A strong case is made for the greatness of American playwright August Wilson on tonight’s “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m.) through endorsements by esteemed actors who’s worked with him, as well as directors and presenters. “August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand” also benefits from a wealth of interview footage and shots of him at work, writing at bars and cafes, before his death in 2005. To get the full impact of his work, though, go see one of his plays, like “King Hedley II” currently playing at Arena Stage and reviewed here.
I’m already down with “Preachers of Detroit” (Oxygen, 8 p.m.) which has a little less of the gloss than the L.A. original and more preachers like David Bullock who openly questions suburban preachers who are happy with their mansion and their Bentleys than they are in helping needy people in a struggling city, which they are all determined to improve. None are related to the “Preachers’ Daughters” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.), which coincidently has a new episode.
You can’t keep a good dog whisperer down. So Cesar Milan moves his dog behavioral schtick to Sin City, where he presented it in arenas, as if he were Celine Dion. It results in a two hour special, “Cesar Millan: Viva Las Vegas!” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.). Can his “tsssst!” be heard in such a loud place?
After amassing the network’s best ratings for an entertainment show in nine years Sunday’s “SNL 40th Anniversary Special” (NBC, 8 p.m.) is rerun. Eddie Murphy won’t play Bill Cosby this time either.
A new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) features Fran Lebowitz, Bill Nye, Rob Reiner, Elahe Izadi and Aloe Blacc.
Three sharks walk out during heated negotiation on “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.). Because they have to always stay in motion, right?
The best trash reality series these days is “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” (WE TV, 9 .m.) in which Spencer Pratt confronts the producer that made him a star tonight and Tyson of “Survivor” accuses his girlfriend of hiding her feelings.
For those who don’t want to stand in line in the cold for “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” when it opens tonight, you can watch the original 2010 “Hot Tub Time Machine” (Comedy Central, 7 and 9:45 p.m.) twice.
Oscar winners from the late 1960s are on Turner Classic Movies, with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (8 p.m.), “Planet of the Apes” (10 p.m.), “Easy Rider” (midnight), “Oliver!” (1:45 a.m.) and “Rachel, Rachel” (4:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Cleveland at Washington (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and San Antonio at Golden State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Cleveland State at Wisconsin Green Bay (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Hartford at Albany (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), and Iona at Marist (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
Women’s games have Iona at Marist (ESPNU, 5 p.m.) also.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kevin Costner. The View: Shawn Bullard, Stacy London, Padma Lakshmi. The Talk: Karla Souza, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Justin Bieber, Imagine Dragons. Wendy Williams: Ali Wentworth. Meredith Vieira: Craig Robinson, Jill Rappaport. Queen Latifah: Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Kid Scientists, Sean Hayes, Judah & the Lion. Jimmy Fallon: Kevin Bacon, Amy Sedaris, Nick Jonas. Jimmy Kimmel: David Spade, Randall Park, the Band Perry (rerun). Seth Meyers: Bobby Moynihan, Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, the Bots (rerun). Late Late Show: Jimmy Kimmel, John Krasinski, David Cross, Will Arnett. Carson Daly: Simon Helberg, the Budos Band, Kevin Macdonald (rerun).