It’s funny how they shy away from the word “intellectual” in “The 50 Year Argument” (HBO, 9 p.m.), a documentary about the work of The New York Review of Books that caters to just that group.
Not to seem elitist, though, the film by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi jump around in time to show how the publication, formed in the vacuum of the 1963 New York newspaper strike, when the then-pallid New York Times Book Review wasn’t even publishing, has added deep thought and nimble ideas to some of the greatest events of our time. And while it has begun some of the more prominent literary spats (as between Gore Vidal and amusingly garrulous Norman Mailer), it has uncovered information or presented an independent eye-witness reporting from world hotspots. All the while, editor Robert Silvers has remained a gently prodding, always curious editor. His offices in the West Village, which look like a library, are alone worth a look at the long documentary, along with interviews with contributors from Michael Chabon, Derek Walcott, Joan Didion as well as archival footage of James baldwin, Mary McCarthy, Noam Chomsky, Robert Lowell and Noam Chomsky.
Bernie Williams, Zoe Saldana, Pepe Aguilar, Carlos Vives and Rep. Henry R. Munoz III are among those honored at the “The Hispanic Heritage Awards” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings). The 27th annual event was held earlier this month at the Warner Theater in Washington.
Quite a varied lineup for “The iHeartRadio Music Festival” (The CW, 8 p.m.) with Taylor Swift, Motley Crue, Coldplay, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, the Zac Brown Band, Usher, Bastille and Steve Aoki. Part two of the event, recorded at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, runs Tuesday.
The seventh season of “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.) resolves last spring’s cliffhanger — an accident on the way to the wedding of Castle and Beckett.
It’s season six for “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 10 p.m.), which begins with one of those sinking submarine things.
“Gotham” (Fox, 8 p.m.) has so far been the only bright spot of that network’s new season.
Wolowitz throws out the first ball of an Angels game on “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Now they got Benjamin Franklin mixed up with the mythology of “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Kevin Hart replaces Len Goodman on the judges’ bench on movie night of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.), which last week kicked out Tavis Smiley, though four other contestants had lower scores.
The blind auditions continue until further notice on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
The work of composer Max Steiner is featured tonight on Turner Classic Movies with “Dodge City” (8 p.m.), “Gone with the Wind” (10 p.m.), “The Informer” (2 a.m.) and “Now, Voyager” (4 a.m.).
In Monday Night Football, it’s New England at Kansas City (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.).
Preseason hockey has Philadelphia at Rangers (NHL, 7 p.m.) and Arizona at Vancouver (NHL, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ben Affleck, Bryan Adams. The View: Alicia Keys, Karen Gillan, John Cho. The Talk: LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell, Frank Grillo, Jenny Hutt. Ellen DeGeneres: Martin Short, Temples, Melanie Iglesias. Wendy Williams: Lachlan Cartwright, Bahar Takhtehchian. Meredith Vieira: Kim Cattrall, Emily VanCamp. Queen Latifah: Andre Benjamin, Lea Thompson.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Neil Patrick Harris, Jamie Oliver, Aretha Franklin. Jimmy Fallon: Ben Affleck, Kate Walsh, Tony Bennett. Jimmy Kimmel: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Clark Greg, Clean Bandit. Seth Meyers: Michael Che, Rosamund Pike, Colony House. Craig Ferguson: Jim Gaffigan, Wolfgang Puck. Carson Daly: Sara Schaefer, Hellogoodbye, Neil Harbisson. Tavis Smiley: David Frum, Alex Tizon. Jon Stewart: Hadi al Bahra. Stephen Colbert: Jamie Oliver. Conan O’Brien: Ben Kingsley, Al Madrigal, Kenny Chesney.