In the tradition of tourists in trouble comes the new series “Mad Dogs” (Amazon, streaming) in which four pals in their 40s go visit another old buddy who has done much better than them, ensconced in a huge mansion in Belize. But it’s apparent his riches are from some underground dealings which turn a little reunion weekend ugly quickly.
It’s familiar turf with some familiar faces, including Steve Zahn, Billy Zane and Michael Imperioli as well as Romany Malco and Ben Chaplin. But aside from the dimestore psychology and underlying fear of foreigners, it’s a fairly gripping start. But how will it unfold over several episodes? I guess this is the weekend to find out.
Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky star in the Metropolitan Opera production of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” on “Great Performances at the Met” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Last year’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (Starz, 9 p.m.) has its premium cable debut. And the documentary on the history of a great old satirical magazine of the 1970s, “Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon” (History, 9 p.m.) has its cable debut.
A new documentary series, narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Truth and Power” (Pivot, 10 p.m.) takes a look at several social movements starting with Black Lives Matter.
Michael McCaul, Rep. Alan Grayson, Jon Meecham, Liz Mair and Seth MacFarlane are guests on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
Michael Ian Black hosts the “Easiest Game Show Ever” (Pop, 9 p.m.), which is necessary since his first contestants used to be on “Big Brother.”
Gerber Group’s CEO goes underground on “Undercover Boss” (CBS, 8 p.m.) and has to eat a lot of baby food, I’m guessing.
A police retiree goes all Charles Bronson on the subway on a new “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Emma Thompson is star on Turner Classic Movies with “Much Ado About Nothing” (8 p.m.), “Sense and Sensibility” (10 p.m.), “Impromptu” (12:30 a.m.) and “The Remains of the Day” (2:30 a.m.).
Blizzards seem to have affected sports schedules such that the only men’s basketball games scheduled are Toledo at Northern Illinois (CBS Sports, 6:30 p.m.), Canisius at Niagara (ESPNU, 7 p.m.) and Albany at Stony Brook (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
The hockey game was moved up a couple of hours with Anaheim at Washington (NHL, 5 p.m.).
And NBA action has Miami at Toronto (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Indiana at Golden State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
And in a place where it is summer, third round play continues in the Australian Open (Tennis, 7 p.m.; ESPN2, 9 p.m., 3 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Juliane Hough, David Silk. The Talk: William H. Macy, Jane Kaczmarek, David LeFevre. Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Lopez (rerun). Wendy Williams: Whitney Cummings. The Real: Jermaine Dupri. Meredith Vieira: Christie Brinkley, Jacob Tremblay, Bryan Adams (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Steven Tyler, Gaby Hoffman, Lapsley. Jimmy Kimmel: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Jacob Tremblay, Leon Bridges (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jeff Daniels, Lilly Singh, St. Lucia. Seth Meyers: Rashida Jones, Khloe Kardashian, Rachel Bloom, Glenn Kotche (rerun). James Corden: Taraji P. Henson, Justin Bartha, Jermaine Fowler (rerun). Carson Daly: Bruce Campbell, Luna, Jesse Joyce (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Geoffrey Cowan.