It won’t be as fussy as other broadcast live musicals; indeed, the title is “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (NBC, 8 p.m.). In other words, it won’t be fully staged when it is presented before a live audience at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but instead delivered concert-style.
But there is some anticipation for the production, which stars John Legend as Jesus and Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and features Alice Cooper as King Herod and Broadway’s Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas.
The production includes 500 crew members, 33 musicians and more than 40 other cast members. Its executive producers are Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who were behind NBC’s four previous live musicals of “The Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan,” “The Wiz” and “Hairspray.”
He’s the toast of big budget Hollywood these days, but Benedict Cumberbatch will be part of a couple of well wrought TV productions this season, the first of which is from his own production company, an adaptation of “The Child in Time” (PBS, 9 p.m.) a kind of impressionistic piece about how a couple is shattered when they lose their young child in a store. The luminous Kelly Macdonald is the wife. (The second Cumberbatch project will be the miniseries “Patrick Melrose” on Starz May 12).
On April Fool’s Day, Bart goes to prankster rehab on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
“Martin Luther King Jr: One Man and His Dream” (Reelz, 9 p.m.) recalls the civil rights giant a half century after his assassination.
The new series “Your Husband is Cheating on Us” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) looks behind the scenes the urban play of the same name by JD Lawrence.
Both Howards are stranded in the season one finale of “Counterpart” (Starz, 8 p.m.).
Ice-T parlays his name and his acting job on “Law & Order: SVU” into the new crime series “In Ice Cold Blood” (Oxygen, 7 p.m.).
Carrie and Saul interrogate a suspect on “Homeland” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
J. Paul Getty sends his fixer, played by Brendan Fraser, to look into the kidnapping of his grandson on “Trust” (FX, 10 p.m.). Here’s a story I wrote about the series for Smithsonian Magazine.com.
Even after the murder, “Barry” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.) wants to return to the acting class.
Hollywood Week continues on “American Idol” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
On “Call the Midwife” (PBS, 8 p.m.), a mother abandons her children at the clinic.
Te title for this season’s second episode of “Billions” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) is “The Wrong Maria Gonzalez.”
The White House tries to get “Our Cartoon President” (Showtime, 8 p.m.) embrace Christianity a little bit more.
Somehow “The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) has made it to its third season.
Canines parade in the “Beverly Hills Dog Shows” (USA, 6 p.m.).
The murder of a young man who recently left his family’s religious community is investigated on “Instinct” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Jake stages a night-long interrogation on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
Kandi gears up for a couple of big projects on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
Kelly decides to go after Ruby on “Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
Should dogs be allowed in the office on “Silicon Valley” (HBO, 10 p.m.)?
Farid starts flipping out on “Here and Now” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
“Kingpin” (History, 9 p.m.) recalls John Gotti.
A killer puts on shows on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
“Madam Secretary” (CBS, 10 p.m.) marks the 20th anniversary of an embassy bombing.
Megan connects with someone from her past on “The Arrangement” (E!, 9 p.m.).
A blackout in London affects “The Royals” (E!, 10 p.m.).
“Disappeared” (Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.) returns for its ninth season.
A Heaps prisoner makes a discovery on “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
AJ turns herself in on “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.).
On “The Last Man on Earth” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.), Todd sinks into a deep depression.
A psychic is murdered on “Deception” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
There’s Easter stuff all day on Turner Classic Movies with Bible epics all day: “Solomon and Sheba” (7:30 a.m.), “The Bible: In the Beginning…” (10 a.m.), “Ben-Hur” (1 p.m.), “King of Kings” (5 p.m.). Then in prime time is a pair of Fred Astaire musicals, “Easter Parade” (8 p.m.) and “Holiday Inn” (10 p.m.) where the Irving Berlin song was performed earlier.
After some silent “Our Gang” comedy shorts at midnight, and Ingmar Bergman’s epic “Fanny and Alexander” (2 a.m.), which begins with a Christmas scene.
It’s Notre Dame vs. Mississippi State (ESPN, 6 p.m.) for the women’s NCAA basketball championship.
San Francisco at Dodgers (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.) is the season’s first Sunday Night Baseball game. Earlier games include St. Louis at Mets (ESPN, 1 p.m.) and Angels at Oakland (MLB, 4 p.m.).
NBA action includes Philadelphia at Charlotte (NBA, 1 p.m.), Houston at San Antonio (ABC, 3:30 p.m.), Oklahoma City at New Orleans (NBA, 6 p.m.) and Sacramento at Lakers (NBA, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Boston at Philadelphia (NBC, 12:30 p.m.) and Washington at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in the Houston Open (Golf, 2 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m.).
In tennis, it’s singles final in the Miami Open (ESPN2, 1 p.m.); the doubles final (Tennis, 3:30 p.m.).
College football includes South Carolina at Texas A&M (ESPN, noon).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sen. Doug Jones, former U.S. ambassador to the UN Andrew Young. CBS: Sens. Tim Scott and Bernie Sanders, Rep. Trey Gowdy, UN high commissioner for refugees. NBC: Former secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, Sen. Ron Johnson. CNN: Shulkin, Sanders. Fox News: Sen. Lindsey Graham.