One of the pioneers of absurdist TV comedy gets a salute today on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Turner Classic Movies’ Ernie Kovacs salute includes three 1961 episodes of “The Ernie Kovacs Show” (8 and 10:45 p.m.; and 1:45 a.m.) as well as three comedy films, “Operation Mad Ball” (8:45 p.m.), “Wake Me When It’s Over” (11:30 p.m.), “Bell Book and Candle” (2:30 a.m.) and “Five Golden Hours” (4:30 a.m.).
They are preceded by a day of movies set in the 60s, “Honeymoon Hotel” (6 a.m.), “The Loved One” (7:30 a.m.), “The Born Losers” (10:15 a.m.), “I Love You, Alice B. Toklas” (12:15 p.m.), “Cactus Flower” (2 p.m.), “Psych-Out” (4 p.m.) and “Wild in the Streets” (5:45 p.m.).
First seen in Canada a year ago (and picked up on Hulu last spring), “Pure” (WGN America, 10 p.m.) is about a Mennonite pastor who is forced into a criminal underground. The series stars Ryan Robbins, Alex Paxton-Beesley, A.J. Buckly and Rosie Perez.
The first three seasons of the hospital drama “The Royal” (BritBox, streaming) are suddenly made available.
A fourth season starts for the series “The Magicians” (Syfy, 9 p.m.), the place to learn unusual skills, sort of like “Deadly Class” (Syfy, 10 p.m.).
Louis tries to keep control of the firm on a new “Suits” (USA, 10 p.m.).
The Mooch is already up for eviction on “Celebrity Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) as the first power of veto competition is held.
Kamala Harris visits “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC, 9 p.m.).
“Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) looks into the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
Dr. Manning is involved in a helicopter crash on “Chicago Med” (NBC, 8 p.m.); there’s a motorcycle crash on “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 9 p.m.); “Chicago P.D.” (NBC, 10 p.m.) chases a heroin supplier; and Charmaine goes to Vegas on “Black Ink Crew: Chicago” (VH1, 9 p.m.);
“Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell & Back” (Fox, 8 p.m.) tries helping a fish place in Memphis.
Man’s relationship with the horse is studied on “Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m.).
On “Riverdale” (CW, 8 p.m.), Jughead and Betty haven’t been studying much for the SATs.
Corsets are turned to runway looks on “Project Runway All Stars” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
“The Dictator’s Playbook” (PBS, 10 p.m.) looks at Benito Mussolini.
History is full of pointless violence and obsession with weapons, so it figures that the History channel would be as well, with a new competition “Knight Fight” (History, 10 p.m.).
Next season’s “Criminal Minds” (CBS, 10 p.m.), its 15th, will also be its last, the network announced last week. Tonight, Rossi struggles with another serial killer.
Beverly lobbies for a new stop sign on “The Goldbergs” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and then appears on “Schooled” (ABC, 8:30 pm.).
On “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.), Cam deals with a bully.
Nomi’s sting of one-nighters is a problem on “grown-ish” (Freeform, 8 p.m.),
On “All American” (CW, 9 p.m.), Coop’s gang life is at odds with his relationship with Patience.
The NFL’s Rashad Jennings guest stars on “Catfish: The TV Show” (MTV, 9 p.m.).
“True Life Now” (MTV, 10 p.m.) looks at revenge porn.
Jessie struggles with her music on “Love & Hip Hop: Miami” (VH1, 10 p.m.).
It’s Taran Killam vs. Rob Riggle and Boy George vs. Laverne Cox on “Drop the Mic” (TNT, 10 p.m.), which like the accompanying “Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker’s Wild” (TNT, 10:30 p.m.) is presenting its third season on the sister network of TBS, where they originated.
Adam Carolla, Morena Baccarin, Johnny Weir, Cheryl Hines, Rick Fox and Pamela Anderson play “Match Game” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Hockey includes Nashville at Vegas (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.).
NBA action includes San Antonio at Philadelphia (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Denver at Utah (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Providence at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m.), Tennessee at Vanderbilt (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Texas at TCU (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), VCU at Rhode Island (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), DePaul at Marquette (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.), Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Loyola Chicago at Missouri State (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and Colorado State at Nevada (CBS Sports, 11 p.m.).
The Australian Open (Tennis, 7 p.m.; ESPN2, 10 p.m.; ESPN, 3:30 a.m.) has doubles semifinals, women’s singles semifinals and men’s singles semifinals respectively.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Connie Britton, Shinedown, Camila Alves. The View: Patrick Stewart, David Kellman, Robert Shafran. The Talk: Michael Bolton. Ellen DeGeneres: Sarah Paulson, Caroline Quentin, Piers Taylor, Dean Lewis. Wendy Williams: Leslie Grossman, Alissa (rerun). The Real: Timothy and Jonjelyn Savage.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Matthew McConaughey, Better Oblivion Community Center. Jimmy Kimmel: Dr. Phil McGrew, Sam Elliott, Flipp Dinero. Jimmy Fallon: Molly Shannon, Robert Irwin, Offset. Seth Meyers: Anne Hathaway, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Michaela Coel, Venzella Joy. James Corden: Sonequa Martin-Green, Pete Holmes, Rebecca Ferguson, Ava Max. Carson Daly: Danny Trejo, Lucy Dacus, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (rerun). Trevor Noah: Joe Morton. Conan O’Brien: Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto.