Less than a month after a similar film about the late director Mike Nichols by his onetime comedy partner Elaine May played on PBS, here’s a second film about Nichols’ long career.
“Becoming Mike Nichols” (HBO, 9 p.m.) is drawn from two long interviews with another theater director, Jack O’Brien, that occurred months before Nichol’s death, covering the early comedy days, the first plays he directed for Neil Simon and his first two terrific films, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “The Graduate,” with generous clips from each.
The odd thing about the interview is that one is before an audience, the other before an empty hall, so in the middle of stories, the audience disappears and reappears. But Nichols has a lot of interesting things to say, even if he said just about the same things in the May film last month. One thing that’s expanded in this film, though, is how great May was at what she did. But both films gloss over his last 40 or so projects and this one just mentions “Carnal Knowledge” in passing.
On “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m.), a counterterrorism informant invites the filmmaker with him when he traps a suspected jihadist; the problem is he hasn’t gotten approval for it from his FBI overseers. The extent of the problem may be hinted at the title of the film, “(T)error.”
The short return season of “The X-Files” (Fox, 8 p.m.) ends already with a case involving some sort of pandemic and the return of a talk show villain played by Joel McHale.
Wonder if Jimmy will flip that switch in his new office on “Better Call Saul” (AMC, 10 p.m.). They’ll discuss it all later on “Talking Saul” (AMC, 11 p.m.).
Of course Rebecca gets into a texting problem on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Here’s an interesting idea — a detective drama instead of a comedy that improvises the dialogue as they go along. It’s on the British import “Suspects” (Acorn TV, streaming) which is on the all-British streaming service.
Getting pretty dismayed by the names of villains on shows like “Supergirl” (CBS, 8 p.m.). Tonight, she battles the Master Jailer, for example.
Ben takes his final four to his home town — individually — on “The Bachelor” (ABC, 8 p.m.) which means something good: This thing will be over soon.
If she can’t completely stop Donald Trump with sharp satire, at least there can be some parting words for Jeb Bush on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS, 10:30 p.m.) where she will continue her piece about Syrian refugee assimilation.
Turner Classic Movies’ Oscar movies stays largely in the 1940s with “A Foreign Affair” (8 p.m.), “The More the Merrier” (10 p.m.), “Foreign Correspondent” (midnight), “The Sky’s the Limit” (2:15 a.m.), “Hide-Out” (4 a.m.) and “The Prizefighter and the Lady” (5:30 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Virginia at Miami (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Texas at Kansas State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Iowa State at West Virginia (ESPN, 9 p.m.) and Coppin State at Norfolk State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
Women’s games include Notre Dame at Florida State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.) and Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Pro basketball has Golden State at Atlanta (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Phoenix at Clippers (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey has San Jose at St. Louis (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Angela Bassett, Rachael Harris. The View: Lewis Black, Stacy London. The Talk: America Ferrera, Yesi Ortiz, Kip Moore. Ellen DeGeneres: David Duchovny. Wendy Williams: Ben Lyons, Chloe Melas. The Real: Tamela & David Mann. Meredith Vieira: Rick Springfield, Heidi Skolnik.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Casey Affleck, Richard Dreyfuss, Mavis Staples. Jimmy Kimmel: Aaron Paul, Rachel Bloom, KCeeLo & the Sunshine Band. Jimmy Falllon: Hugh Jackman, Taron Egerton, Audra McDonald, Hall & Oates. Seth Meyers: Anthony Mackie, Renee Elise Goldsherry, Neal Brennan. James Corden: Dr. Phil McGraw, Shad Moss, Cristin Militia, Awolnation. Carson Daly: Jay and Mark Duplass, Wolf Alice, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Eggers. Tavis Smiley: Michael Brune, Roger Waters. Trevor Noah: Sen. Cory Booker. Larry Wilmore: Jose Antonio Vargas. Conan O’Brien: Rob Lowe, Gina Rodriguez, Leonard Ouzts.