It’s rather surprising that there hasn’t been a decent film about escaping slavery or the Underground Railroad, let alone a TV series. But here is the well-intentioned “Underground” (WGN America, 10 p.m.) beginning its 10-episode run chronicling some of the brave freedom seekers at one plantation.
With a strong cast that includes Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Christopher Meloni and Alano Miller, the first steps in plotting an escape come in trying to find a coalition — and do determine who is on whose side and who can be trusted. So there are some surprises among the more predictable action in tonight’s premiere.
The series from the network that brought us “Manhattan” is expected to have solid research and meticulous detail working (“Underground” was shot in actual slave cabins, for one thing). What’s unexpected is the occasional music, more from today’s hits than anything authentic for the period. That’s due to the participation of an executive producer, John Legend.
Here’s a story about renewed interest in the Underground Railroad.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton now spend more evenings together than most married couples. They have another Presidential Debate (Univision, CNN, 9 p.m.) tonight at Miami-Dade College in Florida, their eighth overall and second in four days. Marina Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos of Univision moderate with Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post.
“The Carmichael Show” (NBC, 10 p.m.) returns with a couple of episodes before it moves to its usual Sunday night slot.
Network TV’s boldest and most thoughtful series, “American Crime” (ABC, 10 p.m.) concludes its second season with a flurry of online information released about the families involved in the case at Leyland School.
The lurid Yuletide lingerie show is spread to spring as well with “The Victoria’s Secret Swim Special” (CBS, 9 p.m.), a bikini special with a parade of bikinis on the beaches of St. Bart’s, with breaks for performances by Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
Two more hours of “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) — the fifth and sixth hours this week — looks back at the blind auditions so far.
With a huge extermination bill looming, Ilana and Jaime throw a fundraising party on “Broad City” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies takes another dip into the Disney vault for a number of rarely seen features and shorts starting with a pair of Donald Duck cartoons, “The Whalers” (8 p.m.) and “Sea Scouts” (8: 10 p.m.) before “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (8:30 p.m.), the documentary “Operation Undersea” (10:45 p.m.), “Merbabies” (11:45 p.m.), “Secrets of Life” (midnight), “Nikki, Wild Dog of the North” (1:30 a.m.), “Return to Snowy River” (3 a.m.) and “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.” (4:45 a.m.).
In men’s college basketball tournaments, it’s Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh (ESPN, noon), Duke vs. N.C. State (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Clemson vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Virginia Tech vs. Florida State (ESPN2, 9 p.m. in the second round of the ACC tournament. In Big Ten first round play, it’s Minnesota vs. Illinois (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.). In first round play of the Big East, it’s Georgetown vs. DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.) and Marquette vs. St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 9:30 p.m.). It’s Oklahoma State vs Kansas State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.) and Texas Tech vs. TCU (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) in the first round of the Big 12. And it’s Holy Cross vs. Lehigh (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.) in the Patriot League final.
NBA action has Memphis at Boston (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Clippers at Oklahoma City (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Chicago at St. Louis (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
And in spring baseball, it’s Yankees at Mets (MLB, 1 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Trisha Yearwood, Chris Meloni. The View: Bonnie Raitt. The Talk: Jeff Garlin, Jaymes Vaughan, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Felicity Huffman, Wendi McLendon-Covey. Wendy Williams: Lily Aldridge, Robyn Moreno. The Real: Redfoo. Meredith Vieira: Theresa Caputo, Dean Cain.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Sally Field, Jerrod Carmichael, Esperanza Spalding. Jimmy Kimmel: Louis C.K., Connie Britton, St. Lucia. Jimmy Fallon: Penelope Cruz, Peyton Manning, Magic Johnson, Halsey (rerun). Seth Meyers: Jason Sudeikis, Kelly Rohrbach, Matthew Heidemann (rerun). James Corden: Martin Short, Will Arnett. Carson Daly: Dominic Monaghan, the Soft Moon, Nikki Glaser (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Julianne Malveaux, Russlynn Ali, Macy Gray. Trevor Noah: Sacha Baron Cohen. Larry Wilmore: Mac Miller. Conan O’Brien: Jason Sudeikis, Walton Goggins, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real.