Every Olympics, they fly through the air effortlessly, full of power and in complete control, earning gold medals representing the U.S.A. But in reality scores of the young gymnasts were also being ritually abused for decades. Dr. Larry Nassar may have been the perpetuator but
Erin Lee Carr ’s calling documentary “At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal” (HBO, 8 p.m.) makes clear that his sexual abuse was allowed by a number of officials who were willing to cover it up, ignore girls’ complaints and keep the gold coming. Like “Leaving Neverland,” this is difficult but necessary viewing that can keep this from happening again. But it’s also heartening in how many abused women found their voice and spoke out at the trial that concludes the documentary.
If the bird like characters in the new animated series “Tuca & Bertie” (Netflix, streaming) look familiar, it’s because they’re from the character designer of BoJack Horseman, Lisa Hanawalt. It features Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong as a pair of 30-year-old bird women who live in the same apartment building.
Rito Moreno, Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Quincy Jones and a raft of young Latin singers, from Gian Marco to Emily Estefan, help salute “Emilio & Gloria Estefan: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). The event, recorded in March at the DAR Constitution Hall in D.C., also featured a lot of participation from the honorees. Here’s a longer piece about the show I wrote after its taping.
In the new “Dead to Me” (Netflix, streaming), Christina Applegate stars as a real estate agent and widow who wants to find out who killed her husband in a hit and run, aided by a freer spirit she meets in a support group, played by Lnda Cardellini. The comedy series from Liz Feldman (“2 Broke Girls”) also stars James Marsden and Ed Asner.
Zac Efron plays against type portraying serial killer Ted Bundy in the movie “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (Netflix streaming), told through the perspective of his longtime girlfriend, played by Lily Collins. The streaming service seems to also fallen under the spell of the killer, having just released the documentary series “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” (Netflix, streaming).
Yet another new teen romantic comedy is issued, “The Last Summer” (Netflix, streaming), with several intersecting stories about the final summer before college, with K.J. Aha, Maia Mitchell, Jacob Latimore, Halston Sage and Tyler Posey
In the imported Spanish film, “A Pesar De Todo” (Netflix, streaming), four young women go on a road trip after finding out the man thy thought was their father is not. It’s from Argentine director Gabriela Tagliavini.
The new comedy game show, set in Ireland, does various things to contestants and asks them not to “Flinch” (Netflix streaming),
“Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell” (Cartoon Network, midnight), the live action comedy where Satan runs his organization like a bad corporation, returns for a fourth season.
The thriller anthology “Into the Dark” (Hulu, streaming) has a special Mother’s Day episode.
The Belgian crime drama “Undercover” (Netflix, streaming) gets an international audience. It’s about a couple of undercover drug agents posing as a married campers trying to gain access to a ecstasy kingpin.
A new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) feature Jay Inslee, Moby, Kara Swisher, Bret Stephens and Bakari Sellers.
A ride share driver and his passenger are murdered on “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
On “Cool Kids” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.), Hank is excited to give his son a perfect wedding gift in Las Vegas.
Fallon prepares for the launch of Liam’s book on “Dynasty” (CW, 8 p.m.).
On “Last Man Standing” (Fox, 8 p.m.), Ed gets a pinball machine.
Treason is considered on “MacGyver” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
The task force on “The Blacklist” (NBC, 8 p.m.) investigates a child kidnapping ring.
“Proven Innocent” (Fox, 9 p.m.) takes on the case of a young DREAMer convicted of murder.
Identical twins have identical alibis on “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
An unknown beast attacks the Australian outback on “Jeremy Wade’s Dark Waters” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Even in death, Robert Osborne continues to pick the night’s titles on Turner Classic Movies, with “The Time, The Place and the Girl” (8 p.m.), “Lady of Burlesque” (10 p.m.), “Born to Dance” (midnight). Then comes two terrible films from the 1980s, “Mac and Me” (2 a.m.) and “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” (4 a.m.). During the day, there are story adaptations with “Two Arabian Knights” (8 a.m.), “Turnabout” (9:45 a.m.), “Dodsworth” (11:15 a.m.), “The Southerner” (1 p.m.), “The Baron of Arizona” (2:45 p.m.), “The Black Book” (4:30 p.m.) and “Our Town” (6:15 p.m.).
NBA Playoffs have Milwaukee at Boston (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Denver at Portland (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Stanley Cup Playoffs have Islanders at Carolina (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) and Dallas at St. Louis (NBC Sports, 9:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes St. Louis at Cubs (MLB, 2 p.m.) and Atlanta at Miami (MLB, 7 p.m.).
NASCAR has its JEGS 2000 (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.).
College baseball includes Ohio State at Minnesota (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.).
College softball has Alabama at LSU (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college lacrosse has Loyola vs. Army (CBS Sports, 5 p.m.) and Lehigh vs. Boston University (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.) in the Patriot League tournament semifinals, and Brown vs. Penn (ESPNU, 6 p.m.) and Cornell vs. Yale (ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.) in the Ivy League tournament semifinals.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Ryan Reynolds, Retta. The View: Diane Sawyer, Rebel Wilson, Aarón Sanchez. The Talk: Janelle Monáe. Ellen DeGeneres: Kenan Thompson. Wendy Williams: Sherri Shepherd. The Real: Valerie Jarrett.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Craig Ferguson, Ronda Rousey. Jimmy Fallon: Cher, Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks, Micaela Diamond, Jarrod Spector (rerun). Seth Meyers: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, Ashley Longshore (rerun). James Corden: Kate Beckinsale, Milo Ventimiglia, Better Oblivion Community Center (rerun). Carson Daly: Steve Lemme, Kevin Heffernan, Durand Jones & the Indications, Kirby Howell-Baptiste.