“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” (HBO, 8 p.m.) brings light to the story of the African-American woman whose cells unwittingly were used for decades of research and breakthroughs, but does so through usual Hollywood methods: Now it’s the story of the white science writer (Rose Byrne) who has to track down the understandably suspicious family.
Oprah Winfrey, who produced, turns in her most demanding role since “The Color Purple” as a daughter who is fighting some of her own issues in finding the story of her family. But director George C. Wolfe is letting a lot of these characters fly off the hook in scenes that are meant to inject drama but often seem just overplayed. Still, it’s about as impressive a lineup of African-American talent as you’ll see in a TV movie, with Courtney B. Vance, Reg E. Cathey and Leslie Uggams, among others. But the film’s pivot to family drama and emotion is a turn away from science, key to the story and the focus of big marches today.
The March for Science (C-SPAN, 9 a.m.), by the way, gets live commercial-free coverage through most of the day.
The Stanley Cup playoffs mean it’s Hockey Saturday Night with Montreal at Rangers (NBC, 8 p.m.). Other first round games today include St. Louis at Minnesota (NBC, 3 p.m.) and Edmonton at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
The special “An Ocean Mystery: The Missing Catch” (Smithsonian, 8 p.m.) looks at the drop in global fish numbers due to overfishing.
“Doctor Who” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) takes Bill to a city on a distant planet that is empty of colonists. Last week’s episode reruns at 7:50 p.m.
On “The Vet Life” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), a bearded dragon is laying bad eggs.
A skin-peeling dragon appears on “Class” (BBC America, 10:05 p.m.).
New to premium cable tonight is “Mechanic: Resurrection” (Cinemax, 9:45 p.m.), the action movie with Jason Statham, Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones.
On the made for TV “The Perfect Catch” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.) Nikki Deloach plays a woman returns home to revive the local diner and she runs into her old boyfriend, now a baseball star (Andrew Walker).
On “The Other Mother” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), a divorced man’s new wife turns his daughter against his ex. Annie Wersching, Kimberley Crossman and Tyler Christopher star.
A body builder wants to “Say Yes to the Dress” (TLC, 8 p.m.).
Patton Oswalt talks about his late wife’s obsession with finding the Golden State Killer on “48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
“Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) looks into a haunted silent movie theater.
Health issues stalled a renovation on “Nate and Jeremiah by Design” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Sir Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Jack Whitehall, Gemma Whelan and Take That are on a new episode of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 11:05 p.m.).
Somebody on “Playhouse Masters” (TLC, 10 p.m.) wants a structure to have a observatory.
“Murder Comes to Town” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) looks at the case of a Florida woman who disappears after a Super Bowl party.
“Training Day” (CBS, 9 p.m.) is burning off its episodes on Saturdays.
Four turtles are aided by “Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
A two part marriage saving episode for former reality stars Neffe and Soullow concludes on “Iyanla: Fix my Life” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies has movies about submarines on “The Enemy Below” (8 p.m.), “Action in the North Atlantic” (10 p.m.) and “The Spy is Black” (12:30 a.m.). Later comes the blaxploitation classics “Dolemite” (TCM, 2:15 a.m.) and “Cleopatra Jones” (TCM, 4 a.m.).
NBA Playoffs have Toronto at Milwaukee (TNT, 3 p.m.), Washington at Atlanta (TNT, 5:30 p.m.), San Antonio at Memphis (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Golden State at Portland (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Cubs at Cincinnati (MLB, 1 p.m.), Washington at Mets (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and Edmonton at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
In golf, there’s third round play in the Texas Open (Golf, 1 p.m.; CBS, 3 p.m.).
Spring college football games include Notre Dame (NBC Sports, 12:30 p.m.) and Alabama (ESPN, 3 p.m.).
Men’s lacrosse includes North Carolina at Notre Dame (ESPNU, noon), Duke at Marquette (CBS Sports, 1 p.m.), Maryland at Ohio State (ESPNews, 2 p.m.), Michigan at Johns Hopkins (ESPNU, 2 p.m.) and Providence at Denver (CBS Sports, 3:30 p.m.).
College baseball includes South Carolina at Florida (ESPN2, noon), North Carolina State at Boston College (ESPNU, 4 p.m.) and Oregon State at UCLA (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
College softball includes Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), Oregon at Arizona (ESPN2, 5 p.m.) and Georgia at Texas A&M (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Cassandra Wilson sings Billie Holiday on a 2015 replay of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) is a rerun from last year, with Tom Hanks hosting and Lady Gaga as musical guest. It includes both the “Black Jeopardy” sketch and the introduction of David S. Pumpkins.