Maybe you turn into the nature programming on National Geographic Channel just so you can make fun of it. That’s what the guys from Mystery Science Theater 3000 do. Since the demise of that show, which mocked bad old sci-fi movies, the fellas have been running a website called RiffTrax in which they sell their enhanced versions of other movies they make fun of.
Tonight they take over with “Total Riff Off” (National Geographic, 8 p.m.) in which the team of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphya nd Bill Corbett ad lib over some episodes of “Bad@$$ Animals,” “My Dog Ate What?” “Man v. Monster” and “My Dog Ate What?”
In the final three chapters of “The Story of the Jews” (PBS, 8 p.m.), jammed together in one night, Simon Schama talks about the broadening of the Jewish Culture by Felix Mendelssohn, how Wagner squelched the popular operas of a Jewish composer, the achievements of E.Y. Yip Harburg and inevitably, the Holocaust.
The new season of “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) looks even raunchier than the last. It will have to be to make us forget about “Broad City” not being around.
“Giuliana & Bill” (E!,8 p.m.) begins its seventh season discussing a second baby with a surrogate.
Courteney Cox directs the season finale of “Cougar Town” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
Sonja does burlesque during a trip to the Hamptons on “The Real Housewives of New York City” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Say it’s an April Fool’s Joke: The 13th season start for “19 Kids and Counting” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
This is an April Fool’s TV tradition: Hosts trading shows. Today, Craig Ferguson takes over “The Price is Right” (ABC, 11 a.m.) and Drew Carey does his late night “Craig Ferguson Show” (CBS, 12:37 a.m.).
“The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9 p.m.) is back with a one hour episode after a long hiatus in which we were left to consider the hooking up, finally, of Mindy and Danny.
Get your final look at the new “NCIS: New Orleans” in the conclusion of the two part “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.) featuring Scott Bakula, who will star in the upcoming spinoff.
The battle rounds keep coming on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
“Glee” (Fox, 8 p.m.) seems to be moving pretty permanently to New York.
April Fools’ Day is a good time for slapstick. So the comedies on Turner Classic Movies tonight includes Jerry Lewis in “The Disorderly Orderly” (8 p.m.), Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” (9:45 p.m.), Laurel and Hardy in “Way Out West” (11:15 p.m.), Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill Jr.” (12:30 a.m.), Charlie Chaplin in “The Kid” (1:45 a.m.), “The Three Stooges go Around the World in a Daze” (2:45 a.m.) with Larry, Moe and Joe De Rita, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in “The Long, Long Trailer” (4:30 a.m.).
Winners of tonight’s Women’s NCCA Tournament elite eight games — Maryland vs. Louisville (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and North Carolina vs. Stanford (ESPN, 9 p.m.) will go to the Final Four in Nashville to play against Notre Dame and Connecticut respectively.
In the men’s NIT semifinals, it’s Clemson vs. SMU (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Florida State vs. Minnesota (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
More season opening games Yankees at Houston (MLB, 7 p.m.) and Cleveland at Oakland (MLB, 10 p.m.).
NBA action includes Houston at Brooklyn (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Portland at Lakers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). Hockey includes Philadelphia at St. Louis (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Daniel Radcliffe, Minnie Driver, Nick Cannon. The View: Steve Harvey, Marcia Gay Harden, Thomas Roberts (rerun). The Talk: Thea Andrews, Dolvett Quince, Carnie Wilson. Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Cheryl Hines, Beck. Wendy Williams: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jo Frost (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Kristen Chenoweth, Amy Schumer, Johnnyswim, Leo Nocentelli. Jimmy Fallon: Samuel L. Jackson, Minnie Driver, Pitbull. Jimmy Kimmel: David Duchovny, Danai Gurira, Pete Davidson. Seth Meyers: Anna Kendrick, Nick Cannon, Brett Eldredge. Craig Ferguson: Jim Parsons (rerun). Carson Daly: Tim Simons, Cosmonauts, the Shanghai Restoration Project. Tavis Smiley: Saladin Ambar, Zucchero Fornaciari. Jon Stewart: Michael Lewis. Stephen Colbert: John Malkovich. Arsenio Hall: Isaiah Washington, August Alsina. Conan O’Brien: Seth Rogan, Phillip Phillips. Chelsea Handler: Demian Bichir, Ben Gleib, Arden Myrin, Kurt Braunohler. Pete Holmes: Jason Mantzoukas, Anthony Davis.