Times are tough, but when they are reflected through the sad, worn out eyes of one American working class family, the picture may be worse than imagined. “Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life & Times of Katrina Gilbert” (HBO, 9 p.m.) follows not a homeless woman, or an unemployed one.
Katrina Gilbert of Chattanooga, Tenn., has full employment as a certified nursing assistant in an extended care facility but making less than $10 an hour means she can hardly put food on the table. A single mother of three, her family was broken when her ex husband spent their money and lost his job due to addiction.
Though she’s helped by a community day care she was lucky enough to enroll her kids, the constant driving around and wear and tear means that they are on the brink of bankruptcy at any moment. When she gets an unexpected tax refund, her treat for herself is to see a doctor for the first time in years (which costs way more than she expected).
It is by no means an isolated case. The case history presented by directors Shari Cookson and Nick Doob, from Maria Shriver’s project “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink,” Katrina’s fate is shared by more than 42 million women and the 28 million children who depend on them.
The worst thing about the picture so well painted in “Paycheck to Paycheck” is that there is no relief in sight and with manufacturing jobs going abroad, nothing on the horizon. Consider the film a clarion call to some sort of action. Things have to change.
At the outset of a new season of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.), it would seem the Olympic gold winning ice dancing team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White would seem to have the edge, but they are competing against one another — and a group of celebrities that include Billy Dee Williams, NeNeLeakes, Cody Simpson, Drew Carey.
With the blind auditions over “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) begins its battle rounds, with Aloe Blacc, Jill Scott, Miranda Lambert and the Band Perry serving as team advisers.
Taran Killam, who is actually married to Cobie Smulders, is the focal point of tonight’s “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS, 8 p.m.), reappearing as the character Gary Blauman.
It is unusual that a show I like is so reviled by everybody else. But after just two episodes of “People WHo Kill,” it’s been pulled off the schedule. That means the new episode of “Bates Motel” (A&E, 10 p.m.) moves to an hour later; with last week’s repeat plugging in at 9.
Kristin Cavallari and Orly Shani host the new style talk show “The Fabulist” (E!, 8:30 p.m.) with guests Nigel Barker and Jessica White.
A rap battle (involving Andy Samberg as a bear) ends the season on the always creative cartoon “Adventure Time” (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.).
Kathy Bates is a guest on “Mike & Molly” (CBS, 9 p.m.); Octavia Spencer is on “Mom” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
Why are yawns to contagious? “Brain Games” (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.) investigates.
A new subset of hoarders are car hoarders. They are aided by wrestler turned car rebuilder Chick Palumo and Rick Dore on the new “Lords of the Car Hoards” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Most of your best Irish movies come during the daytime today, with “The Flying Irishman” (TCM, 9 a.m.), “Little Nellie Kelly” (TCM, 10:15 a.m.), “My Wild Irish Rose” (TCM, noon), “The Rising of the Moon” (TCM, 1:45 p.m.), “Young Cassidy” (TCM, 3:15 p.m.) and “Finian’s Rainbow” (TCM, 5:15 p.m.).
There is a a St. Patrick’s Day party, too, on “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Later, the writer George Pelecanos takes over as programmer on Turner Classic Movies. His choices are crime movies and westerns: “The Outfit” (8 p.m.), “The Seven Ups” (10 p.m.), “Monte Walsh” (midnight), “Ride the High Country” TCM, 2 a.m.) and “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
Got your men’s brackets filled out? Time for the women after their own NCAA Selection Show (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
It’s one of those rare days with scarcely anything going on in sports. There are two NBA games, Oklahoma City at Chicago (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Clippers at Denver (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.), and one in the NHL ” Minnesota at Boston (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.). Spring baseball includes St. Louis at Boston (ESPN, 1 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tina Fey, Theo James. The View: Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, Lisa Niemi, Jorge Ramos. The Talk: Michael Vartan, Chi-Lan Lieu, Marie Osmond. Ellen DeGeneres: Howie Mandel, Brandon McMillan, Meryl Davis & Charlie White. Wendy Williams: Maria Menounos.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Simon Helberg, Young the Giant (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: James Spader, Kermit the Frog, Black 47. Jimmy Kimmel: Uma Thurman, Jai Courtney, Amos Lee. Seth Meyers: Anderson Cooper, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Iggy Azelea. Craig Ferguson: Jane Lynch, Salman Rushdie. Carson Daly: Rachael Taylor, Robbie Rulks, Taylor Williamson. Tavis Smiley: Marlee Matlin. Jon Stewart: Kimberly Marten (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Jeff Goldblum (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Prince (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Benedict Cumberbatch, George Takei, John Legend (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Adam Carolla, Heather McDonald, Liza Treyger, Ryan Stout. Pete Holmes: Judd Apatow, Bode Miller (rerun).