If you know the name Chris Crocker at all, it’s likely from the viral video that made him famous for less than five minutes in 2006 when he cried out, “Leave Britney Alone!”
According to the new documentary “Me @ the Zoo” (HBO, 9 p.m.), he was already a modestly successful YouTube presence even before then, dressing up, mincing around and coming up with catchphrases for his farflung fans.
The Britney video shot him into the kind of fame that makes it seem like a good idea to move to L.A. and reap the benefits. In his case, the promised TV shows never happened and he retreated back to Bristol, Tenn., where he lives with his grandparents.
Filmmakers Chris Moukarbel and Valerie Veatch hang around long enough to get a compelling story – which turns out to be the harrowing life story of his homeless mom, a meth user.
Clearly nobody’s found a way to channel the creativity of the young man as yet, and the film struggles as well.
(Britney, meanwhile, becomes a new “X Factor” judge).
In the countdown to the Olympics, the men’s and women’s swimming trials (NBC, 8 p.m.) are covered live from Omaha. On cable,I t’s the Track and Field Trials (NBC Sports, 9 p.m.).
How long can you keep a secret? “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (ABC, 8 p.m.) reaches its 100th episode tonight, a first for any series on the network, so they throw a big party — not for the milestone, but belatedly for the wedding of Amy and Ricky, who eloped. Also there’s a new pregnant teen at school, a flash mob and shades of “Glee,” when Renee Olstead and Camillie Winbush break out singing “I Think I Want to Marry You.”
“The Glass House” (ABC, 10 p.m.) didn’t do too well in its debut last week, but I enjoyed the interactivity – especially online after the show. Plus the fact that the two most annoying guys on it are not probably gone.
If you’ve ever wondered what happened to the actor David Soul – Hutch from “Starsky and Hutch” — he’s on a new episode of “Top Gear” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
The series documenting musical acts of the past, “Unsung” (TV One, 9 p.m.) returns with a profile of Sly and the Family Stone.
It’s down to six remaining suitors on “The Bachelorette” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and she’ll send home two more before they leave Prague. That’s one third of them. But the remaining four get hometown visits next week.
Thirteen are still competing on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 8 p.m.), 14 on “MasterChef” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
The auditions finally complete, “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.) moves to Vegas for its second round.
A new episode of “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS, 8 p.m.) determines what happened to items appraised on the show 15 years ago in New Jersey – some items doubled, others had their value deteriorate badly.
While there’s still “The Real Housewives of New York City” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) to ignore, there’s a new aggregation of glamorous coastal women to be catty — this one associated vaguely with stars. “Hollywood Exes” (VH1, 9 p.m.) feature the former wives of Prince, Will Smith, R. Kelly, Jose Canseco and Eddie Murphy.
A honeymoon is sabotaged on “Eureka” (Syfy, 9 pm.).
On the new “Mobster Confessions” (Discovery, 9 p.m.), some of those formerly involved in organized crime find a particularly public arena in which to break their silence.
Wonder how a Mount Rushmore cake would taste on “Cake Boss” (TLC, 9 p.m.). Chalky.
In the perverse new “Diagnosis: Dead or Alive” (Discovery Fit & Health, 10 p.m.) mysterious medical cases are re-enacted but just how lethal they turn out to be is withheld until the end, a variation to the channel’s similar series “Mystery Diagnosis”
The current season of “Extreme Couponing” (TLC, 10 p.m.) expires, but as far as episodes go, it’s two for one.
A tennis racket signed by Arthur Ashe goes up for a price on “Pawn Stars” (History, 10:30 p.m.).
Revealing the identity of the shape shifter on “Teen Wolf” (MTV, 10 p.m.) is such a big deal, it warrants further analysis on the series’ first aftershow discussion program, “Teen Wolf Revelations” (MTV, 11 p.m.).
Two of the “Push Girls” (Sundance, 10 p.m.) try speed dating. That’s like dating on wheels.
A Newport motel is revamped on “Hotel Impossible” (Travel, 10 p.m.).
Boyish-faced Ross Alexander made a dozen and a half films before he shot himself at age 29 in 1937. Some of his films will be shown tonight on Turner Classic Movies, including “Hot Money” (8 p.m.), “We’re in the Money” (9:15 p.m.), “China Clipper” (10:30 p.m.), “Ready, Willing and Able” (12:15 a.m.), his last film, which was released posthumously; “Shipmates Forever” (2 a.m.), “Boulder Dam” (4 a.m.) and “Brides Are Like That” (5:15 a.m.).
Indians at Yankees (ESPN, 7 p.m.) gets a national audience.
In the College World Series finals, it’s Arizona vs. South Carolina (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
And look what’s starting this morning in London: Wimbledon (ESPN2, 6:30 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Chris Pine, Andy Cohen, Blues Traveler, Carrie Ann Inaba. The View: Sen. Marco Rubio, Maura Tierney, Shailene Woodley. The Talk: A.J. Hammer, Lawrence Zarian, John Elliott. Ellen DeGeneres: Julie Bowen, Josh Hutcherson, the Band perry (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emma Stone, Jimmie Walker, Diamond Rugs. Jay Leno: Louis C.K., Lolo Jones, Delta Rae. Jimmy Kimmel: Katy Perry, the Offspring. Jimmy Fallon: Charlie Sheen, Beth Ostrosky Stern, Anthony Davis, Alabama Shakes. Craig Ferguson: Elijah Wood, Kathleen Rose Perkins. Tavis Smiley: Jeff Daniels. Carson Daly: Geoff Boucher, Neon Hitch, Melvins (rerun). Jon Stewart: Sen. Marco Rubio. Stephen Colbert: Frank Deford. Conan O’Brien: Mila Kunis, Joel Stein, Rory Scovel. Chelsea Handler: Erin Wasson, Mo Mandel, Arden Myrin, Ross Marthews.