It’s tempting to think of Bernard Madoff as a grown up Duddy Kravitz, the scheming young man Richard Dreyfuss played in one of his first movies 42 years ago. Here, at any rate, is Dreyfuss at 68, portraying the crooked financier behind the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history.
Blythe Danner plays his trusting wife and such casting, along with brief appearances of people like Lewis Black and Charles Grodin, are the chief pleasures of the four hour, two night miniseries “Madoff” (ABC, 9 p.m.), the first half of which shows tonight. Unfortunately, at a time when high finance is also becoming high entertainment, in movies like “The Big Short” and on the small screen in Showtime’s “Billions,” this one seems much more flatly written whose main device is a near-constant narration. A duddy, you might say. Certainly enough people were burned by the swindler to not ever be entertained by his fraudulent dealings though.
If you’re not entirely tired of these things, there is a hastily-organized New Hampshire Democratic Town Hall (CNN, 9 p.m.) where remaining candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders take questions from potential voters individually.
Breakfast was always the preferred dish with that name, but “Dinner at Tiffani’s” (Cooking, 8 p.m.) is a new show featuring Tiffani Thiessen of the old “Saved by the Bell” cooking with pals.
On the former ABC Family, “Young and Hungry” (Freeform, 8 p.m.) returns for its third season; “Baby Daddy” (Freeform, 8:30 p.m.) starts its fifth season.
The gang is lured by the suburbs on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FXX, 10 p.m.).
Hollywood week continues on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Creatures of the sea who light up are featured on a new “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Contestants on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 9 p.m.) have to prepare meals for Kris Jenner and Dita Von Teese.
“Arrow” (The Cw, 8 p.m.) fights the Calculator. After all, it is tax season.
“Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan” (Travel, 10 p.m.) looks for an Andean bear.
The whole gay thing becomes an issue on “American Crime” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Josh learns more about Liza on “Younger” (TV Land, 10 p.m.).
A men’s rights group is investigated on “The Mysteries of Laura” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar continues with “Love Letters” (8 p.m.), “The Third Man” (10 p.m.), “The Fallen Idol” (midnight), “Joan of Paris” (1:45 a.m.), “Captain Caution” (3:30 a.m.) and “One Million B.C.” (5 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include St. John’s at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m.), Notre Dame at Miami (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Penn State at Iowa (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Creighton at Villanova (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Marquette at Seton Hall (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.), Kansas State at Kansas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Arizona State at Washington (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
NBA action includes Golden State at Washington (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Minnesota at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Detroit at Tampa Bay (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
And college football National Signing Day (ESPN2, 1 p.m.; ESPNU, 5 p.m.) gets its own breathless coverage.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Rebel Wilson, Antonio “L.A.” Reid. The View: Richard Dreyfus, Blythe Danner, Marcia Clark. The Talk: Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Valentine. Ellen DeGeneres: Jason Sudeikis, Tim Tebow. The Real: Rex Lee. Meredith Vieira: Colin Hanks, Wolfgang Puck.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Dr. Phil McGraw, Mark & Jay Duplass, Michael Eric Dyson, Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals. Jimmy Kimmel: Channing Tatum, Regina King, Kopecky. Jimmy Fallon: Martin Scorsese, Gillian Jacobs, the Chainsmokers. Seth Meyers: Alan Cumming, Matt Harvey, Alexander Chee, Russell Simins. James Corden: Rosie O’Connell, Nikki Glaser, Addison Osta Smith. Carson Daly: Ron Perlman, Ratstat (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Richard Dreyfuss. Trevor Noah: Hannibal Buress. Larry Wilmore: Wendy Williams. Conan O’Brien: Josh Brolin, Tom Segura, Cage the Elephant.