If you ever watched Current TV’s underrated “InfoMania,” you will know the work of Ben Hoffman, the deadpan and sardonic comic who is never seen without his baseball cap.
He gets a full showcase now on “The Ben Show” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) where he’ll continue to do more of his filmed pieces including, tonight, buying a gun and casting older actresses for a fake movie called “Gangsta Granny.” He’ll sure have a lot more viewers this time.
It comes alongside another new show that has already been getting some attention. “Nathan for You” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) stars Nathan Fielder as a guy who pretends he can improve small businesses. When he posted a bogus video of a pig saving a baby goat that went viral online and got wide play on TV news — including the “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” (NBC, 6:30 p.m.), it showed not only how exacting the Fielder’s creative team could be, but how bereft TV news in general can be (why would they ever be showing a cute animal video for any reason?). Anyhow: Big vote for Nathan.
The final group of 10 guys sing on another two hour “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and when they’re done, five will be cut and the the Top 20 will be unveiled, ready for viewer votes next week.
Anthony Bourdain appears in an animated way tonight on “Archer” (FX, 10 p.m.), the spy cartoon that just got picked up Wedneday for a fifth season.
The end of “Parade’s End” (HBO, 9 p.m.) might seem to go by quickly — especially since much of it is in the trenches of World War I. The posh look at the crumbling of Elizabethan England that seems to cut deeper than “Downton Abbey” and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Adelaide Clemens and Rebecca Hall, ends tonight in an hour long episode. Its first two installments Tuesday and Wednesday were two hours each.
Malcolm McDowell guest stars as a history professor on “Community” (NBC, 8 p.m.). Jason Schwartzman is on “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) as a Pawnee video store owner who, understandably, seems to be in a financial trouble. Cee Lo Green is guest star on “Anger Management” (FX, 9:30 p.m.).
Johnny Weir and Margaret Cho appear on “Kathy” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Tina Yothers gets a makeover on “What Not to Wear” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
Joan and Melissa Rivers are guest judges on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), where contestants have to come up with designs for senior citizens.
In the second season finale of “Mary Mary” (WE, 9 p.m.) the gospel duo sisters have to decide whether to even staty together as a group.
If you weren’t staying up after midnight Sunday, here’s a chance to see “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars” (ABC, 10 p.m.) at a decent hour. It includes the star-packed fake trailer “Movie: The Movie 2 V,” though the appearance by guests Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum later isn’t much.
February sweeps are over so there are a lot of reruns on again tonight, except on “Zero Hour” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
Embassy Pictures had a lot of great Oscar bait in the 60s and 70s and a handful of them are on now: “The Graduate” (8 p.m.), “The Producers” (10 p.m.), “The Lion in Winter” (11:45 p.m.), “Carnal Knowledge” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Day of the Dolphin” (4 a.m.).
NBA action includes Thunder at Knicks (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Clippers at Nuggets (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops include North Carolina at Clemson (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Ohio State at Northwestern (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Drexel at Old Dominion (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Morehead State at Tennessee State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Duke at Virginia (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Missouri at South Carolina (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Utah at California (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Gonzaga at BYU (ESPN2, 11 p.m.) and Oregon State at Oregon (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
In women’s games, it’s Alabama-Birmingham at East Carolina (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.) and Rice at UTEP (CBS Sports) 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Dr. Ian Smith, One Republic. The View: Derrica & Natalie Wilson, Sunny Hostin. The Talk: Luke Wilson, Monty Hall, Marcus Samuelsson. Ellen DeGeneres: Zach Braff, Chris Mann.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Charlie Sheen, Phil Simms, Jose James (rerun). Jay Leno: Steve Carell, Joey King, Shooter Jennings. Jimmy Kimmel: Jim Parsons, Gavin Newsom, Ziggy Marley. Jimmy Fallon: Tina Fey, Bill Nighy, Bob Mould. Craig Ferguson: David Duchovny, Ashley Madewke. Carson Daly: Mark Burnett, Open Heart, Ceremony. Tavis Smiley: Ed Harris. Jon Stewart: Rachel Maddow. Stephen Colbert: Jon Favreau. Conan O’Brien: Kunal Nayyar, Julian Newman, Eugene Mirman. Chelsea Handler: Kate Mara, Ben Gleib, April Richardson, Kurt Braunoher.