1) “Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office” debut, 9 p.m., PBS. In tiny postal sub-stations across England, managers were told the same things: They owed money … they might lose their jobs and go bankrupt … and no one else had this trouble. Then they linked and found that LOTS of people had the trouble, tied to an iffy computer system. Over three weeks, Toby jones (shown here)leads a stirring, real-life story.
2) “CMT Music Awards,” 8-11 p.m., CBS. Kelsea Ballerini hosts and sings. That will be in Austin, Texas – with Dasha doing her song, “Austin.” Also performing: Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Sam Hunt, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman, Old Dominion and more, including Little Big Town with Sugarland.
3) “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Over the next two nights, the top 24 singers will be in Hawaii, That’s in an all-or-nothing time for music: Tonight, “Idol” competes with the CMT awards … On Monday, it faces “The Voice” AND PBS’ Elton John/Bernie Taupin tribute … And then, mostly, the music fades out.
4) Finales, 9 and 10 p.m., HBO; rerunning (after John Oliver) at 11:40 p.m. and 12:40 a.m. For Kate Winslett’s much-praised “Regime,” this is merely the season-finale. But for “Curb,” it’s the end of a run that scattered 12 seasons over 24 years. Larry David returns to Atlanta, reveals a secret about Cheryl and meddles with the love life of his friend (Richard Lewis, who died Feb. 27 at 76).
5) ALSO: At 3 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN have the championship game of the women’s basketball tournament. At 8, PBS’ “Call the Midwife” hits extremes – joyous optimism about the moon landing … devastation over tuberculosis … the continued development of one of the best characters (Nancy) … and the decline of another (Matthew), with plot twists that don’t seem true to his character.
— Mike Hughes, TV America
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