As immigration reform becomes a seemingly intractable issue in the presidential primary race, a fascinating film on what people have been trying to do behind closed doors in Washington on the issue is captured in Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini’s film “Immigration Battle” on “Frontline” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
It’s the second time the team has documented the issue and have found their way deep into the congressional offices of leaders on the issues such as Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who gets frustrated as he finds that those in his own party are one of the biggest impediment to action on the Hill.
Amid some inside meetings in offices and restaurants that have the wonky excitement of “House of Cards,” the patient filmmakers go outside the Beltway to see activists on their home turf attempting to get the issue someday tackled. Once more, it’s a important crash course into recent history.
After 49 years, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (ABC, 8 p.m.) has failed to establish a major gourd-based religion, but it has created an annual television treat.
Another sign of the season: Both championship series are on today, game four of Kansas City at Toronto (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and game three of Mets at Cubs (TBS, 8 p.m.).
Jillian Michaels of “The Biggest Loser” is back yelling at fat people on a new reality competition “Sweat Inc.” (Spike, 10 p.m.).
“Being Mary Jane” (BET, 9 p.m.) returns for its third season, with Gabrielle Union’s Mary Jane recovering from her car accident and the wreck of her personal life.
However he is as a candidate, Ben Carson might have been better as a surgeon. Those days are reviewed in the cable special “Ben Carson: The Lost Tapes” (Discovery Life, 9 p.m.).
On “Grandfathered” (Fox, 8 p.m.), Jimmy throws a belated birthday party for Edie at the restaurant and invites Richie Sambora and Criss Angel insteadd of a clown.
Reba McEntire is on “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Abby is held hostage by big pharma on “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Slumber parties are never a good idea on “Scream Queens” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Hockey includes Dallas at Philadelphia (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.). Preseason basketball includes Indiana at Chicago (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Golden State at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
There’s one college football game: Louisiana-Layfayette at Arkansas State (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
Women directors of the 1990s — who are best known for their other talents — are featured on Turner Classic Movies’ monthlong spotlight on female filmmakers with Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own” (8 p.m.), Nora Ephron’s “Sleepless in Seattle” (10:15 p.m.), Barbara Streisand’s “The Prince of Tides” (12:15 a.m.) and Jodie Foster’s “Home for the Holidays” (5 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Vin Diesel, Amanda Peet, Alfred Portale. The View: Kevin Costner, Jon Baird, Paula Deen. The Talk: Gabrielle Union, Michael Yo. Ellen DeGeneres: James Corden, Florence and the Machine. Wendy Williams: Jillian Michaels, OMI. The Real: Josh Flagg, Josh Altman, James Harris, David Parnes. Meredith Vieira: Regis Philbin, Lauren Conrad.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Kevin Spacey, Carol Burnett, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Jay Z, Donald Trump, music of “Tidal X: 1020.” Jimmy Fallon: Hillary Clinton, Dakota Johnson, Fetty Wap (rerun). Seth Meyers: Neil Patrick Harris, Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Panic at the Disco, Abe Laboriel Jr. James Corden: Ben Kingsley, Bill Hader, Zac Efron (rerun). Carson Daly: Jake McDorman, Faith No More, Gerald “Slink” Johnson (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Lawrence Lessig, S. Pearl Sharp. Trevor Noah: Judah Friedlander. Conan O’Brien: Zachary Levi, Gabrielle Union, Marian Hill.