After Richard Dreyfuss already played Bernie Madoff on a two night mini-series, it hardly seems necessary to hash it out again. But although HBO’s “The Wizard of Lies” (HBO, 8 p.m.) begins dourly as he’s arrested for a $65 billion Ponzi scheme and marquee star Robert De Niro seems as stoic as the swindler, Barry Levinson’s film opens up in a way the earlier film never did, showing key moments with the family, where De Niro’s performance really starts to shine, stacking up as one of his best in years.
As his pained wife, Michelle Pfeiffer turns in a pretty good performance as well, while the drama of the film turns on the effects or complicity of his sons. There are some beautiful set pieces as time moves forward and back and a kind of tension that matches whatever recent financial crisis film you want to compare it with. It’s good stuff.
The last ever episode of the struggling “Training Day” (CBS, 9 p.m.), which may not have been renewed even if Bill Paxton hadn’t died.
“Doctor Who” (BBC America, 9 p.m.)looks in the Vatican’s secret library.
A meteor shatters space-time and shoots the gang on “Class” (BBC America, 10:05 p.m.) to unknown areas.
We’re already up to episode five, six and seven on “12 Monkeys” (Syfy, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.), which just started season three yesterday. Those monkeys are binging.
Last year’s psychological thriller “When the Bough Breaks” (Starz, 8 p.m.) with Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall and Jaz Sinclair.
The eighth season premiere of “Autopsy: The Last Hours of…” (Reelz, 8 p.m.) covers the death of Prince.
On the made-for-TV “The Art of Us” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.), a dog walker’s paintings are discovered by a professor. Romance may play a part.
Another TV movie, “Seduced by a Stranger” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.) a woman who falls for a new neighbor gets to meet his ex, who has some warnings.
A Kate Middleton lookalike shops on “Say Yes to the Dress: UK” (TLC, 8 p.m.) (Is it Pippa?).
Prairie Flower is torn between love and duty on “The Son” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
The three part session with woman and her daughters comes to a conclusion on “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
“National Enquirer Investigates” (Reelz, 9 p.m.) Rihanna and Chris Brown.
“Nate and Jeremiah by Design” (TLC, 9 p.m.) helps a couple whose home was destroyed in a flood.
“The Dead Files” (Travel, 10 p.m.) travels to Chicago.
A country couple goes up in flames on “Fatal Vows” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.).
On “Body Bizarre” (Discovery Life, 9 p.m.) a baby born with eight limbs has surgery.
If you missed the premiere earlier this week, “Downward Dog” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) it gets a replay.
Newlyweds are found dead on “Evil in Disguise” (Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.).
A single mother who struggles to control a rebellions daughter seeks help from “The Book of Gray” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Anna Nicole Smith gets “Exposed with Deborah Norville” (Reelz, 10 p.m.).
A couple has three cats that fight so much they move to a bigger house for more space on “My Cat from Hell” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
A murder rattles a small Wyoming town on “Prescription for Murder” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Guy Ritchie, Charlie Hunnam and Imelda May play “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 11:05 p.m.).
“Fruitville Station” (BET, 8 p.m.) gets a cable showing.
Turner Classic Movies presents a trio of films set in Buenos Aires, “Gilda” (8 p.m.), “You Were Never Lovelier” (10:15 p.m.) and “Cornered” (midnight).
Then, the best way to get ready for the new season of “Twin Peaks” Sunday may come by watching his weird 1977 “Eraserhead” (TCM, 2 a.m.), followed by another 70s horror classic “It’s Alive” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
The NBA Playoffs have Golden State at San Antonio (ESPN, 9 p.m.).
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s Nashville at Anaheim (NBC, 7:15 p.m.) in prime time.
Golf’s AT&T Byron Nelson (CBS, 3 p.m.) has third round play.
College baseball includes LSU at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.), Florida State at Louisville (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.) and BYU at Gonzaga (ESPNU, 10:30 p.m.).
Horse racing has its Preakness Stakes (NBC, 5 p.m.) from Pimlico in Baltimore.
The Tedeschi Trucks Band plays a rerun of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
It’s already the last “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hosting and Katy Perry as musical guests. But “SNL” will be back with specials all summer — just to keep up with the surplus material, if nothing else.