Even a 10-part series couldn’t quite contain Phillip Meyer’s epic book of earl Texas, “The Son” (AMC, 9 p.m.). So he had to cut out a third of the yarn of the McCullouch saga, which jumps back and forth from the young lad being kidnapped by Comanche in 1849 to his shift from cattle baron to oilman in 1915. Pierce Brosnan squints quite convincingly as the old guy. And there’s quite a lot of production values in recreating the corner of the West that rated hands between Mexico and the u.S. with a brief stint as its own republic.
Even as it fills the requirements of a Saturday night Western (after “Iron Horse” finished up), it has some of the lapses of the modern version of the form (such as unrealistically excellent teeth among the cast). The kickoff tonight takes two hours.
On the new “Nate and Jeremiah by Design” (TLC, 9 p.m.), Nate Berkus and Jeremiah counsel homeowners on home decor.
Another new series, this one in the gearhead mode, has designers building big one-of-a-kind vehicles, starting with a World War II rock crawler from a Jeep Wrangler. It’s called “Road Hauks” (History, 10 p.m.).
Iraqi wartime coverage gets a special report, “Return to Mosul” (CNN, 9 p.m.).
“War Dogs” (HBO, 8 p.m.), an arms dealer drama with Jonah Hill, makes its premium cable debut. Also: the thriller “The Boy” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) about a doll, with Lauren Cohan and Rupert Evans.
“Deadliest Catch: Captains’ Legacy” (Discovery, 8 and 9 p.m.) interviews captains in the upcoming season.
On “For Peete’s Sake” (OWN, 10 p.m.), Holley and Dolores meet with U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris about police training reform.
The made-for-TV romance “Moonlight in Vermont” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.) is about a woman who visits her dad’s country inn and meets her ex there.
On the made-for-TV thriller “The Wrong Mother” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), the nanny of a woman who has twins from an in vitro procedure and was the egg donor, lays claim to the babies.
The Craigslist Killer is featured on “Murder Made Me Famous” (Reelz, 8 p.m.).
Reality star turned White House official Omarosa Manigault is looking for a gown on “Say Yes to the Dress” (TLC, 8 p.m.).
Don’t know much about “Hidden Money Makeover” (TLC, 10 p.m.), but it’s probably not really about putting cosmetics on currency.
The canceled “Training Day” (CBS, 9 p.m.) series has been exiled to Saturday nights, alongside “Ransom” (CBS, 8 p.m.), where a burger holds a family hostage.
The return of “Prison Break” (Fox, 9 p.m.) gets a replay.
“Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) goes to an abandoned prison in Guthrie, Okla.
Turner Classic Movies plays three films written and directed by Nunnally Johnson, “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” (8 p.m.), “Black Widow” (10:45 p.m.) and “The Three Faces of Eve” (12:45 a.m.). Then comes the horror double feature “The Zodiac Killer” (2:30 a.m.) and “Psycho” (4:15 a.m.).
Baseball includes Boston at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Cubs at Milwaukee (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Hockey has Rangers at Ottawa (NHL, 12:30 p.m.), Washington at Boston (NBC, 3 p.m.), Pittsburgh at Toronto (NHL, 7 p.m.) and Calgary at San Jose (NHL, 10 p.m.).
Clippers at San Antonio (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) gets a prime time broadcast. Earlier, it’s Chicago at Brooklyn (NBA, 5 p.m.).
In golf, third round action commences on The Masters (CBS, 3 p.m.).
There’s a number of spring football games on today, including one from Texas A&M (ESPNU, 2 p.m.) and Florida State (ESPN, 3 p.m.).
In college baseball, it’s Vanderbilt at South Carolina (ESPN2, noon); in softball, Mississippi at Auburn (ESPNU, 4 p.m.).
In the NCAA men’s hockey Frozen Four final, it’s Minnesota Duluth vs. Denver (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
A 2015 “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings) features the Avett Brothers and Nickel Creek.
Louis C.K. returns to host a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.), with the Chainsmokers as musical guest.