One in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder, a 30 percent jump from two years ago, when it was one in 88, the Center for Disease Control reported this spring.
With that in mind (and since this is World Autism Awareness Month), there are a couple of things on TV tonight about the disorder. First, “True Life: The Benjamins” (MTV, 7 p.m.) follows a pair of adult brothers with autism. Then, much later, the 1973 film “The Candy Snatchers” (TCM, 2 a.m.) is about an autistic boy who is sole witness to the kidnapping of a teen heiress. It’s paired with “Seance on a Wet Afternoon” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.) from 1964 — a drama about a medium who kidnaps a child so she can help police solve the crime.
Autism is not the only malady tackled tonight. Callie Thorne of “Necessary Roughness” and “Rescue Me” stars with Laura Wiggins of “Shameless” in “Starving in Suburbia” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) about an anorexic teen in the burbs.
The Sylvester Stallone action film “Bullet to the Head” (HBO, 8 p.m.) makes its cable debut. Also on tonight: “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
The two films that represented the end of the saga are played back to back — “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” (ABC Family, 5:30 p.m.) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).
Nicolle Nichols of “Star Trek” hosts the second installment of “The Real History of Science Fiction” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
The second season start of “Orphan Black” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) set a record for DVR playback last week,with viewership jumping 97 percent after those who watched later in the week were counted. So if you’re not watching tonight’s episode, we’re sure you’ll catch up to it later this week.
“Despicable Me” (ABC, 8 p.m.) gets a broadcast showcase, and so does NASCAR (Fox, 6:30 p.m.) with a race in Richmond.
“Yukon Vet” (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.) has nothing to do with returning seniors on the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team.
Turner Classic Movies turns to fairy tales, starting with Cocteau’s 1946 “Beauty and the Beast” (8 p.m.), followed by “The Glass Slipper” (10 p.m.) and “Hans Christian Andersen” (midnight).
Sometimes I tune to “There’s Something About Mary” (More Max, 9 p.m.) just to get a glimpse of Jonathan Richman performing.
NBA playoffs include Indiana at Atlanta (TNT, 2 p.m.), San Antonio at Dallas (TNT, 4:30 p.m.), Miami at Charlotte (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Oklahoma City at Memphis (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.). In the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s Detroit at Boston (NBC, 3 p.m.), Columbus at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.), Minnesota at Colorado (NBC Sports, 9:30 p.m.) and Los Angeles at San Jose (CNBC, 10 p.m.).
Baseball today includes Angels at Yankees (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.), Pittsburgh at St. Louis (Fo Sports 1, 4 p.m.), and Cincinnati at Atlanta (MLB, 7:10 p.m.).
Norah Jones plays a rerun of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
The Louis C.K. hosted episode of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.), which was just as notable for its musical guest Sam Smith, will be rerun.