The sheer size of the Baby Boom generation means that it will try to dominate culture while they’re around, so the 50th anniversary of the early 60s will not go untold, from last year’s anniversary to JFK’s assassination to the impending blitz over the golden anniversary of the Beatles’ U.S. invasion.
But the two hour report “1964” on “American Experience” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings), while including those events, goes broader and makes a case of it as a cultural significant year, from its introduction to “The Feminine Mystique” to the signing of the Civil Rights Act, to the rise of the conservative movement around Barry Goldwater. It has some riveting, little seen footage augmented by a lot of comments from historians and survivors.
It’s followed by a timely “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) that takes a look inside heavily restricted North Korea, in part through footage of bleak life smuggled out by citizens, with little from Dennis Rodman.
Zach Galifianakis helps launch the second season of the clever and fast moving “Kroll Show” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.).
In a kind of switch on “Dance Moms,” the new “Friday Night Tykes” (Esquire, 9 p.m.) follows the teeny helmeted players in the Texas Youth Football Association.
Another new show, “Inside Job” (TNT, 9 p.m.), is a variation of “The Apprentice” in which candidates for a corporate position live together, along with a mole spying on them.
It may be time to revisit “Brooklyn Nine Nine” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) in wake of its wins on the Golden Globes. but I still prefer “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.). Another solid Tuesday comedy is “Trophy Wife” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.).
Olympians Apolo Ohno and Lolo Jones help train those on “The Biggest Loser” (NBC, 8 p.m.) while also promoting the coming winter games.
Not the Olympics: A full night of the “Bad Girls All Star Battle” (Oxygen, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.).
A new season starts for the creative “Face Off” (TBS, 9 p.m.) with an initial challenge to create beasts.
It might be a big event when Bruce Springsteen is the sole guest on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 12:35 a.m.) on the day his new album is out.
Turner Classic Movies’ two night salute to the 50th anniversary of the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Awards wraps up tonight with “The Children’s Hour” (8 p.m.), featuring 41st recipient James Garner; “Bad Day at Black Rock” (10 p.m.) with 47th recipient Ernest Borgnine, as well as a couple of films featuring Rita Moreno, who is this year’s honoree this weekend, “Marlowe” (11:30 p.m.) and “Carnal Knowledge” (1:30 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Wisconsin at Indiana (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma at Kansas State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), St. John’s at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Georgia at Florida (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Kentucky at Arkansas (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Butler at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.) and Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
NHL action includes Philadelphia at Buffalo (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.); in the NBA, it’s Sacramento at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Early round tennis play continues in the Australian Open (ESPN2, 3 and 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Debra Messing, Lucy Hale. The View: Chris Matthews, Frank Luntz. The Talk: Will Arnett, Terrence Jenkins, Susan Feniger. Ellen DeGeneres: Julianna Argulies, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Newman. Wendy Williams: Jon Gosselin & Liz Jannetta.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Strahan, Jennifer Nuttles. Jay Leno: Matt Damon, Larry the Cable Guy, Chris Isaak. Jimmy Kimmel: Matt LeBlanc, Lupia Nyong’o, the Fray. Jimmy Fallon: Bruce Springsteen. Craig Ferguson: Aaron Eckhart, Rhea Perlman. Carson Daly: Kellan Lutz, STR***, Run River North. Tavis Smiley: Lupita Nyong’o. Jon Stewart: Tim Gunn. Stephen Colbert: Deborah Solomon. Arsenio Hall: Toni, Evelyn, Tamar, Towanda, Tracy and Trina Braxton, Yvonne Strahovski, Neal Brennan. Conan O’Brien: Joel McHale, Lauren Ash. Chelsea Handler: John Leguizamo, Leah Remini, Mary McCormack, Whitney Cummings.