‘Versace’ returns to roots of Cunanan’s troubles
The sins of the father emerge in the powerful penultimate episode of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).
This emotionally draining series has unfolded one flashback at a time, with characters’ stories emerging in seemingly random order.
Tonight’s episode focuses on Modesto “Pete” Cunanan (Jon Jon Briones), the con-man father of serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss). Pete projects a brash belief in the American dream, enlisting in the military so he can arrive as a new citizen from his native Philippines.
His peculiar notion of family values is to lavish all his attention and much of his fortune on Andrew, while his other children languish in cramped quarters in a state of emotional starvation.
It’s clear that Andrew gets his sense of grandeur and entitlement (as well as his contempt for his mother) from his old man, who puts on a brave face as he follows a downward trajectory as a financial adviser.
A brief parallel plot about young Gianni Versace’s choice to defy gender roles and follow his mother’s steps as a seamstress is pretty much overshadowed by the Cunanan backstory. But that has been the pattern of this series.
I was shocked when I read that surviving members of the Versace family complained that “American Crime Story” had somehow distorted or defamed the designer’s legend. That’s a little like the Lincoln estate complaining about a biography of John Wilkes Booth.
The Versace complaints are not the only noteworthy ones dogging FX and series producer Ryan Murphy. Esteemed actress Olivia de Havilland, 101, is suing Murphy’s company for her depiction in “Feud,” the 2017 miniseries based on the making of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
Her suit alleges that “Feud” violated her privacy and publicity rights and depicted her in a false light. Should she prevail, creators would be wary of basing characters on living figures. That would curtail the trend of using recent events for dramatic inspiration. Goodbye, “Waco,” “The Looming Tower” and “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” to name a few.
Best known for her role as the sweet, trusting Melanie in “Gone With the Wind,” de Havilland is already associated with a major victory over Hollywood studios. A California ruling from 1944 known as the De Havilland Law ended studios’ rights to keep a talent under a personal services contract for more than seven years, freeing stars to challenge contracts and become independent agents.
Don’t mess with Melanie.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› A creepy cult emerges on “The X-Files” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› The Boston Celtics host the Washington Wizards in NBA action (8 p.m., ESPN).
› A wildlife filmmaker discusses his relationship with a subject on “The Mountain Lion and Me” (8 p.m., Smithsonian).
› An alderman is slain on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Tongues wag as Kirkman visits a prison on “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
› Wet and wild on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› Liz’s therapy plumbs dark places on “The Blacklist” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› On two episodes of “Speechless” (ABC, TV-PG), jury duty (8 p.m.), the director’s chair (8:30 p.m.).
› Archie’s dad mulls a mayoral run on “Riverdale” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Politicians play hardball on “NCIS” (9 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› An accident victim’s organs are harvested without permission on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Lifesavers face dating crises on “9-1-1” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Phil insists on a floating vacation on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).