Sunday is the 50th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe, an event that still haunts film history, simply for the shimmering, mysterious beauty she left behind in her films.
She’ll be celebrated all day on Turner Classic Movies as part of their Summer of the Stars event today, starting with “The Asphalt Jungle” (6 a.m.), in which she had a small role, “Clash By Night” (8 a.m.), “Niagara” (10 a.m.), “River of no Return” (noon), “The Prince and the Showgirl” (2 p.m.), “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (415 p.m.), “The Seven Year Itch” (6 p.m), “Some Like It Hot” (8 p.m.), “Bus Stop” (10:15 p.m.), “How to Marry a Millionaire” (midnight), “There’s No Business Like Show Business” (1:45 a.m.), and “Let’s Make Love” (4 a.m.).
Another icon with an M is honored as reggae legend Bob Marley “is profiled in the new “VH1 Rock Docs: Marley” (VH1, 9 p.m.).
Swimming wraps up and attention turns to track and field at the 2012 London Olympics (NBC, 8 p.m.). Late night coverage means no “Saturday Night Live.”
Not quite an Olympic sport, “UFC on FOX” (Fox, 8 p.m.) takes over the whole of prime time.
Two new episodes of “NYC 22” (8 and 9 p.m.) are the only new scripted television on the broadcast networks.
Cate Blanchett and Saoirse Ronan star in “Hanna” (HBO, 8 p.m.), about a 16 year old on an international mission, making its premium cable debut. Also on tonight: “Answers to Nothing” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.), with Elizabeth Mitchell and Dane Cook.
The former “SNL” star and current cast member of “Weeds” (Showtime, 11:30 p.m.) has his own standup special, “Kevin Nealon Whelmed but Not Overly” (Showtime, 10:30 p..m.).
Big doings in Canton for the ostentatiously named Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Psychics, seers and healers are explored in the new series “The uneXplained” (Bio, 10 p.m), which should explain first the weird use of upper and lower case letters in its title.
It’s disconcerting that BBC America is losing some of its Britishness, primarily by running a seres featuring unabashed American Chris Hardwick, who offers another special under his name “The Nerdist: Tribute to Science” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
It’s rather audacious that Syfy names its big B-movie thriller “Shark Week” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) after the Discovery Channel TV event, which starts its 25th season next week. As it is, it sits comfortably between “Malibu Shark Attack” (Syfy, 7 p.m.) and its classic “Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus” (Syfy, 11 p.m.).
Tonight’s the night you can choose from Richard Dreyfus in “Piranha” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) or Paul Logan in “Mega Piranha” (Syfy, 1 a.m.).
“My Big Redneck Vacation” (CMT, 8:30 p.m.) is preceded by “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (CMT, 7 p.m.).
Not to be confused with the games: “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (Cartoon Network, 6:30 p.m.).