Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has demolished any credibility it might have once had by moving to fake documentaries that are just this side of “Sharknado.” With the idea that any ratings are good, even if ill-gotten, they’ve whipped up from whole cloth lies cloaked as documentaries, with actors portraying scientists and faked CGI footage.
But I get the feeling Discovery likes to be at the center of controversy because it only means more viewers — even if they’re dumbing down viewers and giving a false impression over a species that, as National Geographic’s more lyrical (and actually real) documentary “Shark Girl” indicated, is actually endangered.
So never mind the many complaints from the science community over 2013’s “Megalodon: the Monster Shark Lives” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) the channel doubles down with “Megalodon: The New Evidence” (Discovery, 9 and 11 p.m.)
Television remembers Robin Williams with a couple of specials.
The tribute “Robin Williams Remembered” (Reelz, 8 p.m.) is followed by a survey of his work in “Robin Williams’ ScreenLife” (Reelz, 8:30 p.m.). The episode of “Happy Days” (Hub, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) that introduced Williams as the alien Mork will be played twice.
It’s Faye Dunaway all day on Turner Classic Movies with “The Extraordinary Seaman” (6 a.m.), “The Happening” (7:30 a.m.), “Cold Sassy Tree” (9:30 a.m.), “The Champ” (11:15 a.m.), “Oklahoma Crude” (1:30 p.m.), “Bonnie and Clyde” (3:30 p.m.), “Little Big Man” (5:30 p.m.), “The Three Musketeers” (8 p.m.), “Three Days of the Condor” (10 p.m.), “Chinatown” (midnight), “The Arrangement” (2:15 a.m.) and “A Place for Lovers” (4:30 a.m.). (They’re giving Laren Bacall two days next month, Sept. 15 and 16) once their Summer Under the Stars is over.
Wonder if some people tuning in for “Real Time with Bill Maher” are surprised to see another foul-mouthed mophead in his place: “Jonah from Tonga” (HBO, 10 and 10:30 p.m.). Maher is on a break this month.
Who invented the snowboard? To some, it is one of the “Monumental Mysteries” (Travel, 9 p.m.).
A speakeasy themed treehouse is just wrong on “Treehouse Masters” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
They investigate auto-brewery syndrome on “20/20” (ABC, 10 p.m.) dedicated to strange afflictions. I can only think it’s something that turns your car into beer-making apparatus.
And it’s back to some weird home attack on “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Preseason football tonight includes Philadelphia at New England (NFL, 7:30 p.m.) and San Diego at Seattle (NFL, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Oakland at Atlanta (MLB, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jonah Hill, Jennifer Lawrence, Phillip Phillips, Bella Thorne. The View: Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, New Edition, Bill Rancic (rerun). The Talk: Daniel Radcliffe, Susan Feniger. Ellen DeGeneres: Jeff Bridges (rerun). Wendy Williams: John Legend (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Harry Connick Jr., Jesse Eisenberg, the Black Keys (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jason Statham, Demi Lovato, David Chang. Jimmy Kimmel: Mickey Rourke, Jordana Brewster, Banks (rerun). Seth Meyers: Ethan Hawke, Megyn Kelly, Paula Pell (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Hugh Laurie (rerun). Carson Daly: Emily Mortimer, K. Flay (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Charles “Lil buck” Riley (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Rev. Al Sharpton, Isaiah Mustafa, Charlamange the God, Jackie Fabulous, Guy Branum, Martina McBride, DJ Ravi Drums (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Chandler Parsons, Chris Franjola, Arden Myrin, Gary Valentine (rerun).