The always fascinating saga of the former Cassius Clay as he became outspoken heavyweight champion, Muslim convert, conscientious objector and prisoner gets a fine retelling in Bill Siegel’s film “The Trials of Muhammad Ali” which earns its power through a wealth of old video along with new interviews with family and friends. Ali became a reflection of the times around him, who suffered as a result, as seen in the compelling story on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
A knockout documentary at one third the length, the Irene Taylor Brodsky’s “One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp” (HBO, 8 p.m.) joins a camp where kids who have lost moms or dads can meet others with the same pain and share their heart-rending stories.
Cartoon Network seems the chief incubator of innovative funny cartoons for kids. The latest of them is “Clarence” (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.) an overweight kid with even quirkier friends and a mom who spends a lot of time looking at her phone. It’s from Skyler Page, a former storyboard artist on “Adventure Time,” who also provides the main character’s voice.
The latest “Jackass” spinoff, from Bam Margera is “Bam’s Bad Ass Game Show” (TBS, 10:30 p.m.) which proves, if nothing else, that you can now say ass in a show title.
The top 20 perform on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and eight go home.
It’s Disney night on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.). But since it owns the network, isn’t every night on ABC Disney night? Now that people are back with their original partners, someone will be eliminated tonight (unlike last week).
It’s the ninth season start for “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), the original entry in the series. So I imagine some of them are talking about retirement plans.
“Mom” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.) reaches its first season finale.
That well-honed first episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.), with U2 playing on the rooftop, Will Smith as first guest, and a long line of cameo supporters, is rerun.
A new season starts for “16 and Pregnant” (MTV, 10 p.m.).
A new crime series that may make you suspicious of the people next door is the new “Fear Thy Neighbor” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Lindsay Lohan guest stars on “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 8 p.m.), moving to a new time slot.
“Fashion Police” (E!, 9 p.m.) dedicates its show to discussing what was worn on Sunday’s “2014 MTV Movie Awards” (MTV, 8 p.m. and midnight), which is rerun a couple of times.
It was 20 years ago today that Turner Classic Movies beganby showing the film “Gone with the Wind” (8 p.m.), which it again showcases tonight. but not before reviewing “Twenty Classic Moments” (TCM, 7 p.m.) of the past. Most of them involve Robert Osborne (and the first featured interview clip, oddly, is a feisty one with Micky Rooney, honored yesterday), but the special is hosted by Ben Mankiewicz. There’s more of the chief face of the network in a repeat of this year’s “Private Screenings: Robert Osborne” (TCM, midnight). And then a couple of more classic movies they’ve played a lot (and are worth seeing again): “Singin’ in the Rain” (1:30 a.m.) and “It Happened One Night” (3:30 a.m.).
I don’t understand a network that will show “Forrest Gump” (AMC, 8 and 10 p.m.) twice a night for the whole week. We’ve seen it; we don’t want to memorize it.
Baseball includes Braves at Phillies (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Athletics at Angels (ESPN, 10 p.m.). In the NBA, it’s San Antonio at Houston (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Minnesota at Golden State (NBA, 10 p.m.). Hockey’s regular season is over.
The WNBA Draft (ESPN2, 8 p.m.) is being held in Uncasville, Conn., probably so it can be in close proximity to UConn players.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jeremy Piven, Malaya Watson. The View: Scott Foley, The Crisleys, Claire Shipman, Don Lemon. The Talk: Florence henderson, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinlad, Susan Olsen, Barry Williams, Jason Santos (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg. Wendy Williams: Tichina Arnold, Ranjni Jacques.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emma Watson, Nick Offerman, the Strypes (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Will Smith, U2 (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Jason Bateman, Katie Lowes, John Legend (rerun). Seth Meyers: Kanye West, Russell Wilson (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Dominic Monaghan, Brooklyn Decker. Carson Daly: Jon Daly, the Flaming Lips, Zoe Bell (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Ken Burns. Jon Stewart: Nate Silver (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Sheryl Sandberg (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Russell Simmons, Mo’Nique, Tony Rock, Black Ice, DJ Battlecat (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Mindy Kaling, Colin Hanks, MGMT. Chelsea Handler: April Richardson, Sarah Colonna, Ross Mathews. Pete Holmes: Ashley Rickards, Jillian Rose Reed, Molly Tarlov.