A new “Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) checks back in on Jim Hutto the naturalist who raised a bunch of wild turkeys in one popular episode. This time it’s about his relationship with deer near his Wyoming Ranch. “Touching the Wild: Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch” show his remarkable, slow-building rapport with the local herd and its leader, who not only let Hutto hang around them, but led him to see new fawns one spring, a kind of unheard of thing between deer and man.
He got to know the deer as individuals and developed a shorthand communication among them, involving nodding. Hutto is an engaging character; he’ll play guitar back home or with the deer to underscore his mellow lifestyle. Yet he’s something of a mountain hermit. When he encounters inevitable annual hunters, who kill one of his pals,he can barely hide his disdain. An added bonus to the remarkable hour long film is its wondrous photography.
It begins another strong night of science programming, including a “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) that looks into how animals use their senses and the differences between wolves and dogs, and the second installment of “Your Inner Fish” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) that looks into the evolution of reptiles into mammals: toupees, right?
Also returning to TV after a longer absence is Alan Thicke, who has in the past been a sitcom star and talk show host. Now, as he is best known as the dad of pop star Robin Thicke, he reemerges as a reality show star. “Unusually Thicke” (TV Guide Network, 10 p.m.) shows him as a dad not only to Robin but also to a son who distributes medical marijuana, but also as a guy at home doing normal tasks, such as tonight’s premiere, when he cleans out his garage with his pal Bob Saget.
The NHL playoffs begin with Montreal at Tampa Bay (CNBC, 7 p.m.), Columbus at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.) and Dallas at Anaheim (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Can’t imagine people wanted to see more of Lorenzo Borghese of “The Bachelor,” but here he is heading a gang of New York friends who take on the women, restants and clubs of the city on a new series “Lucky Bastards” (Esquire Network, 10 pm.).
The new “Web of Deceit” (TLC, 10 p.m.) follows people who have been ripped off online. It may be sponsored by the royal family of Nigeria.
Philip and Elizabeth face new challenges — and new wigs — in the latest episode of “The Americans” (FX, 10 p.m.), which has enlisted Oliver North as a story consultant.
The entertaining “Toy Hunter” (Travel, 9:30 p.m.), the series that proves that your parents shouldn’t have tossed all your good toys away, ends its season in search for a 1965 James Bond attache case.
Joe Zee’s “Revealing” (Sundance, 9 p.m.) looks at the widespread industry of fashion knockoffs from the black market on the series closer.
This sounds like a new tactic, as the final seven on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) get to pick the songs for others as a way to mess them up. How many times can we hear “Nessum Dorma”?
The tribes on “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m.) this year seem to have have been especially susceptible to flips and blindsides.
Betty White hods a fake funeral for Wendie Malick on “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land, 10 p.m.).
It’s surprising you could create a whole evening of movies about butlers falling in love, but it happens on Turner Classic Movies tonight with “The Remains of the Day” (8 p.m.), “If You Could Only Cook” (10:30 p.m.), “My Man Godfrey” (midnight), “Merrily We Live” (1:45 a.m.) and “English Without Tears” (3:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Dallas at Memphis (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Clippers at Portland (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Nicolas Cage, Whoopi Goldberg. The View: Bill O’Reilly, Christina Perri, Sage Steele. The Talk: Boy George, Heather Tom, David Tom, Anne Burrell (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Billy Crystal, Katie Lowes, Frank Turner. Wendy Williams: Kristin Chenoweth.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Sylvester Stallone, Theo James, Ledisi (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Bradley Cooper, Tim McGraw (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Emma Stone, Jeff Perry, Schoolboy ! (rerun). Seth Meyers: Anderson Cooper, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prisloo, Iggy Azalea. (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Kunal Nayyar, Tom Segura. Carson Daly: Jehane Noujaim, Two Door Cinema Club, Into It. Over It (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Ed Catmull, Tatiana Maslany. Jon Stewart: Denis Leary (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Mark Mazzetti (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Wayne Brady, Aisha Tyler, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Penn Jillette, Hot Chelle Ray (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Marlon Wayans, Nick Thune, Bastille. Chelsea Handler: Ellie Goulding, Bobby Lee, Whitney Cummings, Julian McCullough. Pete Holmes: Adam Scott, Roy Hibbert.