Would you even have a television without Thomas Edison?
Well, maybe.
But he’s the guy who invented sound recording, the incandescent bulb, and kinescopes that led to early film, so his fingerprints are all on it. It’s fitting that Edison also invented the title of inventor as job description. He had a few failures too as the long and interesting documentary “Edison” makes clear on a two hour “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m.).
The 70th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz brings a number of specials including the Wolf Blitzer documentary “Voices of Auschwitz” (CNN, 9 p.m.), a replay of the documentary “50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus” (HBO Signature, 11 a.m.) and the Polish film “In Darkness” (Starz, 7:30 p.m.).
The underrated “Sirens” (USA, 10 p.m.) starts its second season with a nut allergy call.
“Sons of Liberty” (History, 9 p.m.) winds up its three night miniseries with the start of the Revolutionary War. Part two reruns at 7 p.m.
Having finally caught up with the first four episodes, the surprising thing about the final season of “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8 p.m.) is how bad it’s been.
The 10 remaining kids on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.) are assigned sushi.
In the new series “Rebel Without a Kitchen” (Cooking, 10 p.m.), host Matt Basile visits various pop-ups, food carts and street food, starting in Toronto.
Jake is short a few groomsmen on “Marry Me” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Looks like some PubLizIty and “Wheels Ontario” updates on tonight’s “Kroll Show” (Comedy Central,
Boyd tries to cash in on his bank heist on “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.).
Regis Philbin is the guest host all week on “The Late Late Show” (CBS, 12:35 a.m.), reliving his late night career that stretches back to being co-host with Joey Bishop. Tonight, he scores a rare guest: David Letterman.
The month-long Tuesday night salute to Robert Redford concludes with “The Candidate” (8 p.m.), “All the President’s Men” (10 p.m.), “Three Days of the Condor” (12:30 a.m.) and “Downhill Racer” (2:45 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Nebraska at Michigan (ESPN, 7 p.m.), West Virginia at Kansas State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Tulsa at Tulane (ESPNews, 7 p.m.), Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Xavier at Georgetown (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), George Washington at VCU (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), DePaul at Providence (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Fresno State at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Florida at Alabama (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Tennessee at Arkansas (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Baylor at Oklahoma State (ESPNews, 9 p.m.), and Colorado State at Boise State (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
In pro basketball, its Cleveland at Detroit (NBA, 7:30 p.m.) and Chicago at Golden State (NBA, 10:30 p.m.). Hockey includes Tampa Bay at Carolina (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
In the Australian Open (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), the men’s and women’s quarterfinals are set.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Emmy Rossum. The View: Backstreet Boys, Michaela Watkins. The Talk: Jeff Garlin, Paul Wesley, Alejandra Schrader. Ellen DeGeneres: Kevin Costner, Kiesza. Wendy Williams: Kate Gosselin, Sig Hansen, Sir John. Meredith Vieira: Shannen Doeherty, Tamara Tunie, Hill Harper. Queen Latifah: Wanda Sykes (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Oscar Isaac, Drenge. Jimmy Fallon: Nicole Kidman, Patton Oswalt, the War on Drugs (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Kevin Costner, Eddie Redmayne, Jamie Cullum. Seth Meyers: Jane Lynch, Lucy Hale, Haerts (rerun). Late Late Show: David Letterman, Tony Danza, Tony Wolfson, Regis Philbin. Carson Daly: Wyatt Cenac, Porter Robinson, Margaret Brown (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Roseanne Barr, Hussam Ayloush. Jon Stewart: Jill Leovy. Conan O’Brien: Rainn Wilson, Lucy Hale, Brian Scolaro.