She’s been the recent host of “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), so Audra McDonald closes the season with her own concert of largely Broadway works. The title of “Audra McDonald in Concert: Go Back Home” (comes from the song “Go Back Home” in Kander and Ebb’s “The Scottsboro Boys.”
She’ll also choose works from Cole Poeter, John Kander, Fred Loesser, Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim and George Gershwin among others. She’s accompanied by a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Andy Einhorn who is the current conductor of of “Cinderella” on Broadway.
You may “Need to Know” (PBS, 8:30 p.m.), as the weekly news show’s title maintains. But PBS has cancelled it, set to replace it with a prime time edition of Charlie Rose. Maybe because he thought his “CBS This Morning,” “60 Minutes” gig and weeknight talk show wasn’t enough of a TV presence. (It also could be that his questions are so long, he needs that much time to get them all out).
Also canceled: “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (NBC, 10 p.m.), which reports on the Oklahoma tornado.
An interesting prime time broadcast import from cable is “Brain Games” (Fox, 9 p.m.), the entertaining special from National Geographic Channel.
An unscrupulous drug manufacturer murders a whistleblower to help boost its new, dangerous product on the TV movie “The Perfect Boss” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.).
A woman dreams of being a costume designer on “The Moment” (USA, 11 p.m.) and Kurt Warner helps her.
“The Whale That Ate Jaws” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) is probably not the same one as “The Whale That Exploded” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
Knights battle Morgana on “Merlin” (Syfy, 10 p.m.), the poor man’s “Game of Thrones” (HBO Signature, 9 p.m.).
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) isn’t; it’s a rerun.
One of the greatest episodes of “The Sopranos” (HBO Signature, 8 p.m.) is on tonight: “Pine Barrens.”
It’s Illeana Douglas Day! Not only does the quirky actress set up Marc Maron on a blind date on a new episode of “Maron” (IFC, 10 p.m.), she winds up her monthlong Friday night series of undersung movies on Turner Classic Movies with “Inside Daisy Clover” (8 p.m.), “The Loved One” (10:15 p.m.), “Mickey One” (12:30 a.m.), “The Arrangement” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Fortune” (4:30 a.m.).
Tonight, you can choose between “Red Eye” (Cinemax, 9:30 p.m.) and “Red Tails” (HBO2, 9:30 p.m.).
Tonight’s Elvis movie is “Harum Scarum” (Encore, 8 p.m.).
In the NBA Playoffs, it’s Indiana at Miami (TNT, 8:30 p.m.). In Stanley Cup playoff action, it’s Ottawa at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ethan Hawke, Aly Raisman, Mark Ballas, Jacoby Jones, Karina Smirnoff. The View: Julianne Moore, Dr. Kelly Starrett, TobyMac, Chris O’Donnell. The Talk: La Toya Jackson, Linda Daly, Susan Feniger. Ellen DeGeneres: Steve harvey, Dr. Neal Barnard, Grizzly Bear. Wendy Williams: Paris HIlton, Armin van Buuren (rereun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jon Hamm, Ricky Jay, the So So Glos (rerun). Jay Leno: Howie Mandel, Sal Basille & Francis Garcia, Sigur Ros. Jimmy Kimmel: Chris Pine, Connie Britton, Dawes (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Paul Walker, Joss Whedon, They Might Be Giants. Craig Ferguson: Morgan Freeman, Vera Farmiga (rerun). Carson Daly: David Duchovny, Derek Cianfrance, Gold Fields (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Kate Bosworth, Chris Franjola, Natasha Leggero, Dov Davidoff (rerun).