Things are grim in Africa. That’s clear simply from the gripping, boots-on-the-ground reporting on an urgent new “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m.) about the effort trying to stop the spread of the ebola breakout in Sierra Leone, where medical officials have to lure the infected out of their homes before their families and villages are infected, and put the sick into makeshift hospitals that look like pens if they’re going to have any chance to live.
Then there is a whole second report about the efforts in Nigeria to find Boko Haram, the militants who famously kidnapped 200 schoolgirls last spring, using methods that may be just as depraved, including rounding up whole groups of young men, torturing, mutilating and killing them, with proof from way too many provided video phone footage.
There’s nothing wrong with dropping out of watching a series. My time to part company with “Sons of Anarchy” (CBS, 9 p.m.) came a few seasons back when they were having just too good a time depicting the torture and burning of a woman. As the seventh and final season begins tonight it doesn’t sound like they’ve moved far from such depravity, with Jax seeking revenge for Tara’s death.
Ryan Seacrest hosts the annual “Fashion Rocks” (CBS, 9 p.m.) special crowning New York’s Fashion Week from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Rita Ora, Miranda Lambert, Usher, The Band Perry, Duran Duran, Luke Bryan, Pitbull and Kiss are among the performers in the live special and runway show.
A planned “American Experience” about a 1910 wildfire is pre-empted by “Robin Williams Remembered: A Pioneers of Television Special” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), combining interviews he did for that series along with tributes from Pam Dawber, Henry Winkler, Penny Marshall, Whoopi Goldberg and others.
With Thursday football looming, “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) moves to a new night. The last woman standing, Victoria, is up again for eviction, and so is the first of the Detonators, Cody. The power of veto competition, however, is tonight.
Watching the two hour premiere of “Utopia” (Fox, 8 p.m.) on Sunday was sort of interesting, reminding me that casting is 90 percent of the success of such shows. But it did sort of blend together with the finale of “The Leftovers” for me regarding the general breakdown of society. Seems like every episode somebody has a hissy fit threatening the whole camp. It will doubtless be better as an hour-long show.
Having already instigated a number of cheap sitcoms on cable, Tyler Perry almost has an easier time creating prime time soaps. The latest “If Loving You is Wrong” (OWN, 9 p.m.) is about an affair. Eltony Williams, Heather Hemmens and Amanda Clayton star.
We don’t often see the Great North versions of U.S. reality shows, but here’s “MasterChef Canada” (Cooking, 8 p.m.) where apparently they have to cook back bacon every week.
“Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) follows the story of the Indian-American woman who was a British spy inside Nazi occupied Paris.
“Food Fighters” (NBC, 8 p.m.) ends its summer season with a fashion exec battling against professional chefs.
Likewise, the last stop for “Hotel Hell” (Fox, 9 p.m.) is Northern California’s Murphy’s Hotel.
Cam’s the star in four hours of reruns of “Modern Family” (USA, 8 p.m.) to denote the 43rd birthday of actor Eric Stonestreet
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.) has the makings of a classic, with two of my favorites on board, Keith Richards and The Replacements (also: Debra Messing).
The monthlong Tuesday night focus on Jewish life in film continues on Turner Classic Movies with “The Stranger” (8 p.m.), “The Juggler” (10 p.m.), “The Pawnbroker” (11;45 p.m.) and “Judgment at Nuremberg” (2 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jason Bateman, Jenna Dewan Tatum. The View: Jimmy Kimmel, Goldie Hawn, Hugh & Deborah Jackman (rerun). The Talk: Shemar Moore, Kristoff St. John. Ellen DeGeneres: Kim Kardashian, Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora. Wendy Williams: Chris Rock (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Strahan, Richard Branson, Interpol. Jimmy Fallon: Keith Richards, Debra Messing, the Replacements. Jimmy Kimmel: Bill Hader, Richard Linklater, Jhene Aiko. Seth Meyers: Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Kluger. Craig Ferguson: Julie Chen, Louie Anderson. Carson Daly: Dave Attell, You Won’t (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Glenn Cohen, Savion Glover. Jon Stewart: Sen, Kirsten Gillibrand. Stephen Colbert: Jason Segel. Conan O’Brien: Anna Faris, John Hodgman, Wiz Khalifa.