Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige (pictured right), D’Angelo and Fantasia are among the performers at the Essence Music Festival last July 4th weekend at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Their performances as well as those by Trey Songz, Jill Scott, LL Cool J, Janet Jackson and Earth, Wind and Fire, were captured in “TVOne Night Only: Essence Music Festival” (TVOne, 8 p.m.). The only thing is that it might be odd to watch as a big storm is about to hit the town again.
For the documentary “The Diamond Rush” (CNBC, 9 p.m.), Bob Pisani reports on lavish showcases for the rock, but not the deadly mines in Africa.
How dumb is the eye candy on “Bachelor Pad” (ABC, 8 p.m.). We may find out tonight with a spelling bee among the activities.
The message on “Locked Up Abroad” (National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.): Avoid the Bangkok prison system if possible. Same thing in Jacksonville, according to a new “Beyond Scared Straight” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (ABC, 8 p.m.) conjures up a cliffhanger for its mid season finale.
David Schwimmer and Conan O’Brien return to “Web Therapy” (Showtime, 11 p.m.).
Kal is sued on “The L.A. Complex” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
A hotel in San Diego gets a hand on “Hotel Hell” (Fox, 8 p.m.) before the remaining chefs on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 9 p.m.) get a chance to show leadership skills.
Celebrities take aim at “enemy targets” on “Stars Earn Stripes” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
A deadly car crash at a nightclub is the case on “Major Crimes” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
Tonight, contemplate immigration policy while watching “Border Wars” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) and “Law on the Border” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), back to back.
Meth and alcohol addiction is double trouble on “Intervention” (A&E, 9 p.m.).
The New York art community is rightfully peeved by its depiction on the utterly vapid “Gallery Girls” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Summer Glau guest stars on “Alphas” (Syfy, 8 p.m.). Tom Sizemore and Edward Furlong stop in at “Perception” (TNT, 10 p.m.).
Lewis Carroll goes missing from “Warehouse 13” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
A season finale comes for the uplifting “Push Girls” (Sundance, 10 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of New York City” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), or at least most of them, travel to St. Barts.
Simon gets a funny new car on “The Inbetweeners” (MTV, 10:30 p.m.) the new comedy that certainly beats the dim fare on “Pranked” (MTV, 8 p.m.) and “Ridiculousness” (MTV, 10 p.m.).
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” are preempted today by a replay of “The Roast of Roseanne” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.), in advance of their convention reporting that starts Tuesday.
The Canadian import “Love It or List It” (HGTV, 9 p.m.), we imagine, is about the decision to sell a home.
A dozen films starring Janette MacDonald are on Turner Classic Movies today including, in prime time, “San Francisco” (8 p.m.) and “Maytime” (10:15 p.m.) followed by “The Merry Widow” (12:45 a.m.), “Sweethearts” (2:30 a.m.) and “I Married an Angel” (4:30 a.m.).
First round action begins at the U.S. Open (ESPN2, 1 and 7 p.m.).
In baseball, it’s Tampa Bay at Texas (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Bradley Cooper, Rick Schwartz, Sam Champion. The View: Elizabeth Banks, Rielle Hunter (rerun). The Talk: Michael Ealy, Trisha Yearwood (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Rihanna, Drew & Brittany Brees, Steve Spangler (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jake Gyllenhaal, Sharon Osbourne, Neon Trees. Jay Leno: Dennis Miller, Kate Flannery, Joshua Radin. Jimmy Kimmel: Robert Pattinson, Rick & Corey Harrison, Polica (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Channing Tatum, Oliver Stone, Adam Levine, Maroon5 (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Kristen Bell. Tavis Smiley: Newt Gingrich. Carson Daly: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Josh Baze, the Naked and Famous (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Dax Shepard, Wendy Williams, Silversun Pickups. Chelsea Handler: Kirsten Dunst, Ben Gleib, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Josh Wolf.