Heroes and villains, both real and imagined
After putting a stake through the heart of “The Vampire Diaries,” the CW trots out its spinoff “The Originals” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) for a fourth season. Tonight: Five years after Klaus’ defeat, Marcel faces resistance from newcomers.
One of the reasons “The Originals” endures is because its tale of vampire mythology and rival armies of darkness meshes well with the network’s emphasis on comic-book superheroes.
While the CW is dominated by DC comics fare, Netflix launches yet another series based on a rival comic-book line. “Marvel’s Iron Fist” begins streaming today. Finn Jones stars as tycoon Danny Rand, who returns to his native New York City to take on bad guys with his martial arts prowess.
REAL-LIFE CRIME
With so much attention paid to fictional crime fighters, ABC News turns its attention to the enduring interest in a crime from 48 years ago. “Truth and Lies: The Family Manson” (9 p.m.) devotes two hours to the Californian’s cultlike followers and their role in a gruesome 1969 mass murder in a posh home in Los Angeles. Victims included actress Sharon Tate (“Valley of the Dolls”), the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski. “Family Manson” includes interviews with two of his followers, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel.
LILTING SCRIPTS
St. Patrick’s Day means a celebration of all things Irish and a chance to catch some of the series and movies — good, bad and atrocious — featuring Hibernian themes.
TCM dedicates its entire day to such movies, from the 1950 musical “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady” (7:45 a.m.) to the lush 1970 David Lean epic “Ryan’s Daughter” (1:45 a.m., early Saturday), starring Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles. For years, the west coast of Ireland was marketed to tourists as “‘Ryan’s Daughter’ Country.” And it’s easy to see why.
It’s just not St. Patrick’s Day if someone’s not airing “The Informer” (6:15 p.m.) or “The Quiet Man” (9:30 p.m.). So, I’m glad TCM comes through.
Fans who prefer the lurid to the usual lilting Irish laughter might enjoy Syfy’s marathon of “Leprechaun” movies. The tiny feet kick off with the similar yet franchise-unaffiliated 2012 shocker “Leprechaun’s Revenge” (7 a.m., TV-14) and run until “Leprechaun 3” (9 p.m.).
These Emerald Isle atrocities include the 2000 “urban” variation “Leprechaun in the Hood” (1 p.m.) and the original 1993 “Leprechaun” (5 p.m.), the movie that launched a franchise and starred a young Jennifer Aniston before she became Rachel on “Friends.”
Looking for contemporary Irish fare? Acorn begins streaming the legal drama “Striking Out” about a Dublin-based lawyer, Tara Rafferty (Amy Huberman), who thinks she has her life figured out until she finds her fiance in a compromising position. Shocked out of her wedding plans as well as her job, Tara embarks on an unorthodox legal practice. This four-episode series is Ireland’s most popular new drama.
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› Wichita State and Dayton meet in the 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament (7 p.m., CBS), followed by Northern Kentucky vs. Kentucky (9:30 p.m.).
› Eve explores the vision in the looking glass on “Grimm” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Mummy dearest on “Rosewood” (8 p.m., Fox, repeat, TV-14).
› A stranger to the vault poses questions on “Sleepy Hollow” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Bugs, birds and rodents grumble about life in the big city in the second-season premiere of the animated comedy “Animals” (11:30 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).
› Eve’s boyfriend lets her down on “Last Man Standing” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Pat wants a promotion on “Dr. Ken” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC).
› Darnley faces a test of loyalty on “Reign” (9 p.m., CW,
TV-14).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.