The latest series to make a drama out of history by using interesting casting, “The First Lady” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) is at least partly successful. Mostly it’s in the parts where Michelle Pfeiffer brilliantly plays Betty Ford in displaying her undertold story.
It weaves in between two other stories that have been more often told (one in a big bestseller). As great as Viola Davis is, she seems too old at 56 to play the younger Michelle Obama. And Gillian Anderson, fresh off playing Margaret Thatcher, portrays Eleanor Roosevelt as just another of her English-American hybrid characters. The valiant effort will switch to other First Ladies in subsequent seasons. I for one am waiting for the Malania one.
“Fear the Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.) returns with a new episode.
Moses is still trying to evade the police on “61st Street” (AMC, 10:07 p.m.).
The spin-off “Power Book IV: Force” (Start, 8 p.m.) ends its first season; it’s been renewed for a second.
“The Equalizer” (CBS, 8 p.m.) turns to her ex-husband for medical treatment on a gunshot victim.
Georgiana faces down her future on “Sanditon” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
“S.W.A.T.” (CBS, 10 p.m.) hunts down an eco-terrorist, in their version of an Earth Day episode.
Bash has to choose between a gang member who has been shot and the police officer on him on “Transplant” (NBC, 10 p.m.).