On TV: HBO revives 'Mildred Pierce'

HBO raises Cain

HBO revives James M. Cain's protofeminist potboiler “Mildred Pierce,” previously best known as a Hollywood star vehicle for Joan Crawford, as a new five-part miniseries directed by Todd Haynes and starring Kate Winslet in the title role starting with the first two segments at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 27, on the premium-cable channel. Evan Rachel Wood plays Mildred's spoiled daughter. This looks highly promising, even by the standards of an HBO boutique project.

Behind the ‘Madness'

PBS' “Frontline” looks into the business end of the men's NCAA basketball tournament in the new episode “Money and March Madness,” debuting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, on WTTW Channel 11. Former “60 Minutes” producer Lowell Bergman serves as correspondent, looking into how the tourney benefits everyone but the athletes taking part in it.

Quick quake turnover

PBS' “Nova” science series turns around a quick episode on the recent events in Japan with “Japan's Killer Quake,” set for 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, on Channel 11. It replaces the more pleasant-looking but far less timely “Incredible Journey of the Butterflies.”

Waste Watchers

Oh Tenenbaum

Wes Anderson's movies are always a little off-kilter, but he gives free rein to family eccentricity in “The Royal Tenenbaums.” It benefits from a terrific cast, however, including Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson. Bill Murray puts in a killer cameo as well. It's at 7:10 p.m. today on the Sundance Channel.