspects of the crisis, which is becoming as big as the stars who are looking at it. First off is Harrison Ford, who gets awfully angry about deforestation in Indonesia (you half expect him to tell it to “Get off my Plane!” “Air Force One” style). Next week, Arnold Schwarzenegger joins firefighters battling the increased number of wildfires. It’s not as if reporting like this hasn’t existed all along, it’s just that the Jerry Weintraub-production and James Cameron direction and A-list participation, make it all seem a little more urgent. (But still: what a terrible title).
Its main problem getting through to audience is just how crowded Sunday nights have become with quality TV. The main event tonight is the return of “Mad Men” (AMC, 10 p.m.) with all of the style and swagger one expects from a show that’s been playing at the height of TV possibilities since the start. The trajectory now is to the conclusion; as the decade so lovingly and precisely portrayed is coming to an end, so is the series, with the first seven episodes of the final season beginning tonight, followed by the final seven in 2015. We’re sworn to secrecy on what happens, but you will recall that Don has been given leave of his job amid a lot of bicoastal action. I can say there are a couple of fine uses of rock songs in tonight’s episode and a couple of new characters.
Glad to see two other series returning tonight as well. “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime, 9 p.m.), back for its sixth season has Jackie back using drugs but just pretending to be clean for her meetings, job and relationships. “Californication” (Showtime, 9:30 p.m.) begins its final season with Hank Moody’s dissolute Hank Moody again trying to get back with his wife while trying a new line of business — TV writing, for a cop show run by Michael Imperioli.
Unfortunately they both come opposite “Game of Thrones” (HBO, 9 p.m.), which got the highest ratings for the network since “The Sopranos” finale last week. And tonight, they hold another lavish wedding. And you know how those tend to turn out. You better RSVP, or at least DVR.
Conan O’Brien hosts “The MTV Movie Awards” (MTV, 9 p.m.) and he’ll probably do a pretty good job. And while a number of A-list stars will take part, awards will go to popular, but not great movies. Performances include Eminem and Rihanna teaming up to perform “The Monster,” and there will be performances by Twenty One Pilots and Ellie Goulding joining Zedd.
The two hour “Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers” (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.) is a remarkable film. Though it concentrates on just a couple of the victims and their stories initially, it starts to take off with an inside look at how the FBI and other agencies began scouring video to find the bombers. I hadn’t seen the film of actually placing the suspected bomb backpack on the ground and walking away. And it somehow slipped my mind the crazy confrontation with local Watertown police that involved heavy gunfire, pipe bombs and culminated with one brother running over the other one and killing him — all vividly and credibly recreated on film with accompanying narration of the cops involved. And while officials initially vowed to both find out who did it and why, the question of why is dropped in the film just as it was in reality.
With the return of “The Blechley Circle” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), the brainy British import about WWII code breakers turned amateur detectives, PBS is practically BBC America 2 for a night that starts with “Call the Midwife” (PBS, 8 p.m., checklocallistings) and continues with “Mr. Selfridge” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Who of the incubator will be part of the new start up on “Silicon Valley” (HBO, 10 p.m.)?
A four part documentary begins tonight that retraces the steps of migrants who died while crossing the desert from Mexico to the United States, titled “Borderland” (Al Jazeera, 10 p.m.).
Selena’s campaign office is not so impressive on “Veep” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.).
A three part series on the life of Arnold Palmer, culled from a series of interviews, begins on “Arnie” (Golf, 10 p.m.).
“Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” (Fox, 9 p.m.) looks at the universe from the tiniest vantage point.
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp talk about her death and the current trial of Oscar Pistorius in the special “Pistorius on Trial: Nowhere to Run” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Perhaps inspired by “Cosmos,” “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.) flashes into the future, when Lisa is married to a zombie version of Milhouse.
It’s not a Bronies convention on “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 7 p.m.), it’s an EquestraCon.
After a one week break, “The Amazing Race” (CBS, 8 p.m.) goes to Rome.
Sixteen home cooks compete for $50,000 and the title of “America’s Best Cook” (Food, 9 p.m.), a new competition hosted by Ted Allen.
A 13 film salute to Mickey Rooney, who died at 93 a week ago takes up the day on Turner Classic Movies with “Broadway to Hollywood” (6 a.m.), “The Devil is a Sissy” (7:30 a.m.), “A Family Affair” ((9:15 a.m.), “You’re Only Young Once” (10:30 a.m.), “Captains Courageous” (noon), “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (2 p.m.), “The Human Comedy” (3:45 p.m.), “Killer McCoy” (6 p.m.), “Boys Town” (8 p.m.), “Men of Boys Town” (10 p.m.), “National Velvet” (midnight), “Babes on Broadway” (2:15 a.m.) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (4:30 a.m.).
Today is the final round of The Masters (CBS, 2 p.m.).
Basketball action includes Oklahoma City at Indiana (ABC, 1 p.m.), Orlando at Brooklyn (NBA, 6 p.m.) and Memphis at Lakers (NBA, 9:30 p.m.).
NHL games include Detroit at St. Louis (NBC, 12:30 p.m.) and Dallas at Phoenix (NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m.).
Baseball includes Tampa Bay at Cincinnati (MLB, 1:10 p.m.) and Boston at Yankees (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sen. Rand Paul, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power. CBS: Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Elijah Cummings. NBC: Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Donna Edwards, former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. CNN: Reps. Steve Israel and Greg Walden. Fox News: Sens. Tim Scott and Sheldon Whitehouse, Reps. Sander Levin and Charles Boustany, Mike Huckabee.