This season of “POV” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) seems to concentrate on showing aspects of different communities and cultures – and that’s much in evidence tonight for the annual collection of short films.
“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” by Gail Dolgin and Robin Fryday is a moving portrait of an Alabama foot soldier in the Civil Rights movement who goes to Washington 50 years later to see a black president inaugurated.
Theo Rigby’s “Sin Pais (Without Contry)” is a heartbreaking portrait of a Guatamalen family who is arbitrarily broken up by the U.S. immigration laws.
Then there’s a trio of those remarkable “StoryCorps” films that put cartoons to the words of those who have shared their stories.
Because the Mars Science Laboratory better known as the Curiosity has already successfully landed and is starting to transmit what might be a decade’s worth of information about the red planet, some of the suspense is taken away from the film about the unique vehicle’s creation in “Martian Mega Rover” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
But there is interest in the craft, so it’s fascinating to see the engineers build it from scratch, encounter problems and overcome them. Throughout, their enthusiasm for the mindblowing mission is quite evident and the computer generated depiction of what the rover is supposed to do is quite vivid.
On a new “Louie” (FX, 10:30 p.m.), a trip to Ikea seems especially ripe for the humor of Louis C.K.
Another great comedy, the spoof “Children’s Hospital” (Nickelodeon, midnight) returns for a new season of 15 minute episodes, featuring one of the great ensemble casts on TV.
The decathlon finals and gold metal races in the ripple jump and men’s 200 and 800 meter races are planned on tonight’s primetime summary of the 2012 London Olympics (NBC, 8 p.m.). The beach volleyball tonight is from the men.
Compared to all that Olympian effort, the stunts on “Wipeout” (ABC, 9 p.m.) look even more pathetic. Plus, it’s a hillbilly themed show tonight.
They’re after a serial killer on the only scripted new show on broadcast TV, “Rookie Blue” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Frank is up for eviction against Janelle on the live “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Hayden Panettiere is guest judge on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), where one contestant doesn’t wait around to be cut, but flees in the middle of the night.
Michael wants to be captured by the FBI on tonight’s “Burn Notice” (USA, 9 p.m.).
Four days after the 50th anniversary of her death, photographs tell the story of her life on “Marilyn Monroe: Still Life” reprised tonight on “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
Snooki takes a prenatal trip to Cancun on “Snooki & JWoww” (MTV, 10 p.m.), which has been renewed for a second season for some reason.
Japan’s finest actor Toshiro Mifune is honored all day on Turner Classic Movies, first with the classic films he made with Akira Kurosawa, “Drunken Angel” (6 a.m.), “Rashomon” (7:45 a.m.), “Seven Samurai” (9:15 a.m.), “Throne of Blood” (12:45 p.m.), “Yojimbo” (2:45 p.m.) and “Red Beard” (4:45 p.m.) before the prime time is given over to the trilogy “Samurai 1: Mushahi Miyamoto” (8 p.m.), “Duel at Ichijoji Temple” (9:45 p.m.) and “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island” (11:45 p.m.).
Other notable movies tonight include “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (Showtime, 8 p.m.), “The Last of the Mohicans” (AMC, 8 p.m.) and “Smokey and the Bandit II” (CMT, 9 p.m.).
In what may be the first exhibition NFL game of the season, it’s Green Bay at San Diego (ESPN, 8 p.m.). And they’ve started the regional playoffs for Little League (ESPN2, 7 and 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Rico Rodriguez, Cobra Starship, Mark Consuelos (rerun). The View: Michael Fassbender, Jacqueline Laurita, Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Kathy Wakile, Caroline Manzo, Maneet Chauhan (rerun). The Talk: Arsenio Hall, Keri Glassman, Gayle King. Ellen DeGeneres: Kaley Cuoco, Adam Scott, Lupe Fiasco (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Ray Romano, Tom Waits (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Jerey Renner, Aaron Paul, Nas (rerun). Craig Ferguson: D.J. Qualls, Wolfgang Puck (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Buddy Guy (rerun). Jon Stewart: Joanna Brooks. Stephen Colbert: Woody Harrelson. Conan O’Brien: Matt LeBlanc, Travis Pastrana, Andy Hayes. Chelsea Handler: Wiz Hkalifa, Michael Yo, Sarah Colonna, Ryan Stout.