The best way to mark Veterans Day on TV is to take in the gripping work of an overly-busy assistant center in upstate New York in Ellen Goosenberg Kent’s documentary “Crisis Hot Line: Veterans Press 1” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
Though they represent just one percent of the American population, former service members account for 20 percent of suicides in the U.S. Since 2001, more veterans have died by their own hand than in combat in Afghanistan and Iran, with one suicide every 80 minutes in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Veterans Crisis Line, based in Canandaigua, N.Y., receives more than 22,000 calls a month from veterans considering suicide. The work of its dedicated staffers provide more drama than you’ll see anywhere else tonight and poses a question of the longterm affect of putting so many military in conflict. The hot line number is 800-273-8255.
While most of the many, many documentaries on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK this month will focus on the final hours, the portrait of the 35th president on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m.) tells the fuller story of his presidency. Tonight is just the first half of the four-hour film, ending with his 1960 election. The concluding half is Tuesday.
A closer look at Jackie Kennedy is found on the series “First Ladies: Influence & Image” (C-Span, 9 p.m.).
And then there’s always Oliver Stone’s 1991 version: “JFK” (Reelz, 8 p.m.).
They’ve rescued restaurants and hotels and beauty salons, so why not places of worship? “Church Rescue” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.) has a triad of ministers who help boost congregations.
The latest person to be trimmed from “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is Brant Daugherty, the actor from “Pretty Little Liars,” even though his points have averaged fourth. Fame matters and not enough people are watching ABC Family. Tonight they have a trio challenge.
Performances continue on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and Cee Lo tries to keep from exhaling smoke on camera.
The final week of classes come to “Dream School” (Sundance, 10 p.m.).
The murder of a model is investigated on “Bones” (Fox, 8 p.m.); a popular relationship therapist is killed on “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.). A Bizarro version of “Castle” is found on “Mike & Molly” (CBS, 9 p.m.), as Molly, who wants to be a crime writer, rides along with Mike on his beat.
It’s a new tack for an old survivalist on “Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) in which he takes the survival stories of others and tries to show how they escaped. The first story concerns some men on Canada’s Pacific Coast Mountain range who suffered avalanches, rivers, coyotes, frostbite and a few broken bones.
“MAD” (Cartoon Network, 8:30 p.m.) marks its 100th episode.
There’s no escaping it now; it’s Veterans’ Day! “Hitched for the Holidays” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), “A Nanny for Christmas” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), “Naughty or Nice” (Hallmark, 10 p.m.), “All About Christmas” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
Film history continues on Turner Classic Movies with “The Story of Film: An Odyssey: 1970s and Onwards — The Innovation in Popular Culture and Around the World” (2:30 a.m.), with the examples of “Jaws” (8 p.m.), “Zanjeer” (10:15 p.m.), “Enter the Dragon” (12:45 a.m.) and “The Message” (3:45 a.m.).
Another great movie from the 1970s, with additional material: “Apocalypse Now Redux” (AMC, 8 p.m.).
It’s Dolphins at Buccaneers (ESPN, 8:25 p.m.) in Monday Night Football.
Women’s college basketball season has begun with Stanford at Connecticut (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Tennessee at North Carolina (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Mark Consuelos, Jessica Lange. The View: Sara Ramirez, Julian Lennon, Sgt. Dakota Meyer. The Talk: Donnie Wahlberg, Ree Drummond, Marie Osmond. Ellen DeGeneres: Rebel Wilson, Adam Lambert. Wendy Williams: Porsha Stewart, Diana Madison.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Julianna Marguiles, Gen, Ray Odierno, Moon Taxi. Jay Leno: Casey Affleck, Kelly Clarkson, Lyle Lovett. Jimmy Kimmel: Zooey Deschanel, Chris Elliott, Frank Turner. Jimmy Fallon: Billy Crystal, Evan Rachel Wood, Cher Lloyd featuring Skee-Lo. Craig Ferguson: LL Cool J, Carrie Keagan. Carson Daly: Ilan Hall, Davy Rothbart, White Denim. Tavis Smiley: Edward James Olmos, LisaGay Hamilton. Jon Stewart: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Stephen Colbert: Peter Baker. W. Kamau Bell: Baratunde Thurston. Arsenio Hall: Donnie Wahlberg, Lil Rel. Conan O’Brien: Jon Cryer, Col. Chris Hadfield, Avril Lavigne. Chelsea Handler: Sam Morgante, John Caparul0, Sarah Tiana, Ross Mathews. Pete Holmes: Eric Andre.