By the time of this year’s 30th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO, 8 p.m.) the organization seems to have long since run out of strong roster of nominees (Green Day and Stevie Ray Vaughan, both inducted this year, sad to say, fall closer to imitators than innovators).
There are interesting tales to tale, though, of Paul Butterfield, the 5 Royales and Bill Withers (who shies away from singing but sits close to Stevie Wonder as he sings Withers’ hits). That it is Miley Cyrus who inducts Joan Jett seems to add insult to the years of delay she had getting into the hall. But the heartfelt speeches for Lou Reed from Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson seem to beat the performances of his classics.
The big moment they’re waiting for is Ringo Starr, inducted by the only other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney. An accompanying film talks authoritatively about Starr’s drumming style — in the Beatles — and the performance relies heavily on the Fab Four catalog (despite the fact he’s being inducted as a solo artist). Eventually he does play “It Don’t Come Easy” though. The event itself was five hours; the TV version runs three.
Kelli Garner is all blonde wigs and breathy delivery in the lead role in “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) in which Susan Sarandon plays her certifiable mother, muttering crazy things the few times she wanders into the screen. The two-part series is as told to a psychiatrist; after it drags along, you start to feel you should be charging by the hour as well. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Joe DiMaggio doesn’t show up until Sunday night’s conclusion.
Live coverage of B.B. King’s funeral today will be available online on the website for Mississippi Public Television (streaming, 10:30 a.m.). Later, “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings reruns a 1983 performance on the show by the blues giant.
“100 Things to Do Before High School” (Nickelodeon, 9 p.m.) begins its life as a series. The middle schoolers should remain busy if they want to accomplish it all, though.
Odd that this is not only a TV series, but a full-time job: “Treetop Cat Rescue” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
Alison tries to upgrade the the business on “Orphan Black” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
An attempt is made to free Jamie on the season finale of “Outlander” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
Abigail attempts to forgive Bill on “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.).
The comedy special “Nick Swardson: Taste It” (Comedy, 10 p.m.) originates in Austin.
George Clooney, Dwayne Johnson, Hugh Laurie, Jessica Hynes and Snoop Dogg are guests on a new episode of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
This still seems to be going on: “Texas Rising” (History, 11 p.m.).
“To Kill a Mockingbird” (TCM, 8 p.m.) kicks off a night of movies about small town justice with “Fury” (TCM, 10:30 p.m.) and “Intruder in the Dust” (TCM, 12:15 a.m.). Later, things turn to horror with the 1980s films “Brainstorm” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “The Ice Pirates” (TCM, 4 a.m.). It’s Chicago at Anaheim (NBC, 8 p.m.) in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Western Conference finals.
Baseball includes Arizona at Milwaukee (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and Dodgers at Cardinals (Fox, 7 p.m.).
And early round play continues in the French Open (Tennis, 5 p.m.).