John Ridley’s “American Crime” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is something of a miracle for broadcast TV: a nuanced, multi-layered drama about serious issues, compellingly directed with a top-notch repertoire cast returning for a new story each season.
For season three, it turns to rural America, focusing on all kinds of economic slavery — from migrant workers to sex trafficking, with the opioid drug problem filtering down through all of it. Race and class are also part of stories.
Regina King stars as a social worker with her own issues, Felicity Huffman as the wife in a family farming business that benefits from ill-treatment of seasonal workers; Benito Martinez as a father crossing the border to look for a son. Timothy Hutton and Lili Taylor don’t show up until episode four, as a furniture company president and his wife. Sandra Oh, Cherry Jones and Janel Moloney are also part of the drama, definitely worth a spot on your Sunday night.
It’s pledge time on public broadcasting, so who knows exactly when you’ll get to see this “American Masters” (PBS, 7:30 p.m., check local listings) on Patsy Cline, which benefits from a wealth of performance video, a feminist point of view and the involvement of a lot of country stars from Reba McEntire to Kacey Musgraves. It’s narrated by Roseanne Cash.
On “Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX, 10 p.m.), production is already starting on “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
A couple’s dinner is a little awkward on “Big Little Lies” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
A supply drop off hits a snag on “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
As if to remind you about daylight savings time changes, “Once Upon a Time” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is followed by “Time After Time” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Bart becomes a star basketball player on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The Revolutionary War story is wrapped up on “Making History” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
A judge is shot on “Chicago Justice” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
A man raising alligators in his attic is investigated on “North Woods Law: New Hampshire” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
Melissa is locked up for her own good on “The Last Man on Earth” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
The Philippines’ president makes a pass at “Madam Secretary” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
A 4-year-old girl cuts her own hair on “Little Big Shots” (NBC, 8 p.m.)
An undercover operation aims to take out a drug lord on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Ignore the snow warnings, The “Spring Baking Championship” (Food, 9 p.m.) starts its third season.
Elizabeth has growing pains on “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.).
Carrie and Saul present their evidence to Keane on “Homeland” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Dinner in Maui turns ugly on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
A two part episode wraps up on “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
It’s dove season on “Lone Star Law” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
A doomsday cult in Hawaii is visited by “Believer” (CNN, 10 p.m.).
On “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery, 10 p.m.), weather in the Ecuadorian cloud forest is awful.
The new couple goes to Milan on “The Arrangement” (E!, 10 p.m.).
On “Girls” (HBO, 10 p.m.), Hannah’s mom comes to New York, lured by her big news.
Handing out flyers is dispiriting work on “Crashing” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.).
No shortage of news ready to satire on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO, 11 p.m.).
Chuck tries a new strategy on “Billions” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
Julie Bowen learns about her past on “Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
Northeast fishing resumes with the return of “Wicked Tuna” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.).
I’ve long since stopped “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (E, 9 p.m.), but it begins its 13th season.
Starting its 12th season is “Guy’s Grocery Games” (Food, 9 p.m.); but “Top Gear” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) can double that; it’s starting its 24th.
Families on “The Missing” (Starz, 8 p.m.) may want to contact “Long Lost Family” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
A Dorothy Dandridge double feature on Turner Classic Movies has “Carmen Jones” (8 pm.) and “Bright Road” (10 p.m.). Then comes two silents starring Marion Davies, “The Bridge’s Play” (TCM, midnight) and “The Red Mill” (TCM, 1:15 a.m.) and the French film “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quad du Commerce, 1080 Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles” (TCM, 2:45 a.m.).
The final men’s college championship games are played before the tournament seedings are announced. that includes Princeton vs. Yale (ESPN2, noon) in the Ivy League title game; Rhode Island vs. VCU (CBS, 12:30 p.m.) for the Atlantic 10 title; Kentucky vs. Arkansas (ESPN, 1 p.m.) in the SEC title game; Texas State vs. Troy (ESPN2, 2 p.m.) in the Sun Belt title game; Michigan vs. Wisconsin (CBS, 3 p.m.) in the Big Ten title game; and SMU vs. Cincinnati (ESPN, 3:15 p.m.) in the American Athletic Conference title game.
The NCAA Selection Show (CBS, 5:30 p.m.) comes next, followed by all manner of “Bracketology” (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
In women’s basketball, it’s Navy at Bucknell (CBS Sports, 11 a.m.) in the Patriot League title game; Central Arkansas vs. Stephen F. Austin (CBS Sports, 1 p.m.) for the Southland title game; and Robert Morris vs. Bryant (ESPNU, 2 p.m.) in the Northeast title game.
NBA action includes Chicago at Boston (ABC, 3:30 p.m.), Miami at Indiana (NBA, 6 p.m.) and Cleveland at Houston (ESPN, 9 p.m.).
Hockey includes Minnesota at Chicago (NBC, noon), Rangers at Detroit (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) and Washington at Anaheim (NHL, 9:30 p.m.).
The World Baseball Classic includes Dominican Republican vs. Colombia (MLB, 12:30 p.m.), Italy vs. Puerto Rico (MLB, 3:30 p.m.), U.S. vs. Canada (MLB, 7 p.m.) and Mexico vs. Venezuela (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: White House budget director Mick Mulvaney, Sen. Tom Cotton, Reps. Adam Schiff and Elijah Cummings. CBS: Rep. Paul Ryan, Sens. Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders. NBC: Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Gov. John Kasich. CNN: Mulvaney, Sens. John McCain and Cory Booker, Reps. Mark Meadows and Luis Gutierrez. Fox News: Reps, Jim Jordan, White House economic adviser Gary Cohn.