Those awaiting Christopher Guest’s new Netflix film “Mascots” for Netflix Oct. 13 will be well-served in the meantime by a documentary that plays like a mockumentary, but is actually real. Brian Golden Davis’ “The Million Dollar Duck” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) is about the rarified world of wildlife artists who compete to win the annual Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Quite a few of them are characters.
One paints abstract art and parodies another’s realistic art. So that guy sought revenge by buying up all his domain names on the internet. There’s one whose nickname is Ducky and a woman whose blind dog sells more art than she does. And there’s the Hartman Brothers, who have been so successful in the competition, they were mentioned in the film “Fargo.”
The documentary is apparently the first in what will be a series of documentaries on the network, which would otherwise be running series about treehouses or fish tanks.
The sixth season of “American Horror Story” (FX, 10 p.m.) with no advance publicity whatsoever. No subtitle, no announced cast, no hint as to the story. Of the promos they have released, most are misdirections, the network says. There was talk that this season could be anything from a takeoff of “Children of the Corn” to a recreation of the Manson murders. It will all become clear once the show runs. Maybe.
One of TV’s best comedies, “Documentary Now!” (IFC, 10 p.m.) is also one of its strongest homages to classic documentary films. The first one tackled for the second season is the suitably political “The Bunker,” a takeoff of D. A. Pennebakbr’s 1993 classic on Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, “The War Room.” Fred Armisen and Will Hader give passable imitations of George Stephanopoulos and James Carville, respectively, as they try to win a gubernatorial election for an exceedingly bland candidate. Knowing the original doc enhances the humor, but isn’t essential. Helen Mirren returns to host.
I like the idea that somebody named Tape Face will win “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m). But it’s more likely to be a singer, since that’s half the Top 10. Others are a contortionist, a magician, a juggler, and a bunch of mentalists. It’s up to audience vote. And audiences have tended to like opera singers. But would you pay to see one in Vegas?
A winner is also named on “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.). It’s down to two cooks from Las Vegas — david Williams and Shaun O’Neale and an elementary school teacher from Kentucky, Brandi Mudd.
The new broadcast season is trickling in, with the second season premiere of “Blindspot” (NBC, 10 p.m.). By now Archie Panjabi, formerly of “The Good Wife” joins the cast as the head of a clandestine agency within the National Security Agency. In the premiere, the tattooed Jane Doe is persuaded to become a triple agent for the FBI.
“South Park” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) is back for its 20th season. How does it do it? By staying timely, for one thing. Tonight’s show, for example, is about athletes standing for the national anthem.
It’s accompanied by a new animated show, “Legends of Chamberlain Heights” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) about three foul-mouthed high school freshman who ride the bench of their basketball team. Erykah Badu did the music.
How will education look in at the future? “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) tries to find out.
“Mr. Robot” (USA, 10 p.m.) is already reaching its end for the season with the first of a two part finale.
“Suits” (USA, 9 p.m.) closes up shop for the season as well.
How can there be a fifth season starting for “Don’t Be Tardy for the Party” (Bravo, 10 p.m.)?
Barbara Eden and Tommy Davidson are among the competitors in a new season of “Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition” (Food, 9 p.m.), conducted by Rachael Ray and Anne Burrell.
The new “Forces of Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) examines various forces of the planet, starting with gravity.
More slapstick on Turner Classic Movies includes movies from the 1940s starting with W.C. Fields in “The Bank Dick” (8 p.m.),and continuing with “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (9:30 p.m.), Red Skelton in “A Southern Yankee” (11 p.m.), Danny Kaye in “The Inspector General” (12:45 a.m.), Milton Berle in “Always Leave Them Laughing” (2:30 a.m.) and Claudette Colbert in Preston Sturges’ “The Palm Beach Story” (4:30 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Tampa Bay at Toronto (MLB, 12:30 p.m.), San Diego at San Francisco (MLB, 3:30 p.m.), Baltimore at Boston (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Seattle at Angels (ESPN, 10 p.m.).
It’s Russia vs. Canada (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.) in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition.
And the Paralympics (NBC Sports, 2 and 7 p.m.) continue from Rio.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Renee Zellweger, Jaime Alexander, Vern Yip, Neil Patrick Harris. The View: Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The Talk: Kein Frazier. Harry Connick: Kim Burrell. Ellen DeGeneres: Ariana Grande, Katie Ledecky. Wendy Williams: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Trevor Noah, Allen Iverson, Rachel Maddow. Jimmy Kimmel: Tom Hanks, Kaleo (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Kevin James, Michael B. Jordan, Bon Iver. Seth Meyers: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lewis Black, Calum Scott, Matt Garstka. James Corden: Andy Samberg, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Globe of Steel. Carson Daly: Casey Wilson, Mac Demarco, Callie Hernandez. Tavis Smiley: Meg Ryan. Trevor Noah: Hannah Hart. Conan O’Brien: Bob Costas, Pamela Adlon, Mary Mack.