For anyone who wondered why the spelling bee hasn’t ecome a regular game show, here’s “Spell-Mageddon” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.), which, as the title indicates, might overstate the battle a bit. Mostly, the spellers are distracted while they try to spell. Alfonso Ribeiro, once of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is host.
On the new series “Joe Rogan Questions Everything” (Syfy, 10 p.m.) he may well ask: What’s happened to my career since “Fear Factor”? Mostly, though, this is a show that looks into paranormal phenomenon such as Bigfoot. Wow, nobody’s done that before
Don’t confuse the new season start of “Top Chef Masters” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) with the top of “MasterChef” (Fox, 9 p.m.). The latter is the network show with Gordon Ramsey; the former has ex “Top Chef” players and judges that include Gail Simmons, James Oseland, Ruth Reichl, francis Lam and Lesley Suter. Curtis Stone hosts.
Let us salute the zany mind of Mel Brooks. He’s feted first with a rerun of the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks: (TCM, 8 p.m.), taped last month in Los Angeles a.
It’s ollowed by one of his comedies, “The Twelve Chairs” (TCM, 9:30 p.m.) an 1975 interview with Johnny Carson on “Carson on TCM” (TCM, 11:15 p.m.) and a documentary about one of his most famous comedy bits, “Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man” (TCM, 1:30 p.m.).
Later comes a couple more of his classics: “Young Frankenstein” (2 a.m.) and “The Producers” (4 a.m.) followed by a 2006 interview on “The Dick Cavett Show” (TCM, 5:30 p.m.).
“Dance Kids ATL” (TLC, 10 p.m.) is a special that follows a choreographer’s group in Georgia. If you like it, it may become a series.
Sugar Bear prepares to pop the question to Mama June on a new “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
“Franklin & Bash” (TNT, 9 p.m.) tries to mediate between a minor league baseball player and a heckling fan.
Making skinny cocktails takes its toll on a patient on “Royal Pains” (USA, 9 p.m.).
Sex traffickingin the U.S. is investigated on “Inside: Secret America” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Hugh Jackman, cast of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” The View: Shailene Woodley, Tom Papa. The Talk: Larry King, Duff Goldman, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Eric Stonestret, Emeli Sande (rerun). Wendy Williams: Howie Mandel, Brandon T. Jackson.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jason Sudeikis, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Jay Leno: Ashton Kutcher, Jayma Mays, Hiatus Kalyote. Jimmy Kimmel: Jeff Bridges, Jeff Lewis, Capital Cities (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Hugh Jackman, Natasha Lyonne, Frank Pellegrino Jr., Buddy Guy. Craig Ferguson: Matt Smith, Teri Polo. Carson Daly: Kate Mara, Ben Hoffman, A Silent Film (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Andrew Dice Clay. John Oliver: Shailene Woodley. Stephen Colbert: Anant Agarwal. Conan O’Brien: Aaron Paul, Nick Frost, Bastille. Chelsea Handler: Michael B. Jordan, Bobby Lee, Arden Myrin, Julian McCullough.