CaroleKingThe fifteen minute salute to her at the Kennedy Center Honors was probably more satisfying than a surprisingly haphazard “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) on Carole King, which stitches a couple of interviews together with that of her colleagues to talk about her early songwriting success and her breakthrough “Tapestry.” But, as in the musical “Beautiful,” which is also mentioned, there isn’t much said of anything she’s done in the 45 years since then. There is some footage of some great performances of the Shirelles singing “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and James Taylor accompanying her on “So Far Away.”

Weirdly, James Taylor also pops up unexpectedly in the four-episode series “Cooked” (Netflix, streaming), in which the writer Michael Pollan gets a travel budget and looks at how people all over the world prepare their food. “We are the species who cooks,” he says. “And when we learned to cook is when we became truly human.” Based on his own book, the series produced by Alex Gibney, looks very handsome.

In the standup special “Alonzo Bodden: Historically Incorrect” (Showtime, 9 p.m.), the comedian looks at historical inaccuracies.

After 28 seasons, there aren’t many places “The Amazing Race” (CBS, 8 p.m.) haven’t been, but Colombia is one of them. Tonight, the YouTube nobodies go there, in part to mud dive for emeralds in a volcano.

A whole lot of people are listed as taking part in “Bluegrass Underground” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) including Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell, Vince Gill, Widespread Panic, Lee Ann Womack, Andrew Bird, Old Crow Medicine Show and Johnnyswim.

For the third season premiere of “Cesar 911” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.), the “dog behaviorist” is called to help out the two dachshunds of Jerry Seinfeld.

“Vice” (HBO, 11 p.m.) looks at doctor-assisted suicide.

A supernatural pregnancy has problems on “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.).

A plane crashes, a maintenance worker falls from a hotel sign and an animal trainer is bitten on “Sin City ER” (Discovery Life, 10 p.m.).

The cats nearly OD on catnip on “Animals” (HBO, 11:30 p.m.).

“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) is a repeat from last week.

On “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 9 p.m.), Danny’s mother is questioned by the FBI.

Eve and Cammy start a band on “Last Man Standing” (ABC, 8 p.m.).

A D.C. duo presents an app that creates exercise playlists on “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.).

The animated “Pixels” Starz, 9 p.m.) makes its cable premiere.

The brutal drumming movie “Whiplash” (Starz, 8 p.m.), which won an Oscar for J.K. Simmons, makes its cable debut.

Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar is up to 19 with “A Day at the Races” (8 p.m.), “The Thin Man” (10 p.m.), “The Best Years of Our Lives” (11:45 p.m.), “The Flame and the Arrow” (2:45 a.m.) and “The Southerner” (4:30 a.m.).

Men’s college hoops include Akron at Kent State (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Northern Illinois at Ball State (CBS Sports, 6:30 p.m.), Richmond at VCU (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Oakland at Valparaiso (ESPNU, 8 p.m.), and Iona at Monmouth (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).

NBA action includes Indiana at Oklahoman City (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Boston at Utah (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).

Daytime Talk

Kelly & Michael: Jeremy Irons, Lori Laughlin, Chris Byrne. The View: Eva Longoria. The Talk: David LeFevre. Ellen DeGeneres: Rebel Wilson, Maksim & Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Wendy Williams: Ali Wentworth, Don Lemon, Judge Alex Ferrer. Meredith Vieira: Bob Harper, Grant Kemmerer.

Late Talk

Stephen Colbert: Chelsea Handler, Zoysia Mamet, the Lumineers. Jimmy Kimmel: Bill Maher, Alicia Vikander, Nothing But Thieves (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Bryan Cranston, Demi Lovato, the Weeknd. Seth Myers: Paul Giamatti, Aubrey Plaza, Frank Bruni, Josh Freese (rerun). James Corden: Kurt Russell, Paul Dano (rerun). Carson Daly: Mark McKinney, Houndmouth, Rob Kazinsky (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Carole King.