History Channel has made some ratings fictionalizing history, so here is more: a long, languishing 10-hour, five part miniseries, “Texas Rising” (History, 9 p.m.) about the battles following the Alamo. If Bill Paxton can gain viewers as one of the Hatfields and McCoys, so he can as Sam Houston, brooding over what to do following the defeat in San Antonio. The oddball cast includes Brendan Fraser in pigtails, Ray Liotta hard to spot as a fighter, Chad Michael Murray and Crispin Glover in there somewhere, and Kris Kristofferson as Andrew Jackson. And like “Hatfields/McCoys,” the film likes to take its time exploring a whole lot of side stories.
Greeted with derisive laughter at Cannes, “Grace of Monaco” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) is still a good fit for cable, with Nicole Kidman surely the biggest star yet on the network, starring as the former Grace Kelly who is now a queen in Europe. It’s directed by Olivier Dahan (“La Vie en Rose”) and has a cast that includes Tim Roth, Derek Jacobi and Frank Langella. Still, it may go down in history as a movie gone way wrong.
Survivalist Bear Grylls is only the host of “The Island” (NBC, 10 p.m.) , where 14 guys are dropped on an island so they can fend for themselves. Unlike “Survivor,” there’s no voting out and no big prize at the end. The aim is only survival — and a TV show.
It follows a two hour season premiere of “American Ninja Warrior” (NBC, 8 p.m.), which is essentially “Wipeout” with a straight face.
The latest of dozens of reality shows exploring the great North, “The Last Alaskans” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.), without narrator, examines rugged people who settled in the Arctic National Wilflife Refuge before it was banned 35 years ago.
Kaitlyn is “The Bachelorette” (ABC, 9 p.m.) we learned last week, and suddenly the season isn’t so interesting any more, though Amy Schumer does show up on tonight’s episode.
“400 Questions” (ABC, 8 p.m.) resumes its run.
Enough about healthy food; here’s a new show with Bobby Flay, Duff Goldman and Robert Irvine called “Guilty Pleasures” (Food Network, 10 p.m.)
If you were stuck in holiday traffic all day, you may not be so interested in the special “Driving America” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) about the social impact of the car on the country.
Logical night to replay the 2011 movie “Memorial Day” (The CW, 8 p.m.) with Jonathan Bennett and James Cromwell.
The weekend-long, 32 film Memorial Day blitz on Turner Classic Movies concludes with “The Green Berets” (6:45 a.m.), “The Sand Pebbles” (9:15 a.m.), “From Here to Eternity” (12:30 p.m.), “The Dirty Dozen” (2:45 p.m.), “Kelly’s Heroes” (5:30 p.m.), “Battleground” (8 p.m.), “Patton” (10:15 p.m.), “Battle of the Bulge” (1:15 a.m.) and “The Tanks are Coming” (4:15 a.m.). And there’s no shortage of war movies elsewhere: “The Hurt Locker” (FXM, 3 p.m.), “Saving Private Ryan” (AMC, 6 p.m.).
Golden State at Houston (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the NBA Western Conference Finals Game 4, where Golden State can wrap it up. In the Stanley Cup playoffs it’s Chicago at Anaheim (NBC Sports, 9 p.m.) in Game 5.
Baseball includes Kansas City at Yankees (ESPN, 1 p.m.), Detroit at Oakland (ESPN, 4 p.m.) and Atlanta at Dodgers (MLB, 8 p.m.).
First round play continues in the French Open (ESPN2, 5 a.m.; Tennis Channel, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.: NBC, noon).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kim Kardashian, Ray Liotta, Kevin McKidd. The View: Hunter Hayes, Christela Alonzo, Stacy London. The Talk: Anna Kendrick, Marcus Samuelsson, Chi-Lan Lieu, Gayle King. Ellen DeGeneres: Jennifer Garner, James Marsden, Fences & Macklemore (rerun). Wendy Williams: Tia Mowry, Brian Balthazar (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Peter Gallagher, Jane Schwartzberg. Queen Latifah: Simon Helberg, Elisabeth Rohm, David & Leeman (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Wiig, Thomas Middleditch, Josh Groban (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Amy Schumer, Ludacris, Jose Gonzales (rerun). Seth Meyers: John Cleese, Linda Cardellini, Barney Frank, Jack Antonoff (rerun). James Corden: Dave Grohl, Jordana Brewster, Rainn Wilson (rerun). Carson Daly: Elisha Cuthbert, Etan Cohen (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Daina Ramey Berry, Eric Walther, Allyson Hobbs. Jon Stewart: Billy Crystal (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Mila Kunis, Josh Hopkins, Cage the Elephant (rerun).