It used to be a nice surprise when a movie star deigned to appear in a TV series. Now there’s such a glut there may be too many of them clamoring to get in. Take for example “Big Little Lies” (HBO, 9 p.m.) a glossy new series about rival moms in ritzy Malibu would be notable if it only had Reese Witherspoon as its star, but it also has Nicole Kidman, who co-produces, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern. Oh, there’s more: Zoe Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgard as a predatory husband, Adam Scott as a more benign one; Sarah Baker, oh, it goes on and on.
The soapy pilot, adapted from Liane Moriarty’s novel, has high class bickering and behind doors marital tensions, but also at the center of it some sort of murder that is alluded to but never much fleshed out for several episodes. Not only do we not know the culprit (it could be anybody of course); we don’t even know the victim. Woodley’s character is ostensibly the center, since she’s a newcomer introduced to the odd manners of the privileged mommy class, but also holds a memory of her own. Similarly, her more earthy acting style contrasts with the high gloss of the stars all around her.
“Little Big Lies” (like a grown up “Pretty Little Liars”) is full of its nagging annoyances, first of which is why should we care about these largely self-made problems of the rich? But its stars are trying so hard and turn in such good work that you know it’s something you’ll be watching every week despite it all.
When CBS let its one prestige show, “The Good Wife,” end last spring, the creators came up with a spin-off, concentrating on Christine Baranski’s character Diane Lockhart. But the resulting “The Good Fight” (CBS, 8 p.m.) airs on the network exactly once. Its remaining episodes will run on the subscription-only online service CBS All Access. What may bolster their internet business may hurt their original network though, by losing what looks to be a strong legal yarn. It takes place a year after last year’s finale, with Baranski shaken by financial fraud and forced to find work across town with a rival firm. Many of the stars from the former series return including Cush Jumbo. Also on board: Rose Leslie of “Game of Thrones” and Delroy Lindo.
“Billions” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) has the kind of premise that could have been kept to one full length movie, let alone a full season of a series. But it’s back for season two, and if the writers are inventive enough in making things interesting for Wall Street rivals Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, and their hard cut spouses, Maggie Siff and Malin Akerman, it may provide some interesting scenes in the afterglow of still-solid “Homeland” (Showtime, 9 p.m.). Catch up on the entire first season of “Billions” today starting at 9 a.m. It’s a free-Showtime weekend, so it’s free for everyone to tune in.
Another funny, explosive episode of “Girls” (HBO, 10 p.m.) in which Hannah tags along with Marnie’s secret weekend tryst with Desi and Shoshanna goes to a networking event that doesn’t go well.
Don’t expect too much from the early days of radio when “The Paley Center Salutes NBC’s 90th Anniversary” (NBC, 8 p.m.). The three hour event, hosted by Kelsey Grammar, concentrates on more recent history with Ted Danson, Tina Fey, Debra Messing, Noah Wyle William Shelter, Rob Lowe, Jennifer Lopez, Bob Costas and Al Michaels. Still those early days of radio, which they are counting int he 90 years, included Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergan, Bob Hope, Burns and Allen and Toscanini.
A Disney animated film finds home on Sunday night prime time with “Tangled” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
The NBA All Star Game (TNT, 8:20 p.m.), meanwhile, occurs on cable. Tip off coverage begins at 7 p.m.
New Orleans is also the inspiration of “Worst Cooks in America” (Food, 9 p.m.).
A pregnant “Victoria” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) chooses a regent just in case.
Homer becomes a chess champ on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Gayle’s cat gets an agent on “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
An agent is held and tortured on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
“Long Island Medium” (TLC, 8 p.m.) returns for a ninth season she could see coming. Theresa reads celebrities including Mo’Nique, Billy Gardell and Rosie O’Donnell, who might be seeing a cabinet impersonation in her future.
Alan tries to become prom king on “Son of Zorn” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
Rick encounters a mysterious collective on “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.). It is discussed on “Talking Dead” (AMC, 10:06 p.m.).
Lisette connects a disfigured, amnesiac soldier with his family on “Mercy Street” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
Violence explodes in Nassau on “Black Sails” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
“The Royals” (E!, 10 p.m.) reaches its third season finale.
Tracee Ellis Ross, Iliza Schlesinger, Joshua Malina and Cedric the Entertainer play “To Tell the Truth” (ABC, 10 p.m.) with host Anthony Anderson.
Elizabeth and Jack coach baseball on “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.).
A video game player is assaulted during a live stream on “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
The alphabetical 31 Days of Oscar on Turner Classic Movies moves from N to O to P: “North By Northwest” (6:30 a.m.), “Now, Voyager” (9 a.m.), “The Nun’s Story” (11 a.m.), “Of Mice and Men” (2 p.m.), “Oh, God!” (4 p.m.), “On the Town” (6 p.m.), “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (8 p.m.), “Papillon” (10:30 p.m.), “Pat and Mike” (1:15 a.m.), “A Patch of Blue” (3 a.m.) and “Pennies from Heaven” (5 a.m.).
Hockey includes Washington at Rangers (NBC, 12:30 p.m.), Detroit at Pittsburgh (NBC, 3:30 p.m.), Chicago at Buffalo (NBC Sports, 6 p.m.) and Boston at San Jose (NBC Sports, 8:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes George Washington at Duquesne (NBC Sport, noon), Bucknell at Boston University (CBS Sports, noon), Maryland at Wisconsin (CBS, 1 p.m.), DePaul at Butler (Fox Sports 1, 1:30 p.m.), Alabama Birmingham at Western Kentucky (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.), Georgetown at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.), UNLV at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 4 p.m.), Loyola Chicago at Illinois State (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Connecticut at Temple (ESPN, 4 p.m.) and Utah at Oregon State (ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.).
Women’s games include North Carolina at Louisville (ESPNU, noon), Temple at South Florida (ESPN2, 1 p.m.), Wake Forest at North Carolina State (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Dayton at Fordham (NBC Sports, 2 p.m.), South Carolina at Missouri (ESPN2, 3 p.m.) and Notre Dame at Syracuse (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).
In golf, the final round is played in the Genesis Open (Golf, 1 p.m.; CBS, 3 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Adam Schiff, Vice Admiral Robert Harward. CBS: Reince Priebus, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Reps. Devin Nunes and Elijah Cummings. NBC: Primus, Sen. John McCain. CNN: John Kasch, Sen. Robert Menendez, former national security adviser James Jones. Fox News: Priebus.