Fifty years ago, the first group to kick The Beatles out of the No. 1 spot was another English group, the Dave Clark 5. The London band, largely unknown to a new generation, had some strong singles to be sure. But despite all the self-promotion and slew of testimonials collected on “Great Performances” (PBS, 8 p.m.), it probably wasn’t even among the top 5 bands of the British Invasion.
Most of their hits were covers, they clung to a old fashioned sound with a saxophone and steadfastly refused to change when rock did into experimentalism and psychedelia. They were also named after the drummer, which meant that his sound was more emphatic, which was fine, but it also confused TV cameramen who kept focusing in on him although its lead singer and real star was the self-effacing organist Mike Smith.
Because the two hour “The Dave Clark Five and Beyond — Glad All Over” was produced and directed by Clark, he is even more in the spotlight. You are hard pressed to even hear the other names of the band members a full half hour into the thing. The various testimonials are impressive — ranging from Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen to Elton John and Stevie Wonder. He uses every word of Tom Hanks 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But Clark has been collecting these things for decades, like a resume-building scrapbook. Freddie Mercury, who appears, has been dead for 22 years.
He could have acquitted himself by presenting full versions of eight or so of their hits, but instead you only hear them in snippets, among the praise and screaming girls. Clark may have been smart in insisting on keeping his band’s master recordings, but everything else smacks of self preservation. Anyone who has seen his recut and remastered versions of “Top of the Pops” would think that the climax of every show was the performance of the DC5, oddly louder than every other band, with louder screaming. It’s fun to hear an unsung band like this, but after a while it begins to sound like a Rutles faux history; their films and TV specials were amusingly subpar. And an 80s musical he produced looks like a complete bust. Just a touch of context would have helped from dismissing the whole thing.
[I got off a couple of questions to Clark in January for a feature that appears here.]
Elsewhere, “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.) ends another strong, underrated seasons. Its next season, the sixth, will be the last.
The inevitable NCAA women’s basketball championship is between the two unbeaten teams, Connecticut vs. Notre Dame (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.), from Nashville.
New York is no better for hate crimes than Ohio was, Kurt finds on a new “Glee” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
With the doubled battle rounds over, the playoff rounds begin among the Top 20 on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.). That means no more stealing by judges.
Anna Gunn stars as a doctor trying to steal Mindy away from the practice on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9 p.m.), which comes in another two new episodes.
Amy goes to prom on a new “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.).
They’re calling the leftover material episodes “Amish Mafia: The Devil’s Cut” (Discovery, 8 p.m.). In reality, the whole fake series is the devil’s work.
The underrated “Trophy Wife” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) pays tribute to “Scandal” with a parody.
Don’t confuse the arm wrestling series “Game of Arms” (AMC, 10 p.m.) with “Game of Thrones” (HBO Signature, 9 p.m.), whose season premiere Sunday drew the largest HBO audience since “The Sopranos” finale.
On “Save My Bakery” (Cooking, 10 p.m.), I’d think one of the first things to change about Phatso’s Bakery is its name.
Legendary vampires are the challenge on “Face Off” (Syfy, 9 p.m.). Junkyard castaways are the media used on “Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge” (Syfy, 10 p.m.).
I’d think the last place I would look for advice or sociology is “The Online Dating rituals of the American Male” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Trapped without allies and facing a new enemy, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC, 8 p.m.) should go see the Captain America movie. Actually, its producers say this is their most awesome yet; they must be blowing the remains of their special effects budget.
Up against one another, the 1978 Christopher Reeve “Superman – The Movie” (Sundance, 7:45 p.m.) and last year’s “Man of Steel” (HBO2, 8 p.m.), featuring a caped Henry Cavill.
Fans continue to program Turner Classic Movies to mark its 20th anniversary with “The Catered Affair” (8 p.m.), “Witness for the Prosecution” (9:45 p.m.), “Modern Times” (midnight), “A Woman Under the Influence” (1:45 a.m.) and “The High Cost of Loving” (4:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Brooklyn at Miami (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Lakers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Anne Hathaway, Brooklyn Decker. The View: Bob Saget, Carol Leifer, George Lopez. The Talk: Nick Cannon, Lynda Carter, Michael Yo, Adrianne Calvo. Ellen DeGneres: Viola Davis, Kate Mara. Wendy Williams: Naomi Campbell (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Rob Lowe, Brooklyn Decker, London Grammar. Jimmy Fallon: Anne Hathaway, Marlon Wayans, Yusuf. Jimmy Kimmel: Tracy Morgan, Kate Mara, Birds of Tokyo. Seth Meyers: Kristen Wiig, Colin Hanks, Mario Batali. Craig Ferguson: Jon Hamm, Pam Dawber. Carson Daly: Judy Greer, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion. Tavis Smiley: David Crosby. Jon Stewart: Denis Leary. Stephen Colbert: Jane Goodall. Arsenio Hall: Kevin Smith, Ernestine Johnson. Conan O’Brien: Anthony Mackie, Kumail Nanjiani, Bad Suns. Chelsea Handler: Jamie Foxx, John Caparulo, Beth Stelling, Brad Wollack. Pete Holmes: Dikembe Mutombo.