We all know people love to binge on true-crime series. But not even the worst serial killer’s tale comes close to the death toll explored on “The Crime of the Century” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA), a devastating look at Purdue Pharmaceuticals, the Sackler family, the corruption of the FDA and the resulting opioid epidemic that has claimed a half million lives in the 21st century.
“Crime” profiles members of the Sackler family, who not only owned a drug company but mastered the art (some would say black magic) of pharmaceutical marketing, a business that essentially manufactured consent about their products by bribing doctors and bureaucrats.
Over the decades, the Sackler family used their patronage of universities and art museums to launder their reputation. “Crime” cuts through that with music. A clip of the Sackler patriarch discussing his art collection is scored with Curtis Mayfield’s theme song to “Super Fly,” a 1972 movie about a drug dealer.
In the 1990s, as the patent on one of their pain-relief medications was running out, Purdue devised Oxycontin, a much more powerful time-release pill. “Crime” shows how Purdue collaborated with an FDA official (later rewarded with a plush job at Purdue) to give a green light to a highly addictive substance. At the time of its release, Oxycontin was perceived by most medical professionals as only safe to use with cancer patients in severe pain or end-of-life cases. Purdue executives knew there really wasn’t much of a market in terminal patients, and lobbied doctors to dispense the pill for much wider distribution. Their marketing emphasized whole new definitions of pain relief and addiction to wear down resistance to Oxycontin.
“Crime” includes a vast wealth of interviews with doctors and EMTs struggling with opioid devastation, as well as interviews with Purdue executives that emerged in legal depositions. The most jaw-dropping elements of the film are clips from Purdue’s own marketing films and videos of their sales conferences, where bonus-obsessed salesmen dance to pop hits like the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” and Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business” reworked into anthems about “Selling Oxycontin … every day!” It’s got to be seen to be believed.
— “Lifetime Presents Variety’s Power of Women the Comedians” (8 p.m., Lifetime, TV-PG) honors funny women including Maya Rudolph, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sofia Vergara, Michaela Coel, Kate McKinnon and the late Gilda Radner.
Is it just me, or is it exquisitely weird that Lifetime follows up this salute to sisterhood with “Madea’s Witness Protection” (9 p.m., Lifetime, TV-14), a 2012 comedy starring a man (Tyler Perry) as a larger-than-life woman?
— Acorn begins streaming the dark Danish thriller “Blinded — Those Who Kill.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A treasure hunt spirals out of control on “9-1-1” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— The voices of Hayden Rolence, Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy animate the 2016 “Nemo” sequel “Finding Dory” (8 p.m., ABC).
— The Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball action (8 p.m., ESPN) from Minute Maid Park, once known as Enron Field.
— The case of a former sheriff proves difficult on “All Rise” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— Owen becomes an arson suspect on “9-1-1: Lone Star” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— One “victim” obtains a second sight on “Debris” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Relationship woes on “The Good Doctor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— The “POV” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) documentary “Through the Night” follows two working mothers who rely on a 24-hour daycare center in suburban New York.
CULT CHOICE
— Not unlike “Guys and Dolls,” the 1952 musical “The Belle of New York” (6:30 p.m., TCM, TV-G) is about a player (Fred Astaire) falling for a Salvation Army girl (Vera-Ellen). Based on an 1897 musical and set in that gaslight era, “Belle” was not a hit.
SERIES NOTES
Business rivals on “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Feeling the heat on “All American” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) … Idle hands on “Bob Hearts Abishola” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Pitching in on “Black Lightning” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Jury selection matters on “Bull” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Sean Hayes appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Leslie Jones, X Gonzalez and Weezer on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Tracee Ellis Ross and Paula Pell visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC).
