It’s a sobering evening for public television with back to back documentaries on disease and dying.
First, “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.., check local listings) looks back more than 100 years ago when one of the worst killers in history, tuberculosis, had killed one in seven of all who had ever lived. The battle against it shaped medical science, social habits, Western expansion and government policy. “The Forgotten Plague” by Chana Gazit comes at a time when communicable disease is back on the front page thanks to those who decline to immunize their children and is based in part on the book “Living in the Shadowof Death” by Sheila Rothman.
Later, the thoughtful Boston surgeon Atul Gawande, left, brings his current No. 1 bestseller “Being Mortal” to “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) by talking with some of its subjects on camera. Of key interest to him are the ways doctors talk to patients who are dying and whether they install false hope by foisting one unnecessary treatment after another rather than trying to allow a patient’s final days to be more rich and rewarding. It’s a bracing thing to consider, but this malady — death — is not going away.
“Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) returns to Washington, D.C. for the last time, where Leslie and April meet such senators as Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and John McCain. The show signs off in just two weeks.
Opposite it are two episodes of the new “Fresh Off the Boat” (ABC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.).
Since when did Tuesday become the big comedy night? Two other good ones are on later: “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.), with a Valentine’s episode, and “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.), with last week’s bombshell to be announced widely. There’s a Valentiine’s theme, too, on “About a Boy” (NBC, 9:30 pm.). And it’s always semi-romantic on “Marry Me” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Bobby Bottleservice directs an action movie, C-Czar dates a coworker and Mikey questions his sexuality on “Wheels, Ontario” on a new “Kroll Show” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.).
The six remaining contestants on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.) still seem a little young to takeover a restaurant, but that’s tonight’s challenge.
Raylan tries to stop the high price of real estate on “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.).
You might think by showing the final three episodes of the season back to back to back, “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” (TLC, 10 p.m.) is on its way out. Nope, the antics of Whitney and her friends have been renewed for a second season.
“Overhaulin'” (Velocity, 9 p.m.) reaches a season finale with the restoration of a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.
The whole getting-out-of-donating-a-kidney-to-a-friend thing ha been done before on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It’s done by Kevin Hart on Nick Cannon tonight again on the season finale of “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (BET, 10 p.m.).
The comedy “Ground Floor” (TBS, 10 p.m.) reaches its season finale.
She’s off of “Celebrity Apprentice,” but there’s more than enough Kate Gosselin on back to back episodes of “Kate Plus 8” (TLC, 8 and 9 p.m.).
The forecast is ice storm on “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Oscar prospects of 1946 and 47 are featured on Turner Classic Movies with “Gentleman’s Agreement” (8 p.m.), “The Killers” (10:15 p.m.), “Duel in the Sun” (12:15 a.m.), “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” (2:45 a.m.) and “Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman” (4:30 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops tonight include Kentucky at LSU (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Notre Dame at Clemson (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Memphis at at East Carolina (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Georgetown at Seton Hall (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Cincinnati at Temple (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), Kansas at Texas Tech (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Wisconsin at Nebraska (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Arkansas at Auburn (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Xavier at Marquette (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Dayton at Saint Louis (CBS Sports, 9:30 p.m.) and New Mexico at Colorado State (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
NBA action includes Houston at Phoenix (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Denver at Lakers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Colin Firth, Patricia Arquette. The View: Marcia Gay Harden, Whitney Thore. The Talk: Terry Crews, Kevin Frazier, Cat Cora. Ellen DeGeneres: Anna Kendrick, Sam Smith, Annie Lennox. Wendy Williams: Dr. Phil McGraw, Vivica A. Fox. Meredith Vieira: Bevy Smith. Queen Latifah: Pauley Perrette, Bobby Brown.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Courtney Love, Chris Elliott, Rhiannon Giddens. Jimmy Fallon: Dakota Johnson Johnson, Anthony Anderson, Mark Ronson. Jimmy Kimmel: Anna Faris, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, Annie Lennox. Seth Myers: Sienna Miller, Tracee Ellis Ross, Koppleman. Late Late Show: Aisha Tyler, Justin Flom, Wayne Brady. Carson Daly: Jermaine Dlement, Sweat Lodge, Damien Chazelle. Tavis Smiley: Eddie Redmayne. Jon Stewart: David Axelrod. Conan O’Brien: Terry Crews, Prof. Brian Cox, Solomon Georgio.