Ricky Jay is not only a great magician, he’s a great historian of that corner of entertainment and he’s also an actor you’ve seen in a number of things, from “Deadwood” to “Boogie Nights.” He’s a natural for “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) but while his famouns-as-a-kid bio is fascinating, the the best part of the film is his reverence for long gone magicians like Cardini and the film’s spotlight on them. Another former amateur magician, Dick Cavett, narrates.
Stacy London is back to your Friday nights, bossing you around about your fashion choices if they’re not like hers. Her latest show is named after a crude game, “Love, Lust or Run” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
A new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) features Bill Burr, Howard Dean, Nia-Malika Henderson, James Fallows and Bret Stephens.
Online, a new comedy special “Iliza Shlesinger: Freezing Hot” (Netflix, streaming), starting today.
The 100th anniversary of tenor Richard Tucker’s birth is celebrated “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) in a concert featuring Michael Fabiano, Angela Meade, Joseph Calleja, Zeljko Lucic and Elena Bocherova.
“King of the Nerds” (TBS, 9 p.m.) starts its third season.
A second season starts for “Bring It” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) preceded by a review of season one at 8 p.m.
Rachel is a shady dealer on the first of a two part “Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
“Constantine” (NBC, 8 p.m.) fights a a plague of comas.
“Wives with Knives” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) is not a cooking show.
The month-long Friday night salute to Neil Simon continues on Turner Classic Movies with “Lost in Yonkers” (8 p.m.), “Biloxi Blues” (10 p.m.), “Seems Like Old Times” (midnight) and “The Sunshine Boys” (2 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Virginia Commonwealth at St. Louis (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) Manhattan at Quinnipiac (ESPNU, 7 p.m.) and Valparaiso at Green Bay (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
In the NBA, it’s Chicago at Dallas (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ryan Seacrest, Fall Out Boy. The View: Stacy London. The Talk: Ron Howard, Dr. Gadget. Ellen DeGeneres: Timothy Olyphant, George Ezra. Wendy Williams: Ryan Guzman, Andrea Canning, LZ Granderson, Sabrina Sotto. Meredith Vieira: Jill Scott. Queen Latifah: Lisa Ling, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Gordon Ramsay (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Keaton, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Foo Fighters with Ann & Nancy Wilson (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Ryan Seacrest, Taraji P. Henson, Maddie & Tae. Jimmy Kimmel: Anne Hathaway, Chris Soules, Heart (rerun). Seth Meyers: Bill Clinton, Carrie Brownstein, Mali Music (rerun). Late Late Show: Jeff Goldblum, Garry Shandling, Ryan Adams, Judd Apatow. Carson Daly: Sara Schaefer, Hellogoodbye, Neil Harbisson (rerun). Tara Smiley: Marcus Roberts.