After all the excesses of the Cold War, it may have seemed surprising that Dwight Eisenhower invited Nikita Khrushchev to the United States in 1959. The sincere gesture to diplomacy led to a cross country trip with occasionally contentious moments that was also one of the first media circuses, all well summarized in “Cold War Roadshow” tonight on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
American gathered on the roadside to see the gregarious character and his wife drive by, but they did not cheer or wave back to the Soviet Leader. A flight to Los Angeles following a train trip to New York provided the most surreal moments, as he addressed a Hollywood luncheon attended by Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, witnessed the filming of the musical “Can-Can” and scolded the Los Angeles Mayor for canceling a trip to Disneyland and bringing up that “we will bury you” quote again.
A visit to an Iowa farm almost turned violent, but only because the hundreds of reporters were trampling the crops of the farmer who was visited. Like a lot of isolated dictators, Khrushchev just wanted to be recognized and accepted, but a reciprical invitation for Ike to come to the Soviet Union was canceled after the U.S. was caught sending spy planes over there — delaying the thaw for another few decades.
Peter Berg’s “State of Play” (HBO, 10 p.m.) series of sports documentaries continues, this one about pro athletes who suffer depression after retirement. It’s tough at first to feel sympathy for millionaires who no longer have thousands cheering their daily work, but Berg shows there is real science to the sudden change and that most athletes struggle to adapt to new roles. The film includes glimpse at Bret Farve in Mississippi and Tiki Barber in New York. Once more the panel discussion at the end seems superfluous.
A new “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), in conjunction with ProPublica shows what happens when American corporations cooperate with brutal dictatorships to keep the money rolling in, in a case about a major tire company and Liberia a decade ago, “Firestone and the Warlord.”
You may have to send a giant to help the giants. Thus, “Saving Africa’s Giants with Yao Ming” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), in which the 7-foot-3 former NBA standout travels to help save the elephants at rhinos at reserves in Kenya and South Africa from poachers by trying to curb the desire, chiefly in China, for their horns and ivory that fulfill debunked superstitions.
In the new series “Risking It All” (TLC, 10 p.m.), families unplug and go way off the grid — except for the camera crews following them, of course.
Remaining candidates on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.) have to make a box of cupcakes.
The Greek roots of personalities Tina Fey, George Stephanopoulos and David Sedaris are examined on a new “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
The New York Police Department’s frisking policy, which targets minorities, is the subject of Soledad O’Brien’s report on “Black in America: Black & Blue” (CNN, 9 p.m.).
It’s Thanksgiving on “Marry Me” (NBC, 9 p.m.) and Casey Wilson’s character locks horns with Ken Marino’s mother, played by JoBeth Williams.
Lisa Bonet plays an education expert on “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.), while Danny reads Mindy’s diary on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
Uh oh, they’re already running out of names for villains on “The Flash” (The CW, 8 p.m.). Tonight’s is called Tony.
What do you you do when you’ve canceled your comedies? Plug in a rerun of “Shark Tank” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
In “Stylemaker: Michael Kors” (E!, 8:30 p.m.), celebrities tell why they like his red carpet designs.
Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson join “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) as it opens its fifth season.
The Fiddler’s Inn in Nashville gets a revamp on “Hotel Impossible” (Travel, 9 p.m.).
A number of items to be auctioned by Bonhams to benefit the Film Foundation come from the films on Turner Clasic Movies tonight: “Casablanca” (8 p.m.), “The Green Berets” (10 p.m.), “Gilda” (12:45 a.m.), “Planet of the Apes” (2:45 a.m.) and “Air Raid Wardens” (4:45 a.m.).
There’s a lot of college basketball, with High Point at Hawaii (ESPN2, 5 a.m.), Iona at Wofford (ESPN2, 7 a.m.), Northern Iowa at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN2, 9 a.m.), Manhattan at Massachusetts (ESPN2, 11 a.m.), Baylor at South Carolina (ESPN, noon), Wichita State at Memphis (ESPN, 2 p.m.), Utah at San Diego State (ESPN, 4 p.m.), Toledo at Virginia Commonwealth (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Georgetown (Fox Sports 2, 7 p.m.), Michigan State vs. Duke (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Long Beach State at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Marquette at Ohio State (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.), Kansas vs. Kentucky (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Drake at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.) and Texas Tech at LSU (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.).
In pro hoops, it’s New Orleans at Sacramento (NBA, 10 p.m.) and in the NHL, San Jose at Buffalo (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.). And there’s one college football game, Northern Illinois at Ohio (ESPNU, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Keira Knightley, Charlie Day, Kevin Harvick. The View: Shaquille O’Neal, Evangeline Lilly, Tommy Chong, Naya. The Talk: Sam Claflin, Kevin Frazier, Soleil Moon Frye. Ellen DeGeneres: Julianne Moore, Steve Spangler. Wendy Williams: Tyler James Williams. Meredith Vieira: Adam Brody, Barbara Corcoran. Queen Latifah: Kris Jenner, David Tennant.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Charlie Day, Hiss Golden Messenger. Jimmy Fallon: Russell Brand, Brooke Shields. Jimmy Kimmel: Jason Bateman, Courtney Love. Seth Meyers: Shaquille O’Neal, Eddie Redmayne, Gary Vaynerchuk. Craig Ferguson: Jane Lynch, Metallica. Carson Daly: Cillian Murphy, Colleen Green, Hector Tobar. Tavis Smiley: Peter Yarrow & Noel “Paul” Stookey. Jon Stewart: Benedict Cumberbatch. Stephen Colbert: Eva Longoria. Conan O’Brien: Hilary Swank, Jimmy Pardo, Hoodie Allen.