The release of Jessie Smollett this week has turned The 50th NAACP Image Awards (TV One, 8 p.m.), into another cultural impasse. He’s been nominated for an award for his work in “Empire” and some are outraged that he would even show up. Whatever happens, he’s taking attention away from Regina King, nominated in three categories including Entertainer of the Year, opposite Beyonce, LeBron James, Chadwick Boseman and Ryan Cooler. Anthony Anderson, left, hosts the event from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
It worked for “Live PD” (A&E, 9 p.m.) so why not for veterinarians, too? So here’s “Animal ER Live” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.), from the same team.
Speaking of animals, the endangered tiger populations that are the focus of “Tigerland” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) are in Russia.
Your first Saturday of the baseball season is no small thing. It includes Mets at Washington (MLB, 1 p.m.), Atlanta at Philadelphia (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and San Francisco at San Diego (Fox Sports 1, 8:40 p.m.).
In the new romance movie “A Brush with Love” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), Arielle Kebbel portrays an artist who falls for her perfect subject (Matthew Dowden).
Andrea Bogart plays a widow bedeviled by her late husband’s twin (Hannah Barefoot) in the made-for-TV “The Killer Next Door” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.).
It’s Abba all over again, with Cher to boot, in last year’s sequel “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” (HBO, 8 p.m.), making its premium cable debut. Also on tonight, “Venom” (Starz, 8 p.m.) with Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmet.
The awful Judge Jeanine Pirro is back with a new “Justice with Judge Jeanine” (Fox, 9 p.m.) after a two week suspension for racist comments.
A death row inmate gets a “Ransom” (CBS, 8 p.m.) letter.
“Trading Spaces” (TLC, 8 p.m.) goes to North Carolina.
Surprises for hubbies are created on “While You Were Out” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Reality reruns tonight include “American Idol” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.), “The Great British Baking Show” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) and “Million Dollar Mile” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Last year’s documentary series “Johnstown: Terror in the Jungle” (AMC, 9 p.m.) gets a replay.
A girl can’t stop vomiting on “Body Bizarre” (Discovery Life, 9 p.m.).
“Naked and Afraid: Uncensored” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) likely won’t be.
On “Family or Fiance” (OWN, 10 p.m.) a couple brings their parents together but doesn’t tell them everything.
The Boston Strangler is featured on “Murder Made Me Famous” (Reelz, 8 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies has the comedy “Move Over, Darling” (8 p.m.), which was a remake of “My Favorite Wife” (10 p.m.). The noir film at 12 o’clock is “Border Incident” (midnight). Then comes “This is Spinal Tap” (2 a.m.) and the obscure Elvis movie “Tickle Me” (3:30 a.m.).
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament reaches the elite eight with Texas Tech vs. Gonzaga (TBS, 6 p.m.) an Purdue vs. Virginia (TBS, 8:50 p.m.).
The women are in their sweet 16 with North Carolina vs. Iowa (ESPN, 11:30 m.), South Carolina vs. Baylor (ESPN, 1:30 p.m.), Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame (ESPN2, 4 p.m.) and Missouri State vs. Stanford (ESPN2, 6 p.m.).
Pro basketball has Philadelphia at Minnesota (NBA, 8 p.m.).
Hockey has Florida at Boston (NHL, 1 p.m.) and Washington at Tampa Bay (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Golf has quarterfinals in the Match Play (Golf, 10 a.m.; NBC, 2 p.m.).
Tennis has its Miami Open women’s final (ESPN2, 1 p.m.) and the men’s doubles final (Tennis, 3:30 p.m.).
Auto racing includes NASCAR’s My Bariatric Solutions 300 (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.) and the AMA Supercross (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Football has Orlando at Memphis (TT, 2 p.m.) and San Diego at Salt Lake (NFL 8 p.m.).
In the NCAA men’s hockey tournament it’s Minnesota State vs. Providence (ESPNews, 1 p.m.), Minnesota Duluth vs. Bowling Green (ESPNU, 4 p.m.) and Cornell vs. Northeastern (ESPNews, 4:30 p.m.).
Men’s college lacrosse includes Syracuse at Notre Dame (ESPNU, noon) and Duke at North Carolina (ESPNU, 2 p.m.).
College softball includes Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.).
Janelle Monae plays a replay of “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings) from last year.
Sandra Oh hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with musical guest Tame Impala.