The series finale for “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 10 p.m.) will be tinged with more sadness than usual, due to the untimely death of executive producer Harris Wittels last Thursday. But it was going to be sad anyway, so beloved have these characters become (and too big to have a sitcom contain them; Chris Pratt, once a lowly side character, is a No. 1 box office draw; Aziz Ansari is selling out Madison Square Garden; Nick Offerman is practically a cult leader.
But it’s been a funny series throughout, from the unfairly disparaged first season even through this season’s uneven season set into the future (seen largely in distracting transparent electronic devises). One thing for sure about this season is how badly it’s been handled by the network: delayed until midseason and then rushed along on a new night with two episodes a week before tonight’s finale, which is suddenly bumped to 10 p.m. for no other reason than to not bother “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), still in the chair-spinning audition mode. It will be tough to see the “Parks” gang go, even if an awful lot of them seem to be moving up and on to Washington, from Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope to Audrey Plaza’s April Ludgate.
Here’s a longer piece I wrote about plans for the “Parks and Recreation” finale when the actors and creators met the press last month.
It’s down to Andrew, 11, of New Jersey, and Nathan, 12, of San Diego, for the finale of the “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.). Their families will be there, as will all of the contestants from this season. One of them will win $100,000.
Also ending its season, is the short-run “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (ABC, 9 p.m.), making way for the return of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” next week.
The final two chapters of “The Italian Americans” (PBS, 9 p.m.) shows how some figures have emerged as leaders, from Fiorello La Guardia to Joe DiMaggio and Mario Cuomo.
Danny makes a deal to stop smoking on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.). They all go spider hunting on “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Oscar contenders from 36 years ago are on Turner Classic Movies with “A Little Romance” (8 p.m.), “Being There” (10 p.m.), “Kramer vs. Kramer” (12:30 a.m.), “The Great Santini” (2:30 a.m.) and “10” (4:30 a.m.) — no , Bo Derek wasn’t nominated; Henry Mancini was, for best score. He lost.
In the new reality series “Keyshia Cole: All In” (BET, 9:30 p.m.), the singer tries to keep her career going, and her marriage, to Cleveland Cavalier Daniel Gibson.
Men’s college hoops include Wisconsin at Maryland (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Texas at West Virginia (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Providence at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), LSU at Auburn (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Texas A&M at Arkansas (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Boston College at Pittsburgh (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Creighton at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), UNLV at Utah State (CBS Sports, 9:30 p.m.) and New Mexico at Boise State (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Pro basketball includes Indiana at Oklahoma City (NBA, 8 p.m.). Hockey has Philadelphia at Carolina (NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.).
Daytime
Kelly & Michael: Martin Short, Anthony Anderson. The View: Mark Duplass, Kate Walsh, Stacy London & Samantha Ponder. The Talk: Jessica Radloff, Neal Fraser. Ellen DeGeneres: Will Smith, Little Big Town. Wendy Williams: Tony Danza, Julie Alexandria. Meredith Vieira: Marc Anthony, David Duchovny, Michael Clayton, Steve Wilkos, Steve Santigati. Queen Latifah: Rosario Dawson, Russell Peters (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Matthew Broderick, Ellie Kemper, JD McPherson. Jimmy Fallon: Josh Duhamel, gabrielle Union, Charlie Wilson. Jimmy Kimmel: Will Forte, Bella Thorne, Prince Royce. Seth Meyers: Cast of “Parks & Recreation.” Late Late Show: Jeff Probst, Yvette Nicole Brown, Greg Warren, Billy Gardell. Carson Daly: Hope Davis, Natalie Prass, Dave Hause. Tavis Smiley: Jeff Bridges, Bill Shore. Jon Stewart: Lynsey Addario. Conan O’Brien: Artie Lange, Victoria Justice.