To give you a break from what people keep calling the strangest presidential election ever, the new series “The Contenders — 16 for ’16” (PBS, 8 p.m.) looks at past ones and finds all kinds of fascinating twists. The first subjects for the series, named after the ESPN documentary series, looks at Shirley Chisolm who became the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination in 1972, and John McCain’s 2008 run against Barack Obama.
Cracks in the for-profit college industry, brought with predatory practices and fraud, is examined in a special edition of “Frontline” (PBS, 9 p.m.) called “A Subprime Education.”
As if they don’t have to carry enough equipment, soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division affixed cameras on their helmets to get some of the footage for the new five-part “Taking Fire” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) which recounts their deployment to a Taliban-held valley in Afghanistan.
The spinoff “Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) moves its focus from the Bering Sea south to a Dungeness crab fishing stretch from British Columbia to Oregon.
Thursday Night Football has thrown the schedule off for “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.). So they move its power of veto episode to Tuesday. Paul and Victor, surprised to find themselves betrayed and up for eviction, are eager to win it.
The top 10 perform for the last time in the live finale of “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.) before votes are tallied and a winner is named Wednesday.
One of the most successful summer runs on network TV has been the travelogue with William Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman and Terry Bradshaw, “Better Late Than Never” (NBC, 10 p.m.) which comes to an end with a trip to Thailand, where they go see Thai boxing, get a tattoo, participate in a water fight and celebrate Bradshaw’s 68th birthday.
The second of the three part “JonBenet: An American Murder Mystery” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) concentrates on the various suspects. Monday’s part one reruns at 9.
On the 20th anniversary of Tupac Shakur’s murder, here’s an untimely showing of “Facing Suge Knight” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.).
The new interview show hosted by “Ed Gordon” (Bounce TV, 10 p.m.) begins with conversations with “Birth of a Nation” director Nate Parker, the singer Maxwell and the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Jordan Davis.
Hip hop hopefuls in Chicago audition for “One Shot” (BET, 10 p.m.).
Dos and Cameron return to Texas on a new “Halt and Catch Fire” (AMB, 10 p.m.).
The tribute to Madonna doesn’t cut it on “Dance Moms” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
That time a President saw a UFO is on “NASA’s Unexplained Files” (Science, 9 p.m.).
“Inside the NFL” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) looks at the first week’s games.
A second season begins for the soap “Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong” (OWN, 9 p.m.).
“Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food” (Travel, 9 p.m.) goes to London.
Busy Phillips is guest judge on “Chopped Junior” (Food, 8 p.m.).
Education innovations are the topic on “TED Talks” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Couples get external relationship help on “Married at First Sight” (A&E, 8:45 p.m.), who probably advise: Why did you get married at first sight?
“Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman” (Science, 10 p.m.) looks at the science of gender.
Trevor doesn’t get along with the deck team on “Below Deck” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
The slapstick festival on Turner Classic Movies moves into the talkies of the early 1930s with a couple from Charley Chase, “Dollar Dizzy” (8 p.m.) and “The Pip from Pittsburg” (8:30 p.m.); two from Laurel and Hardy, “Sons of the Desert” (9 p.m.) and “The Music Box” (10:15 p.m.); the Marx Brothers in “A Night at the Opera” (11 p.m.); Wheeler & Woosley in “Hips, Hips, Hooray” (12:45 a.m.); Joe E. Brown in “Elmer the Great” (2 a.m.); Harold Lloyd in “Movie Crazy” (3:30 a.m.) and Frank & Milt Britton Band, cavorting in Rudy Vallee’s “Sweet Music” (5:15 a.m.).
Baseball includes Dodgers at Yankees (MLB, 7 p.m.).
In WNBA action, it’s Minnesota at Chicago (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
It’s the U.S. vs. Finland (ESPN, 7 p.m.) in the world cup of hockey.
And the Paralympic Games (NBC Sports, 2 p.m.) continue from Rio.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Carol Burnett, Miss America, Michael Weatherly. The Talk: Meg Ryan, Natalie Morales. Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Obama, Stephen Curry, Usher. Harry Connick: Terrence Howard. Wendy Williams: Naomi Campbell (rerun). The Real: Naya Rivera.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Millie Bobby Brown, the Head and the Heart. Jimmy Kimmel: Patrick Dempsey, Dr. Justin Schmidt, Tame Impala. Jimmy Fallon: Shailene Woodley, Carol Burnett, Jason Aldean, Wayne Newton. Seth Meyers: Bill Hader, Sarah Jones, Test Pattern, Matt Garstka. James Corden: Donald Glover, Jimmy Johnson, Grouplove. Carson Daly: David Harbour, Classics, Legends of Chamberlain Heights. Tavis Smiley: Samantha Power. Davis Smiley: Samantha Power. Trevor Noah: Danielle Weinberg & Carly Zakin. Conan O’Brien: Billy Gardell, Draymond Green, Finish Ticket.