The biggest day in Presidential Politics, after months of ruminating, polls and blather is The 2016 Iowa Caucuses (CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, 8 p.m.) which would be exciting if it weren’t so confusing.
Republicans vote preferences as if it were a straw poll; Democrats use a more unusual method that involves gathering in groups, regrouping in others and perhaps the Hokey Pokey. Difficult to explain and near-impossible to cover because it happens in so many schools and community halls simultaneously, it’s nonetheless fun to try to figure out. The best place to watch may be the extended views at the largely pundit-free CSPAN.
Maybe next time they could announce the winners with roses, the way they do on “The Bachelor” (ABC, 8 p.m.), which tonight goes to Mexico City (and not to build a wall).
If you thought the revival of “The X-Files” (Fox, 8 p.m.) has been spotty so far, tonight’s episode is a highlight — a near comedy episode about a were-person. Kemal Nanjiani of “Silicon Valley” guest stars.
Turner Classic Movies begins its annual 31 Days of Oscar starts with 360 movies, one connecting to the next by a single thread — for more than month! Therefore, “Gigi” (6 a.m.) is connected to “The Merry Widow” (8 a.m.) through John Abbot; then to “Broadway Melody of 1936” (10 a.m.) through Una Merkel; to “Calamity Jane” (noon) through Paul Harvey; “Billy Rose’s Jumbo” (1:45 p.m.) by way of Doris Day; “Ben-Hur” (4 p.m.) through Steven Boyd.
They skip a turn to play the 2014 documentary “And the Oscar Goes To…” (8 p.m.), followed by “Lawrence of Arabia” (10 p.m.), whose connection to “Ben-Hur” is Jack Hawkins; then to “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (2 a.m.) by way of Alec Guinness, and finally to “Edward, My Son” (5 a.m.) by way of James Donald.
Mexican women who claim they were sterilized without consent while giving birth in Los Angeles are featured in “No Mas Bebes” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Josh and Rebecca first met at camp, so she tries to take him back to a camp to remind him on a new “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
Bakers have to devise a Minecraft-themed creation on “Cake Wars” (Food, 9 p.m.).
I’m in favor of a Bizarro episode of anything, including “Seinfeld.” and tonight “Supergirl” (CBS, 8 p.m.) has its Bizarro episode.
Mateo messes up the computer of “Jane the Virgin” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes North Carolina at Louisville (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Howard at Maryland Eastern Shore (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), SMU at Houston (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Texas at Baylor (ESPN, 9 p.m.) and North Carolina State at Florida State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
Women’s games include Notre Dame at Duke (ESPN2, 6 p.m.) and Arizona State at Oregon State (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).
Pro basketball includes Cleveland at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.) and Milwaukee at Sacramento (NBA, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Cuba Gooding Jr. The View: Stacy London. The Talk: Nikki Reed, Jenny Hutt. Ellen DeGeneres: Hugh Jackman, Taron Egerton, Beth Stern. Wendy Williams: Deborah Norville, Christine Bibbo Herr. The Real: Dr. Mae Jemison. Meredith Vieira: Dermot Mulroney, Jill Kargman, Mario Cantone.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: John Travolta, Courtney B. Vance, Amy Cuddy, John Moreland. Jimmy Kimmel: Kate Winslet, Richard Dreyfuss, Old Dominion. Jimmy Fallon: Danny DeVito, Khloe Kardashian, Colin Hay (rerun). Seth Meyers: Trevor Noah, David Cross, X Ambassadors, Glenn Kotche (rerun). James Corden: Nathan Fillion, Randall Park, Cirque Kurios. Carson Daly: Holly Holm, Handsome Ghost, Ryan Duffy (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Ralph Nader, Jennifer Yuh Nelson. Trevor Noah: Reshma Saujani. Larry Whitmore: Gad Elmaleh. Conan O’Brian: Drew Brees, George Miller, Fahim Anwar.