We may debate whether a story so dark and morose may fly during this unique time in human history. But there’s no doubt that Derek Cianfrance’s six-part adaptation of Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much is True” (HBO, 9 p.m.) is a must watch for the performance of Mark Ruffalo as an agitated middle aged man who has to take care of his much more deeply troubled schizophrenic brother who in the first scene, readers will remember with dread, cuts his arm off. Ruffalo plays plays both roles, though he’s not instantly recognizable as such (even in the picture above). The cast includes Melissa Leo, Kathryn Hahn, Juliette Lewis, Rob Heubel and Archie Panjabi; the surroundings of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., fill in for Norwich, Conn.
Comedians tell stories about their mothers on the documentary “Call Your Mother” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) with Bridget Everett, Louie Anderson, Awkwafina, Jim Gaffigan, Judah Friedlander, Judy Gold, David Spade, Roy Wood Jr., Kristen Schaal, Jo Koy, Bobby Lee, Norm Macdonald and others.
Bridget Everett is also among the “Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition” (Food, 9 p.m.), along with Dave Coulier, Robin Givens and Brian Posehn.
It was a big hit in its first appearance in April, so here’s “The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II” (ABC, 7 p.m.) with the familiar songs performed by Katy Perry, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Eichner, Halsey, Josh Gad, Donald Glover, Idina Menzel, Keke Palmer,Ben Platt, Seth Rogen and Anika Noni Rose, as well as Mickey Mouse. Ryan Seacrest hosts the singalong and sticks around another two hours for another weird quarantined “American Idol” (ABC, 8 p.m.) to honor mom and reveal the Top 7.
Comics like Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson, Wanda Sykes, Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Tiffany Haddish (and dozens more) tell jokes and raise money for hunger relief on the “Feeding America Comedy Festival” (NBC, 7 p.m.). If’s followed by two hours of “A Saturday Night Live Mother’s Day” (NBC, 9 p.m.), full of sketches from the past four and a half decades, maybe including the Boyz II Men song from last night.
Can dating exist in a time of social distancing? On the new “Find Love Live” (TLC, 11 p.m.), a single mingles with three suitors via video in hopes of making a choice. Then what? A virtual meeting.
Weezer performs the theme song on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
CBS has gone old school in presenting Sunday Night Movies with the old graphics. Mostly their choices will be ones everyone has already seen, starting with “Forrest Gump” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Annie feels under appreciated onMother’s Day on “Duncanville” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
On “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9 p.m.), Linda talks up the town.
Paris falls to the Nazis on “World on Fire” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
“Batwoman” (CW, 8 p.m.) finds members of the town intelligentsia beginning to disappear.
Villanelle returns to Russia to find her family on “Killing Eve” (BBC America, AMC, 9 p.m.).
The Michael Jordan documentary series “The Last Dance” (ESPN, 9 p.m.) covers the time when he walked away from basketball in 1993.
Cassie helps Joy mark her mother’s birthday on “Good Witch” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.).
“Vice” (Showtime, 8 p.m.) talks to front line healthcare workers.
Chuck chooses a new path on “Billions” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Emma tries to move on in a new episode of “Vida” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
“Run” (HBO, 10:35 p.m.) has not quite run its course.
Lewis interrogates a college student on “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
Nolan’s discover goes deep on “The Rookie” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
“Supergirl” (CW, 9 p.m.) goes up against Rama Khan.
The reunion has gone virtual on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
Grace Potter plays “Live from Daryl’s House” (AXS TV, 9 p.m.).
There are back to back viewings all day of “Mommie Dearest” (IFC, 9 a.m.). Elsewhere there’s a run of “The Mummy” (Syfy, 3 p.m.), “The Mummy Returns” (5 p.m.) and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (7 p.m.).
The Mother’s Day slate on Turner Classic Movies has “Three Daring Daughters” (6 a.m.), “Light in the Piazza” (8 a.m.), “Mildred Pierce” (10 a.m.), “The Magnificent Ambersons” (12:15 p.m.), “The Old Maid” (2 p.m.), “So Big” (4 p.m.), “Baby Boom” (6 p.m.), “I Remember Mama” (8 p.m.), “Stella Dallas” (10:30 p.m.). Then comes Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill Jr.” (12:30 a.m.) and two from Andzej Wajda: “Wajda by Wajda” (2 a.m.) and “Ashes and Diamonds” (3:45 a.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, Johnson & Johnson chief scientific officer Dr. Paul Stoffels, president of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Dr. George Yancopoulos. CBS: White House adviser Kevin Hassett, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Dr. Christopher Murray of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics, University of Virginia president James Ryan, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb. NBC: Sen. Lamar Alexander, Dr. Jeffrey Shaman, chief science officer at Coriell Life Sciences; Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the center for infectious disease research and policy at the University of Minnesota; Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert Smith. CNN: Hassett, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals CDO Leonard Schleifer. Fox News: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchen, Gov. Mike DeWine, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the center for health security at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.