The wildly uneven new drama “Black Box” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is about a neurologist who is herself bipolar with her own manic episodes. Kelly Reilly plays the willowy doctor who can diagnose unusual brain conditions while failing to tend to her own. She’s not quite as believable as Carrie Matheson of “Homeland” or Gregory House of “House.” Her mad woman scenes are quite intolerable. But she has Vanessa Redgrave as her therapist, who adds more gravitas than the whole rest of the cast.
It’s from Ilene Chaiken, who still owes us for that terrible finale of “The L Word.” And it won’t satisfy people of the show whose slot it fills, “Scandal.”
Another new series featuring a deeply flawed woman is “Bad Teacher” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.), a dim adaptation of an already dim movie. Though the supporting cast has some bright spots, Ari Graynor is fully annoying in the old Cameron Diaz role, all brass and little appeal. When the first youngster she encounters says something about her sounding like a child molester and she says “don’t flatter yourself,” I was pretty much done.
“Parks & Recreation” (NBC, 8 p.m.) plans for what it calls its biggest episode yet, a season finale that includes Michele Obama, San Francisco and the Unity Concert where The Decemberists and likely Jeff Tweedy will be among performers. It’s a busy night for the First Lady; she also appears on “Chicagoland” (CNN, 10 p.m.).
Two hours of “Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts” (NBC, 9 p.m.) is the network’s way of recycling during Earth Week. It also may prove that the troupe once known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players finally are.
They’re making pizza on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
One person won’t survive “American Idol” (Fox, 9 p.m.); then there will be “Surviving Jack” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
Sherlock’s brother visits on a new “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
“Sister Act” (ABC Family, 7 p.m.) is paired with “Sister Act 2” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).
It sounds like a beer, but it’s about Arctic mining: “Ice Cold Gold” (Animal Planet, 9 and 10 p.m.). No mention of where the animals are.
Odd moment: “Showtime” (8:15 p.m.) is on Cinemax.
Forrest gets married on a new “Review” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.).
A minister retools his church to bring in the hipsters on a new “Portlandia” (IFC, 10 p.m.).
This week’s salute to John Wayne continues on Turner Classic Movies with “Red River” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “The Shepherd of the Hills” (10:45 p.m.), “Reap the Wild Wind” (12:45 a.m.) and “The Spoilers” (3:15 a.m.).
NBA playoff action includes Indiana at Atlanta (NBA, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma City at Memphis (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Clippers at Golden State (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). In the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s Boston at Detroit (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.), Colorado at Minnesota (CNBC, 9:30 p.m.) and San Jose at Los Angeles (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (MLB, 12:35 p.m.), St. Louis at Mets (MLB, 1:10 p.m.) and Baltimore at Toronto (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Cameron Diaz, Emily VanCamp. The View: Dr. Phil McGraw, Kelly Reilly, Vanessa Redgrave, cast of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Candace Cameron-Bure. The Talk: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Sara Gilbert, Ari Graynor, David Alan Grier, Ryan Hansen, Dave Karger. Ellen DeGeneres: Adam Levine. Wendy Williams: Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Hyland, Ray LaMontagne. Jimmy Fallon: Dr. Phil McGraw, James Van Der Beek, Courtney Barnett, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry. Jimmy Kimmel: Julie Bowen, Dave Attell, Cut Copy. Seth Meyers: Cameron: Diaz, Leslie Mann, Ronan Farrow, Gary Gulman. Craig Ferguson: Emily Deschanel, Zoe Lister-Jones. Carson Daly: Matt Tiabbi, Tinariwen, Steven Knight. Tavis Smiley: Barbara Ehrenreich. Jon Stewart: Ramachandra Guha. Stephen Colbert: George Saunders. Arsenio Hall: Taraji P. Henson, Earth Wind & Fire. Conan O’Brien: Mel Brooks, Langhorne Slim (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Ian Somerhalder, Julian McCullough, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Ian Karmel, Mary McCormack. Pete Holmes: Rob Riggle (rerun).