The unforgettable photograph “Migrant Mother” that Dorothea Lange shot for the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s perfectly captured the worry and bleak hopes the Depression brought to everyday families.
But there was more to the work of the photographer than that great image. “Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning,” a lengthy documentary by her granddaughter Dyanna Taylor that debuts on “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) examines her life and remarkable work, depending quite a bit on a 1960s era interview and film. And the woman in the famous photograph, Florence Owens Thompson, was tracked down, looking like many a modern day grandmother and a little annoyed by the attention (and no remuneration) she got from that image.
He was one of the only remaining country stars with a connection to the past, so it was sad to see him stage his last concert earlier this summer in Arlington, Texas. But the show presented before 104,000 that night was captured for the rest of us in the special “George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away” (CMT, 7 p.m.) that also featured performances from Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride and Jason Aldean, among other guests.
A couple of standup comedy specials are on tonight, “Jim Jeffries: Bare” (Netflix, streaming) starring the Australian comic from “Legit,” recorded last year in Boston, and “Heather McDonald: I Don’t Mean to Brag” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
“Monumental Mysteries” (Travel, 9 p.m.) looks at a Colorado bulldozer rampage.
I continue to think magic on TV doesn’t work, but this episode of “Masters of Illusion” (The CW, 8 p.m.) is about the only non-newsmagazine that’s new tonight on broadcast TV.
“Jonah from Toga” (HBO, 10 p.m.) seems the perfect gang leader for Juveliscious.
Two episodes of “Four Weddings” (TLC, 9 and 10 p.m.) equals eight weddings. Gotta get them in before summer’s end, I guess.
A yacht heist is tried on “Airplane Repo” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
People fight when they look for riches on “Bering Sea Gold” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Speaking of fights, there’s a “Donut Showdown” (Cooking, 10 p.m.).
Joseph Cotten kicks off the final weekend of Turner Classic Movies’ Summer Under the Stars with a day of his work with “Lydia” (6 a.m.), “Under Capricorn” (8 a.m.), “Walk Softly, Stranger” (10 a.m.), “The Steel Trap” (11:30 a.m.), “The Angel Wore Red” (1 p.m.), “Gaslight” (3 p.m.), “The Magnificent Ambersons” (5 p.m.), “Journey Into Fear” (6:45 p.m.), “Portrait of Jennie” (8 p.m.), “Duel in the Sun” (9:45 p.m.), “The Third Man” (12:15 a.m.), “Citizen Kane” (2:15 a.m.) and “I’ll Be Seeing You” (4:30 a.m.).
Meryl Streep is all over, in “Julie & Julia” (Oxygen, 9 p.m.) and “It’s Complicated” (TBS, midnight).
College football is breaking out in earnest with BYU at Connecticut (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Bowling Green at Western Kentucky (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), Colorado State vs. Colorado (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Texas-San Antonio at Houston (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and UNLV at Arizona (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball action includes Yankees at Toronto (MLB, 7 p.m.).
It’s Minnesota at Phoenix (NBA, 10 p.m.) in the WNBA Western Conference finals.
And early round play continues in the U.S. Open (Tennis Channel, 11 a.m.; ESPN, 1 p.m.; ESPN2, 6 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Lopez, Justin Theroux, Bethany Mota. The View: Brad Paisley, October Gonzalez & Sage Steele. The Talk: Kelsey Grammer, Mark Feuerstein, Jet Tila (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Lindsay Lohan, Amy Schumer (rerun). Wendy Williams: Michael Ealy (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Serena Williams, Chadwick Boseman, Echo & the Bunnymen (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jon Hamm, Brit Marling, Martha Stewart (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Kathy Griffin, Sharon Van Etten. Seth Meyers: Meredith Vieira, Dane DeHaan, Magic Man (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jon Gnarr (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Joan Rivers (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Shemar Moore, Daniela Ruah, Malina Moye, Bootsy Collins (rerun).