It was Lena Duham’s tattoo of picture book star Heloise on her lower back that got her a free pass to meet and become best friend of Hilary Knight, distinctive illustrator of the series. The resulting meeting makes for a better than expected portrait in “It’s Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Heloise” (HBO, 9 p.m.), which describes how the character came out of what must been an extremely annoying alter ego of entertainer Kay Thompson; how they collaborated (involving at least one trip to Paris); and how they experienced a bitter split (she wanted more control).
Knight, son of a pair of illustrators, kept doing fine work in children’s books and magazines but wasn’t allowed to reunite with Eloise until recent years. Dunham wasn’t the only proto-Eloise to come along either; another substitute came in performance artist Phoebe Legere. It’s a pretty interesting story.
“The Late Late Show” (NBC, 12:35 p.m.) makes his bow. James Corden is a smart and funny British talent not known to wide audience, but has a better than even chance of making a decent show (especially since only other network late night show shoots in Los Angeles). Here’s a story about what he had to say in January, when he didn’t know what was going to happen. Pretty good first guests: Tom Hanks and Mila Kunis.
The great documentarian Albert Maysles who died earlier this month at 88, is saluted on Turner Classic Movies with three of his best: “Grey Gardens” (8 p.m.), “Salesman” (10 p.m.) and “Gimme Shelter” (11:45 p.m.) as well as one short, “Portrait of an Actor” (9:48 p.m.), which about Marlon Brando.
Raised in a Jewish household in Woodstock, N.Y., Lacey Schwartz learned at 18 that her father was black. That lead to some soul searching, questions on race identity and this documentary: “Little White Lie” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings)
Saul is still drumming up business on “Better Call Saul” (AMC, 10 p.m.); he’ll probably do that a lot.
Somebody is first to be eliminated on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) on its “My Jam Monday.”
There’s a dance showdown, too, on the second season finale for “The Fosters” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.).
There are two episodes of “The Following” (Fox, 8 p.m.), one following the other.
“2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 8 p.m.) lost their cat.
Men take a break from the madness while the women play on in their NCAA tournament second round, with Florida Gulf Coast at Florida State (ESPNU, 6 p.m.) and coverage from various games on ESPN2 at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Second round action in the NIT has Louisiana Tech at Texas A&M (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Illinois State at Old Dominion (ESPNU, 8 p.m.) and Murray State at Tulsa (ESPN, 9 p.m.).
NBA action includes Houston at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Spring baseball has Yankees vs. Washington (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Oakland vs. Cleveland (MLB, 4 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ben Stiller, Maria Menounos. The View: Ronda Rousey, Tai Beauchamp, Michelle Collins. The Talk: Emily Deschanel, Brian McDaniel, Sarah Colonna, Haylie Duff, Gavin DeGraw. Ellen DeGeneres: Marianne Garvey. Meredith Vieira: Theresa Caputo, Jane Lynch. Queen Latifah: Andre 3000, Lea Thompson (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Ben Stiller, Tove Lo. Jimmy Fallon: January Jones, Bubba Watson, Brandon Flowers. Jimmy Kimmel: Chelsea Clinton, Adam Carolla, Zac Brown Band. Seth Meyers: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Christina Hendricks, Charles Hamilton & Rita Ora. James Corden: Tom Hanks, Mila Kunis. Carson Daly: Randall Park, Halsey, Rose McIver. Tavis Smiley: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Jon Stewart: Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Conan O’Brien: Naomi Watts, Nick Kroll, Tweedy.