Kato Kaelin’s phone has been ringing more often lately, we imagine, given the spate of 20th anniversary specials that reuse the miles of footage of blood-stained gloves, slow moving Broncos and courtroom rhymes. “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” on “Dateline” (NBC, 9 p.m.) is just the second of at least three big network specials on the events surrounding what all three freely call “The Trial of the Century,” despite previous 20th century events that got the same title, from the murder of Sanford White and the Snopes Trial to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping to the Nuremberg Trials, for goodness sake. Yes, but from from Sacco and Vanzetti to Leopold and Loeb, none of those Trials of the Century had Kato Kaelin or a white Bronco. (Another key to the 20 year specials? A Kardashian connection).
The Simpson special also knocks off the network and sends to cable at the last minute the planned Stanley Cup Finals game, and possible finale of the season, of the Kings at Rangers (NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.), where Los Angeles, up 3-0, may well sweep.
Rihanna is named Most Desirable Woman and Matthew McConaughey is Guy of the Year. Do we need an awards show to tell us this? If so, here’s the Guys Choice 2014 (Spike TV, 9 p.m.) from Culver City, Calif., where Sandra Bullock is also honored for some made up award (Decade of Hotness).
Neither about Elvis nor Paul Simon’s album, “Graceland” (USA, 10 p.m.) returns for its second season as a series about undercover cops in a beach house. It accompanies the even more popular “Suits” (USA, 9 p.m.), embarking on its new season.
“So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 8 p.m.) continues its auditions in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
The final two episodes of “Growing Up Fisher” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) are burned off; it did not get picked up for a second season though, oddly, “About a boy” did.
“The 100” (The CW, 9 p.m.), reaching its season finale, did get picked up for a second season, so there’s no need to wrap things up entirely tonight.
It’s a crazy crossover episode on “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land, 10 p.m.), where an ex-roomate of Wendie Malick’s Victoria turns out to be Broadway’s Maddie Banks — Kirstie Alley’s character in “Kirstie.”
For the sixth season premiere of “Duck Dynasty” (A&E, 10 p.m.), Willie Robertson compares beard length with Robert Bergdahl. No actually, there is some political content, as Willie gets an award from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Another country boy, rapper “Big Smo” (A&E, 10:30 p.m.) prepares for the release of his new album on a new reality series.
He’s not the only rapper with a reality show. There is also “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce” (Fuse, 11 p.m.), whose claim to fame is organizing the biggest mass twerk in Guinness. As she begins her second season the question arises: Why do rappers have more reality shows than performance specials?
Speaking of big, the plus-size version of “Swan Lake” being organized by the shortest man in ballet, Wayne Sleep, is not the easiest thing to stage, on “Big Ballet” (Ovation, 10 p.m.).
The latest sports talk show on a cable network formerly dedicated to movies is “Personal with Bill Rhoden” (Epix, 8 p.m.), in which the New York Times columnist talks with Grant Hill and Calvin Hill about issues of the day in sports.
Pick a peck of Peckinpah tonight on Turner Classic Movies, with the Sam Peckinpah westerns “Ride the High Country” (8 p.m.), “The Deadly Companions” (10 p.m.), “The Wild Bunch” (midnight), “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid” (2:30 a.m.) and “The Glory Guys” (4:45 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Minnesota at Toronto (MLB, 12:30 p.m.) and Boston at Baltimore (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: America Ferrera, Miss USA Nia Sanchez, Aretha Franklin, Anderson Cooper. The View: Daniel Radcliffe, Amar’e Stoudemire, Will Cain. The Talk: Miranda Lambert, Big Boy, Joey Fatone, Carnie Wilson. Ellen DeGeneres: Celine Dion (rerun). Wendy Williams: Nicole Ari Parker, Jennifer Peros.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Christopher Walken, Miss USA Nia Sanchez, Tatiana Maslany, Janelle Monae. Jimmy Fallon: Barbara Walters, Honey Boo Boo Alana Thompson and Mama June, Iliza Schlesinger. Jimmy Kimmel: Johnny Knoxville, Dave Salmoni, Timeflies (rerun). Seth Meyers: John Oliver, Natasha Lyonne, Paolo Nutini. Craig Ferguson: Jay Baruchel, Regina Hall. Carson Daly: Icona Pop. Tavis Smiley: Dr. David B. Agus, Clark Gregg. Jon Stewart: Sen. Charles Schumer. Stephen Colbert: Rob Rhinehart. Arsenio Hall: Tyra Banks, Daymond John, Chris Spencer (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Jack White, Amber Stevens. Chelsea Handler: Jenny Slate, Julian McCullough, Liza Treyger, Jen Kirkman. Pete Holmes: Schoolboy Q.