With his ermine flowing robes, his gaudy jewelry and well, his very being, Liberace was Las Vegas embodied -- over the top, flamboyant, fun. Yet the joy of "Behind the Candelabra" (9 p.m. Sunday, HBO) is that it isn't. Well, it isn't over the top. It's a measured look at the pianist and his life with lover/assistant Scott Thorson, a sad story told with grace, humor and insight.

The film is told from Thorson's perspective. Thorson (Matt Damon) is a foster kid living in L.A. on a ranch with a foster family, estranged from his alcoholic mother. At a bar he meets Bob (Scott Bakula) and they start a relationship. Bob takes him to Vegas and to a Liberace show. Turns out Bob's a friend of the star's and when they go backstage, it's clear "Lee," as Liberace (Michael Douglas) is called by friends, takes an immediate liking to Scott. No matter that he's clearly involved with his onstage partner (Cheyenne Jackson).

It doesn't take long for Liberace to seduce Scott and move him into his mansion. And thus begins a five-year relationship. Relationship is probably the best word, "love" is questionable. It's clear that these are two damaged people. Liberace is at his height and is paranoid; he's afraid of aging, afraid only his fame keeps people near him, and yet constantly use his money to keep people close. Even his mother (Debbie Reynolds) is questionable. You can see Liberace's near desperation to please her. She seems to think she deserves a nice thick slice of his pie.

Thorson insists he's bisexual and he needs Liberace as a father figure as much as a lover. Indeed, he's not really a fully formed person when Liberace takes him in, so it's no wonder he suffocates and then falls apart when Liberace casts him aside.

Douglas is masterful as Liberace. He's not just playing a role; he embodies it. It would be easy to think of Liberace kind of creepy, but Douglas adds more layers. His Liberace can be manipulative, sad, needy, self-absorbed, funny, cruel but never truly mean-spirited. (Not to mention, we're reminded through his performance that Liberace was quite talented.) Damon, too, is great; the emotional journey his character goes through feels real, even as it is, in many ways, singular.

There's a terrific supporting cast. Besides Reynolds and Bakula, there's Dan Aykroyd as Liberace's manager, Tom Papa and Paul Reiser. Most memorable is Rob Lowe as Dr. Jack Startz, a walking, talking example of the kind of Hollywood plastic surgeon that should send you running but whom stars embrace because he'll give you what you want. One might argue that Lowe's portrayal is over the top, but I'm not sure. I'm afraid it might be on point. Either way, it's hysterical and disturbing.

Director Steven Soderbergh, working from a Richard LaGravenese script, takes his time telling the story. He's not so much focusing on us understanding Liberace, but instead understanding the time he lived in, how that time shaped his actions and the consequences. At one point, for instance, Liberace (so deep in the closet, he sues when a tabloid reports he's gay -- and wins) talks about adopting Scott to ensure that he will always be taken care of. It seems odd, of course, that a grown man would adopt another grown man, but then you consider that not only wasn't there gay marriage, there wasn't the thought of gay marriage. That puts the idea of a man adopting his lover in a different light.

"Behind the Candelabra," in simple terms, is the story of two men who find each other, and for a brief while, give each other what they need while living in a world where they can't fully acknowledge their tie. It's their story and our story. Except most of us didn't have the furs, the diamonds and the Rolls Royce.

It seems odd to describe a Lifetime movie as 'serious minded,' but that's the word that comes to mind when watching "Prosecuting Casey Anthony" (8 tonight, Lifetime). While not completely without notes of melodrama, the movie presents a clear-eyed and illuminating look at the 'Tot Mom' case.

As the title suggests, the story is told through the perspective of the prosecutor Jeff Ashton (Rob Lowe); he's being interviewed by a TV reporter trying to figure out, as we all are, how he lost the case. Ashton was near retirement and longing for one last case after a near-perfect winning career record. He's brought on by Linda Burdick (Elizabeth Mitchell) who respects his forensic know-how; the third person on the team is Frank George (David Richmond-Peck).

Casey Anthony (Virginia Welch) isn't in the film much; we experience her much like we did in the trial. We see her on video and reacting during the trial, which is a smart decision on the filmmakers' part. Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez (Oscar Nunez), is both flamboyant and underrated. There's also Anthony's sad/pathetic parents Cindy (Marina Stephenson Kerr) and George (Kevin Dunn).

The story line stays focused on the case, including appearances by Nancy Grace and Jane Velez-Mitchell, except to show through Ashton's relationship with his wife Rita (Marisa Ramirez), how obsessed he becomes with the case.

And he was obsessed, mostly, it seems because Anthony's guilt seemed so obvious, the case such a slam dunk, that every setback, every tactic that Baez came up with seemed to confound the defense. Although squarely in Ashton's court, the film doesn't skirt over the prosecution's mistakes. They were outplayed by Baez, for whom Ashton seems to have real disdain.

Lowe, who also executive produced, is fine as Ashton; he doesn't overplay the emotion (despite the occasional dramatic pause). You get the sense of a man who is highly competent and tightly wound. And maybe a little to confident for his own good.

And maybe for the good of Caylee.

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Rob Lowe's search of his ancestry leads to Germany and the Library of Congress. Lowe finds an unexpected connection to the Revolutionary War and America's founding fathers.

Nikita (8pm, CW) -  A plot to bankrupt Percy backfires and Percy snatches Birkhoff's life savings instead. Birkhoff is then arrested by the FBI while trying to retrieve it, and Nikita needs to free him before Division gets ahold of him.
 
Whale Wars: Viking Shores (9pm, Animal Planet) - The premiere of new "Whale Wars" spinoff following the marine-conservation group Sea Shepherd on a new campaign to stop the hunting of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The photo on the right isn't touched up. That's blood in the water.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - The Fringe teams from both worlds are united by a common cause, and new developments are linked to the children from the Cortexiphan experiments.

In Plain Sight (10pm, USA) - The FBI keeps an eye on Mary after her father goes on the lam seeking vengeance. Mary tries to lose the agents tailer her in order to track her father down herself.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - A leak in the NYPD endangers a Russian mob trial witness whom Danny and Jackie are assigned to protect. Elsewhere, Erin is offered a job as deputy mayor, which would pair her with her father.

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Tyler returns to Mystic Falls and soon suspects that something has been going on between Caroline and Klaus.  

Parks and Recreation (9:30pm, NBC) - When Leslie (Amy Poehler) learns that the Parks Dept. budget is about to be cut, she persuades Councilman Pillner (Bradley Whitford, "The West Wing") to make the cuts elsewhere, but there are unforeseen consequences for her campaign. Also, Ron and Chris visit a meditation center together. Bonus: Poehler and Whitford get to do a "West Wing"-style "walk and talk," plus, it's a mini "West Wing" reunion with Rob Lowe, who plays state auditor Chris Traeger.

Scandal (10pm, ABC) - The team reluctantly helps a millionaire's son accused of rape. Meanwhile, Olivia takes on Amanda Tanner as a client, but can't put her own past with the President behind her when Amanda asks to meet with him.

Jesus Conspiracies (10pm, Discovery) - Scholars try to determine what Jesus did from ages 12 to 30 in the opener of a new series chronicling the life of Jesus via documents and artifacts from the Holy Land and the Vatican.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - I'm not giving up on pushing this show on you, even if it may get canceled. Tonight, Britten helps a couple adapt to the witness-protection program, inspiring him to prepare for his own new life in Oregon with his wife.

Since we have our own allegedly murderous Peterson around here, I haven't been plugged in to the Chicago area's accused Peterson. If "Drew Peterson: Untouchable" (8 tonight, Lifetime) is even 50 percent true to the facts, I say we retire the surname.

I'm not saying the movie is bad; cheesy definitely, but not awful. It's just that, as played by Rob Lowe, Drew Peterson is a...jerk, isn't quite strong enough. Even if you're the polite sort, you'd have to go with either of the words that rhyme with slick.

If you aren't familiar, this Peterson is a police officer who is currently in jail, accused of killing his third wife, suspected of offing his still-unfound fourth.

Drew Peterson: Untouchable (8pm, Lifetime) - Former Illinois cop Drew Peterson becomes the suspect in the murder of his third wife and in the disappearance of his fourth wife. Based on a true story. And starring Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson. Adrienne has a review.

My Cat From Hell (8pm, Animal Planet) - If you're even the least bit interested in cats, this is a great show with cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy. Check it out.

Betty White's 90th Birthday Tribute (8pm, NBC) - If you missed this earlier in the week, catch it tonight. There were some really nice moments. "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," a show in which elderly people prank unsuspecting bystanders, airs immediately after.

Snow Beast (9pm, Syfy) - A scientist (John Schneider) and his research team try to evade a mysterious predator that appears to be responsible for a series of deaths after they travel to the Canadian wilderness to study a species of lynx, which have mysteriously disappeared from their territory.

Bayou Billionaires (9pm, CMT) - The premiere of a new reality series following a Louisiana family who strikes it rich and experience the perks of living as billionaires. We previewed it.

Pit Bulls and Parolees (10pm, Animal Planet) - Tia needs all the help she can get to find a mother and her puppies that were dumped in the Mojave Desert.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - A repeat tonight. Emma Stone hosts, musical guest is Coldplay.

Austin City Limits (Midnight, UNC-TV) - Folk-rockers Fleet Foxes perform , as does singer-songwriter Joanna Newman.

There are several finales on tonight, and they are mostly pretty dark and depressing. But there is some comedy to be found on NBC. On "Community," Senor Chang gets replaced when the college finds out he doesn't actually have a teaching degree. On "Parks & Recreation," Rob Lowe (left) plays an auditor who comes to Pawnee to slash the budget. And on "30 Rock," Liz needs a date to Floyd's wedding so she revisits old flames hoping for a love connection. Michael Sheen and Jon Hamm return for that.

And now, the dark stuff...

Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - A very deadly Founders Day celebration is the backdrop for tonight's Season 1 finale.

Supernatural (9pm, CW) - In other happy-go-lucky finale news, this show's season ends with the Apocalypse.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - In part one of a two-part season finale, Olivia travels to the alternate universe with Walter, who is preparing for a showdown with William Bell (Leonard Nimoy).

Click below to read about impending doom on "Private Practice."

Evil pretty people are extra scary, probably because we like to think that things that look good are good.

That's why Rob Lowe is well cast in "Ann Rule's Too Late to Say Goodbye" (Lifetime Movie Network, channel 47, 8 tonight).

Lowe uses his borderline feminine looks as Bart Corbin, a successful dentist whose wife Jenn, as the movie opens, appears to commit suicide. Her young son finds her with a gun in one hand and divorce papers in the other.