“Food,” says chef Jacques Pépin, “is a conversation.
“And maybe that’s why cooking shows are popular,” he told reporters earlier this year, “because in our time of political correctness, that’s probably about the only thing we can talk about is food.”
The 81-year-old chef and author is the subject of tonight’s documentary “Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). The film, by Peter L. Stein, is part of the “American Masters: Chefs Flight” series that also includes a reprise of its 2003 profile of Alice Waters at 10 p.m.
Pépin has a long history with public television, whose “Today’s Gourmet” series Stein also produced.
Speaking with reporters at the TV Critics Association press tour, Pépin quoted Lévi Strauss, “who said that cooking is a process by which nature is transformed into culture.”
While most chefs on TV these days are locked into competitions, Pépin says, “cooking is about being together, about love, about sharing and all that.” Competitions he says, are “not really the way you learn how to cook or the way you understand food.”
The third and final season of the family thriller “Bloodline” (Netflix, streaming) is available today, in its entirety.
“First Dates” (NBC, 8 p.m.) ends its first season; it’s the only new thing on broadcast TV, though Thursday’s premieres of “Beat Shazam” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and “Love Connection” (Fox, 9 p.m.) are rerun.
Queens makeover members of the crew of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1, 8 p.m.).
A woman seeking revenge on her ex-husband gets involved in “The Killing Pact” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.), which ends up hitting a major snag. Emily Rose, Brian Krause and Melanie Stone star.
One of the “Yukon Men” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) goes off to net some eels; another goes trapping.
A creature washes up on an English shore on “River Monsters: Unhooked” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
Las Vegas has its share of “Ginormous Food” (Food, 8 p.m.).
King Tut figures in both “Ancient Aliens” (History, 9 p.m.) and “Josh Gates’ Destination Truth” (Travel, 9 p.m.).
John Wayne Gacy gets the spotlight in a special titled “The Real Killer Clown” (Reelz, 8 p.m.).
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) is a rerun of last week’s rather lively episode with Cornel West, David Frum and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
“ELeague” (TBS, 10 p.m.) has the live semifinals and finals of the $250,000 Street Fighter V Invitational gaming tournament.
A surfer slices his ear on “Emergency 24/7” (Discovery Life, 10 p.m.).
Summer tips are offered on “Greatest Ever” (truTV, 11:30 p.m.).
The case that inspired “The Exorcist” is explored on “The Shocking Truth” (Reelz, 9 p.m.).
A four day, 40-film Memorial Day Marathon on Turner Classic Movies begins with a group of true stories: “The Wings of Eagles” (8 p.m.), “Sergeant York” (10 p.m.), “Above and Beyond” (12:30 a.m.), “Hell to Eternity” (2:45 a.m.) and “The Fighting Sullivans” (5 a.m.).
No Stanley Cup playoff games tonight but there is a new episode in the documentary series “All Access: Quest for the Stanley Cup” (Showtime, 8 p.m.).
Baseball includes Seattle at Boston (MLB, 7 p.m.) and Cubs at Dodgers (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Soccer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup has Mexico vs. Venezuela (Fox Sports 1, 4 a.m.), Germany vs. Vanuatu (Fox Sports 2,, 4 a.m.), England vs. South Korea (Fox Sports 1, 7 a.m.) and Argentina vs. Guinea (Fox Sports 2, 7 a.m.).
The NCAA softball tournament has Oklahoma vs. Auburn (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), LSU at Florida State (ESPNU, 5 p.m.), Texas A&M at Tennessee (ESPN2, 6 p.m.), Kentucky at Oregon (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Alabama at Florida (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Utah at Washington (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly and Ryan: Gal Gadot, Alan Alda, Kevin Curry. The View: Marc Summers, Tyrese Gibson (rerun). The Talk: David Hasselhoff, Ilfenesh Hadera. Harry Connick: Jeremy Renner, Patricia Heaton, Peter Krause, John Lithgow, Jeff Probst, Tye Diggs, Ali Wentworth. Ellen DeGeneres: Jon Dorenbos, Jamie Foxx, Sofia Vergara, Justin Timberlake. Wendy Williams: Navi. The Real: Christina Milian.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Gordon Ramsay, David Seders, Pixies. Jimmy Kimmel: Johnny Depp, Science Bob Pflugyelder, Linkin Park, Ann Wilson (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jordan Peele, Claire Foy, Iggy Azalea. Seth Meyers: Jennifer Hudson, Horatio Sanz, David Mandel (rerun). James Corden: J.J. Reduce, Scott Bakula, Pete Holmes, MisterWives (rerun). Carson Daly: James Gunn, Tiger Army, Halston Sage (rerun).