Ace of Spader
James Spader makes everything better, whether it's the otherwise standard procedural "The Blacklist" (8 p.m. KARE, Ch. 11) or 2015's "The Avengers: The Age of Ultron" (8 p.m. Starz), in which his brainy baddie is more mesmerizing than all the costumed crusaders and special effects combined.
Sub story
Sometimes even the most star-studded plans can sink. Take "K-19: The Widowmaker," the 2002 submarine thriller directed by future Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow who brought together Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. It's certainly not great — the word "plodding" comes to mind — but it's not nearly as bad as its disappointing box-office results suggest, and it a provides some relief for those waiting for the next "Taken" movie or need a break from continuous viewings of "The Force Awakens." 6:40 p.m. Cinemax
The eve of destruction
"You, Me and the Apocalypse" wants to use the impending end of the world as the platform for a brainy sitcom that relies more on characters than punchlines. Fair enough, but nobody in the crowded cast, including Megan Mullally as an unapologetic Nazi, gets enough screen time, or back story, to elicit any real sympathy or laughs. 7 p.m. KARE, Ch. 11 Neal Justin
