There’s nothing too different about two shows on cable regarding law enforcement in action in Houston and in Boston. Both certainly want to see their suspects’ hands right away.
“Boston’s Finest” (TNT, 9 p.m.), returning for its second seasion, follows a couple of precincts wary of July 4th activities in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. Like it, the new “Marshal Law: Texas” (TNT, 10 p.m.) covers three or four cases in an hour and intercuts between them. The suspects are usually very cooperative and dress very badly.
They are an intense bunch and there’s not much time for the kind of humor you’d occasionally see on “Cops.” Both are also filmed and cut especially well. But you just keep waiting to hear a “Bad Boys” theme that never comes (though “Boston’s Finest,” a Mark Wahlberg project, does use Dropkick Murphys).
Good and bad is fairly well delineated in these series, but things get more complex on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), which investigates a murder of a 24-year-old girlfriend of a policeman whose death was ruled a suicide, but may not have been.
The report is based on a New York Times report printed Sunday that looked into how effectively police handle cases involving other officers and is anchored by its reporter Walt Bogdanich.
It’s between Corbin Bleu, Amber Riley and Jack Osbourne in the finale of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Before the winner is named, all of the eliminated contestants will return for a spin and there will be time for performances by Enrique Iglesias, Colbie Caillat, Lady Antebellum and Ylvis.
One of the greatest achievements in black history, “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) wraps up with its final episode with the election of Barack Obama.
Two days before Thanksgiving, here’s the first bona fide network Christmas special, with the season’s first replay of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (PBS, 8 p.m.), maybe not the best lead-in to “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Thanksgiving is the holiday on shows from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) and “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.) to “Swamp People” (History, 10 p.m.), where they call their event Swampsgiving and the cuisine involves wild hogs, red fish and fried nutria rats.
One of the most unusual holiday shows tonight might be the special “Tiny Tonight! Ladies’ Guide to the Holidays” (VH1, 11 p.m.), in which the plain-spoken wife of rapper T.I. gives advice on handling families and meals as the holidays approach.
Mindy has to go to another wedding of an ex on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.)
A charity challenge on “The Biggest Loser” (NBC, 8 p.m.) is meant to aid victims of the tornado in Moore, Okla. It involves loading, not eating, turkeys, and cans of cranberries, green beans and yams into trucks.
The top eight become an even half dozen on “The Voice” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
“Christmas Bounty” (ABC Family, 7 and 8:45 p.m.) is new holiday movie about a bounty hunter who comes home for the holiday. It features the the WWE star the Miz.
Actual fighting is found on the show “White Collar Brawlers” (Esquire, 10 p.m.) in which a pair of medical project managers take their beef to the ring.
Fans of “Almost Human” might want to tune into the original robot cop saga, “RoboCop” (Encore, 8 p.m.) and “RoboCop 2” (Encore, 9:45 p.m.).
“A Night at the Movies: Cops & Robbers and Crime Writers” (TCM, 8 and 11 p.m.) is accompanied by the examples “Bullitt” (TCM, 9 p.m.), “Naked City” (TCM, midnight), “White Heat” (TM, 2 .m.), “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (4 a.m.) and “The Thomas Crown Affair” (TCM, 5:45 a.m.).
A raft of college hoops tonight includes Arkansas vs. Minnesota (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Old Dominion vs. West Virginia (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.), Syracuse vs. California (EPN, 7 p.m.), Longwood at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Saint Louis vs. Wisconsin (CBS Sports, 8:30 p.m.) and Illinois at UNLV (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
There’s one college football game: Western Michigan at Northern Illinois (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
NHL action has Anaheim at Dallas (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Billy Crystal, Nene Leakes, Bridget Moynahan. The View: Kellie Pickler, Normal Reedus, Dr. Doris Day, Karla Martinez. The Talk: Danny DeVito, Michael Yo. Ellen DeGeneres: Kristen Bell, Jason Mraz and Travie McCoy, 2 Chainz. Wendy Williams: Niecy Nash, Tim Stack.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Martha Stewart, Pitbull. Jay Leno: Quentin Tarantino, Jim Stacy, Luke Bryan. Jimmy Kimmel: Casey Affleck, Mike Tyson, Linkin Park with Steve Aoki. Jimmy Fallon: Josh Hutcherson, Budd Friedman, Kelly Clarkson. Craig Ferguson: Angela Kinsey, American Authors. Carson Daly: The Neighbourhood, Ian Edwards (rerun). Tavis Smiley: K.L. Hughley, Phill Wilson. Jon Stewart: Key & Peele (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Steve McQueen (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Mike Epps, Trombone Shorty. Conan O’Brien: Rebel Wilson, Smantha Gordon, Jake Owen (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Jeff Wild, Sarah Colona, Chris Franjola. Pete Holmes: Neal Brennan.