The coolest weapon in America’s Cold War may have been the efforts by the U.S. State Department to show off the country’s jazz greats in international tours that would counter the bad press the Soviet Union was spreading about U.S. racial discrimination.
Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Dave Brubeck and their bands all took part as cultural ambassadors, helping the causes of civil rights at the same time.
“The Jazz Ambassadors” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) includes interviews with Quincy Jones and Adam Clayton Powell III. Leslie Odom Jr. narrates.
On the new “A Little Help with Carol Burnett” (Netflix, streaming), the 85-year-old comedy legend takes the role of a 21st century Art Linkletter, sitting with precocious kids to chat about various topics. She’s joined by comic Russell Peters and a different celebrity each time, starting with Lisa Kudrow.
Burnett is a master at these interactions and the show is certainly a cut above Steve Harvey’s similar interactions on “Little Big Shots.”
Think of it as the opposite of “End Game” (Netflix, streaming) another new show about terminally ill patients sharing their thoughts (but not with celebrities).
Netflix tries its hand at a sci-fi feature in the new film “Anon” (Netflix, streaming) about a future world without privacy, starring Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried. It’s from “The Truman Show” director Andrew Niccol.
On the latest “My Guest Needs No Introduction” (Netflix, streaming), David Letterman seems charmed to be sitting with Tina Fey.
“Dear White People” (Netflix, streaming) steps up its game for season two.
And since the country didn’t heal, “America Divided” (Epix, 9 p.m.) is back for a second season too.
“MacGyver” (CBS, 8 p.m.) tries to quit the Phoenix Foundation on the season finale.
The scientist had some dealings with the government, too, according to declassified CIA documents that are the basis of the new series “The Tesla Files” (History, 10 p.m.).
He doesn’t have a face for TV but the Oracle of Omaha is the subject of another documentary on “Warren Buffett: Investor, Teacher. Icon” (CNBC, 10 p.m.).
Blake gets in the way of Fallon’s plans for the company on “Dynasty” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
The killer goes after “Gabriel” on a new episode of “Rellik” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
Grandma’s cooking is the inspiration on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Audrey Hepburn would have turned 89 today (had she not died in 1993 at 63), so Turner Classic Movies salutes her with “Love in the Afternoon” (7:15 a.m.), “Green Mansions” (9:30 a.m.), “The Nun’s Story” (11:15 a.m.), “Charade” (2 p.m.), “Two for the Road” (4 p.m.) and “Wait Until Dark” (6 p.m.).
Then it’s three from Burt Lancaster at prime time: “Birman of Alcatraz” (8 p.m.), “Run Silent, Run Deep” (10:45 p.m.), and “The Swimmer” (12:30 a.m.) before two thrillers from 1961, “Anatomy of a Psycho” (2:15 a.m.) and “Homicidal” (3:45 a.m.).
The Stanley Cup playoffs has Tampa Bay at Boston (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) and San Jose at Vegas (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.).
NBA Playoffs have Golden State at New Orleans (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Utah (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
It’s U.S. vs. Canada (NHL, 10 a.m.) and Sweden vs. Belarus (NHL, 2 p.m.) in the IIHF world championships.
In college baseball, it’s Seton Hall at Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.).
In the men’s college lacrosse Ivy League tournament it’s Pennsylvania vs. Yale (ESPNU, 6 p.m.) and Brown vs. Cornell (ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.).
And in the NCAA tournament for beach volleyball, it’s Florida International vs. UCLA (ESPNU, 10 a.m.), Southern California vs. Florida State (ESPNU, 11 a.m.), LSU vs. Pepperdine (ESPNU, noon), South Carolina vs. Hawaii (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), followed by a series of winners and elimination matches.
Daytime Talk
The View: Charlize Theron. The Talk: Michael Bolton. Harry Connick: David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Joe Barksdale, Chef Nonna Maria. Steve Harvey: Eva Longoria. Ellen DeGeneres: Melissa McCarthy, Molly Gordon, Jessie Ennis, Debby Ryan, Adria Arjona, Kris Jenner. Wendy Williams: Cast of “Dear White People,” Van Jones. The Real: Marcus Scribner.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Chris O’Donnell, Jack White. Jimmy Fallon: John Goodman, Zoe Lister-Jones, Josh Blue. Seth Meyers: Chris Evans, Desus & Mero, Lily Allen, Sarah Tomek (rerun). James Corden: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling (rerun). Carson Daly: Bobby Lee, Jungle, Travis Fimmel (rerun).