1) “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 8 p.m., CBS. On the eve of the series finale (ending a 14-season run), this goes back to an October episode, sandwiching Sam (LL Cool J) with generational problems on both ends. His dad needs a new caregiver; his son (they’re shonw here) is being blamed for a plane crash.
2) Sports surge. The conference finals have started now for hockey (Fiorida-Carolina, 8 p.m. ET, TNT) and basketball (Nuggets-Lakers, 8:30, ABC). Then there’s baseball – Brewers-Rays at 4:10 on Fox Sports 1, regional games (Dodgers-Cardinals or Mariners-Braves) at 7:15 on Fox. There are even two excellent baseball movies on Sundance – “Moneyball” (2011) at noon and 1 a.m., “A League of Their Own” (1992) at 3 and 8 p.m
3) More movies. This is a day to cruise through film history. The American Film Institute puts “The Godfather” (1972) and “Casablanca” (1942) as the No. 2 and 3 movies of all time, trailing only “Citizen Kane.” Now you can catch both: “Casablanca” is at 8 p.m. ET on Turner Classic Movies; “Godfather” is at 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on IFC, with its sequel (1974) – which is No. 32 on t6he AFI list — at 3:30 and midnight.
4) “Murdoch Mysteries,” 7 and 8 p.m. ET, Ovation. These Canadian mysteries are always pleasant, but vary in story quality. Tonight’s first one – focusing on Violet Hart (the coroner) and a soldier’s death – is excellent. The second wants Murdoch to re-probe a murder from his lumberjack days, three decades ago. It sets up a near-impossible problem … which makes solving the case feel contrived.
5) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. This should have been a big deal, the season-finale. The writers’ strike, however, wiped out the final three shows. Tonight reruns the episode with Molly Shannon hosting – only her second turn since leaving the show two decades ago – and the Jonas Brothers as music guest. Shannon’s “The Other Two” recently started its third season on Max.