Sometimes you can’t tell the passage of time until you see how quickly kids have grown in, for example, the decade since 9/11. More than 3,000 children lost a parent in the terrorist attacks; “Children of 9/11” (NBC, 10 p.m.) looks at the lives of 11 of them, to see how they coped in the intervening ten years.
Another unusual angle of marking the 10-year anniversary, coming this Sunday, is by examining the artifacts left behind, as they do in “9/11: Stories in Fragments” (Smithsonian, 10 p.m.). Parts of airplanes, crushed door frames, dusty briefcases, soiled clothes all help tell the tale.
Finally, the role of entertainment in all this is doubtlessly overstated in the title of the special “When Pop Culture Saved America: A 9/11 Story” (Bio, 8 p.m.). Though it was an immediate issue for entertainers and especially comedians just after the attack: How do they get back to work in the wake of such a tragedy?
Kris Humphries pops the question – with the cameras rolling – on the season finale of “Keeping Up with the Kardashains” (E!, 10 p.m.). And why not? Their recent wedding was fodder for reality cameras and paparazzi alike. At right, Kim poses with her sisters and eventual co-stars.
Remaining players must pick permanent partners – for the game at least – on a new “Bachelor Pad” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
It may be down to five on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 9 p.m.), but they’re asked to work as a team tonight. Just three contestants remain on “HGTV Design Star” (HGTV, 9 p.m.).
The second season of “The Glades” (A&E, 10 p.m.) ends with a takeover of Callie’s hospital by a pair of ex-cons.
Going back to school early is “Curious George” (PBS, check local listings), returning for anew season.
Did you miss Jerry Lewis in the telethon Sunday (or miss the fact that the telethon isn’t even on during Labor Day for the first time in its 46 year history?). Relax with a pair of Jerry Lewis movies – “The Disorderly Orderly” (Flix, 8 p.m.) and “Boeing Boeing” (Flix, 9:30 p.m.).
But in honor of Labor Day: “Working Girl” (Fox Movie Channel, 8 and 10 p.m.),
A stage father goes missing on a new episode of “The Closer” (TNT, 9 p.m.) while a docworker dies on “Rizzoli & Isles” (TNT, 10 p.m.).
Close your weekend with a couple of standup comedy specials – “Russell Peters: The Green Tour Tour” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) and “Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
Jonathan Pierce is featured in the new series “Interiors” (HGTV, 10 p.m.), which is not based on the old Woody Allen movie but is set at his Nashville design studio. Coincidentally, one of the the first clients on the show is former “American Idol” finalist Danny Gokey.
This might be fun: The RV breaks down and Kate Gosselin does too right in the middle of their cross country trip on “Kate Plus 8” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
I’m guessing that the third movie in this series was called “Beyond Re-Animator” (IFC, 8 p.m.) because they didn’t want to call it “Re-Re-Animator.”
To help wind up the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, Turner Clasic Movies salutes films that made their splash there all day including tonight, “Wanda” (8 p.m.), followed by “The Plumber” (10 p.m.), “The Breaking Point” (11:30 p.m.), “Election” (1:30 a.m.) and “8 ½” (3:30 a.m.).
In a slot that will soon enough be filled by Monday Night Football, there is a college game: Miami at Maryland (ESPN, 8 p.m.). Also: The 2011 United States Anvil Shooting Championship, in which anvils go airborne with enough gunpowder. Participants are awarded on height and accuracy in the special “Flying Anvils 2011” (Science, 10 p.m.), hosted by Tory Belleci of “Mythbusters.”
Daytime Talk
Regis and Kelly: Hank Azaria, Kevin Connolly, Kyle Richards, Camille Grammer, Lisa Vanderpump. The View: Dana Delany, Danielle Steel, Lady Gaga (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Aniston (rerun). Wendy Williams: Kristin Chenoweth, Sanjaya Malakar (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emma Stone, Alan Mulally, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside (rerun). Jay Leno: Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Banks, Mana (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Amos Lee (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Steve Carell, Marc Maron, Matt & Kim (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Julie Chen, Annie Duke. Tavis Smiley: Jim Whitaker, Lindsey Buckingham. Carson Daly: Dave Zirin, Dan Harmon, Mini Mansions. Jon Stewart: Anne Hathaway (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Jeff Bridges (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Norm MacDonald, Todd Phillips, the Joy Formidable. Chelsea Handler: Usher, Jo Koy, Arden Myrin, Gary Valentine.