From the people who gave us the similarly symathetic (and equally slow-moving) “The Amish” last year comes a second documentary that looks at one of their most brutal practices. “The Amish: Shunned” on “American Experience” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) talks to people who have left their sects and been left for dead by their old communities, though there is some signs in the documentary that some families are a little more forgiving than others, in increments.
A wide variety of experiences are told among the seven studied. Some left without looking back, others still longed for contact with their family despite their decision, still others gave up on the modern world, “the dominant culture,” one calls it, and goes back. It’s an interesting view, illustrated mostly with bucolic scenes of rural life, that contrasts harshly with the brash, bogus and largely contrived Amish shows that have popped up on reality TV, counting that the people depicted don’t have TVs and will never see it.
Elsewhere, a 15th season finale comes for “The Biggest Loser” (NBC, 9 p.m.) with a $250,000 prize and anew outline for the winner. Ruben Studdard is still in line forgetting the $100,000 at home prize.
For a hint on how this will take over your TV starting Friday: “Winter Gold: NBC’s First Look at the Sochi Olympics” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
“NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.) and “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.) will soon be joined by “NCIS: New Orleans,” the network announced Monday. It will star Scott Bakula and Zoe McLellen, who will be introduced in a expanded episode of “NCIS” later this season and premiere on its own in the fall. Hope it’s just not on on the same night as the others.
Wasn’t it just the other day that new episodes of “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) were on? Now there are a couple more new episodes.
Late night is heating up, with the final week of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.) continuing its parade of final guests including the most frequent musical guest over the years, surprisingly, Lyle Lovett. “Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.) is not letting up, pairing George Clooney with Sting, as part of a week-long salute to the Beatles performance in that theater 50 years ago, doing a cover of the band.
There will be a lot of opportunities to see great roles by Philip Seymour Hoffman. “The Ides of March” (Sundance, 9 p.m.) is one of them.
Let us now consider Oscar’s best director nominees from 1933: Frank Capra for “Lady for a Day” (TCM, 8 p.m.), Frank Lloyd for “Cavalcade” (TCM, 10 p.m.) and George Cukor for “Little Women” (TCM, midnight).
Men’s college hoops today include Kansas at Baylor (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Ohio State at Iowa (ESPN, 7 p.m.), St. John’s at Providence (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Rutgers at Memphis (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Mississippi at Kentucky (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Missouri at Florida (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Holy Cross at Colgate (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Butler at Marquette (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.) and Wake Forest at Duke (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Islanders at Capitals (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Eric Stonestreet, Lance Ulanoff. The View: Will Arnett, Kate Dimmock, Dr. Daniel Amen. The Talk: Megan Mullally, Meat Loaf, Kevin Frazier, Marcela Valladolid. Ellen DeGeneres: Sofia Vergaa, Jessica Bassett. Wendy Williams: J.B. Smoove.
Late Talk
David Letterman: George Clooney, Sting. Jay Leno: Matthew McConaughey, Charles Barkley, Lyle Lovett. Jimmy Kimmel: Barkhad Abdi, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Lone Bellow. Jimmy Fallon: Digital short compilation. Craig Ferguson: Megan Mullaly, J. Maarten Troost. Carson Daly: Phil Lord & Chris Miller, the Crystal Method. Tavis Smiley: Edwin Smith, Bela Fleck. Jon Stewart: Elizabeth Banks. Stephen Colbert: Pussy Riot. Arsenio Hall: Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Keny Smith, Tatyana Ali. Conan O’Brien: Ted Danson, Olga Kurylenko, J. Roddy & the Business. Chelsea Handler: Mariska Hargitay, Jo Koy, Janine Brito, Ross Mathews.