The most chronicled hip-hop group on TV this year has to the the Wu-Tang Clan, who follow a documentary series on Showtime with a new docudrama that may well amp up the drama a little bit, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (Hulu, streaming).
“We like to call it a historical fiction,” says Alex Tse, who wrote 2004’s gangstar film “Sucker Free City,” the 2009 film version of “Watchmen” and last year’s “Superbly.” So, there are things in there that actually happened. There are versions of events, some moving around the timeline, but spiritually, it’s very truthful and accurate, in my opinion.”
He wrote it in conjunction with Wu-Tang member RZA, who is played by Ashton Sanders of “Moonlight” and HBO’s “Native Son.” The 10-episode series (three episodes of which drop today) also features Shameik Moore of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” as Raekwon.
It joins another strong story of the streets currently in “Snowfall” (FX, 10 p.m.).
The continuing hurricane threat makes the seven-hour CNN Town Hall (CNN, 5 p.m.) on Climate Change most timely. The 10 Democratic Presidential candidates who qualified for this month’s debates were all invited and will participate. Julián Castro begins at 5 p.m.; Andrew Yang is on at 5:40 p.m.; Kamala Harris is on at 6:20 p.m.; Amy Klobuchar at 7 p.m.; Joe Biden at 8 p.m.; Bernie Sanders at 8:40 p.m.; Elizabeth Warren at 9:20 p.m.; Pete Buttigieg at 10 p.m.; Beto O’Rourke at 10:40 p.m.; and Cory Booker at 11:20 p.m.
The bounty hunter with the worst mullet is back with “Dog’s Most Wanted” (WGN America, 9 p.m.).
Jessica and Christie were nominated for eviction by Jackson; tonight is the veto competition on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Results are revealed from last night’s “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
A new episode of “Animal Babies: First Year on Earth” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) has the critters getting a little older.
On “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.), the top six go to London.
The first day of filming hits a snag on “BH90210” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
The victims on “Hypnotize Me” (CW, 9 p.m.) do some holiday things.
On “Suits” (USA, 9 p.m.), Harvey and Samantha go on a road trip.
A fourth season starts for “The Real Housewives of Dallas” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
On “Songland” (NBC, 9 p.m.), Charlie Puth trolls for new material.
Diana and Charles look to the future on “Younger” (TV Land, 10 p.m.).
On “Queen Sugar” (OWN, 9 p.m.), Charley tries to decide on college.
Derek Hough, Sherri Shepherd, Oliver Hudson, Kal Penn, Ester Dean and Joel McHale play “Hollywood Game Night” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
The 100th anniversary of United Artists, the studio begun by stars Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin, and director D.W. Griffiths, will be celebrated with 66 of its films Wednesdays and Thursdays this month on Turner Classic Movies, starting with its silent features from its founders: Griffiths’ “Broken Blossoms” (8 p.m.), Pickford in “Little Annie Rooney” (9:45 p.m.), Fairbanks in “The Three Musketeers” (11:30 p.m.) and Chaplin in “The Gold Rush” (1:45 a.m.), followed by Buster Keaton’s “The General” (3:30 a.m.) and Gloria Swanson in “Sadie Thompson” (5 a.m.).
The day begins with United Artists works from the 1930s (with sound): “The Private Life of Henry VIII” (7:30 a.m.), “Street Scene” (9:15 a.m.), “The Prisoner of Zenda” (10:45 a.m.), “Dodsworth” (12:30 p.m.), “A Star is Born” (2:15 p.m.), “Of Mice and Men” (4:15 p.m.) and “Scarface” (6:15 p.m.).
Baseball includes Mets at Washington (YouTube, streaming) and Minnesota at Boston (MLB, 7 p.m.).
The U.S. Open (ESPN, noon and 7 p.m.) reaches quarterfinals.
In the WNBA it’s Dallas at Connecticut (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Cara Delevingne, David Muir, Mike Holmes. The View: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rick Ross. The Talk: Gwen Stefani, Brigitte Nielsen (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Zac Efron (rerun). Wendy Williams: Loretta Devine (rerun). The Real: Cedric the Entertainer, Yvette Nicole Brown (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Joe Biden. Jimmy Kimmel: Dr. Phil McGraw, Method Man, Shaed. Jimmy Fallon: Orlando Bloom, Constance Wu, Jack White, Brendan Benson, the Raconteurs. Seth Meyers: Tracee Ellis Ross, Maren Morris, Carter McLean. James Corden: Marc Maron, Jillian Bell, Keane. Carson Daly: Alice Eve, Odetta Hartman, Bert Kreischer (rerun). Trevor Noah: Bill Hader. David Spade: Margaret Cho, Steve Rannazzisi, Kyle Dunnigan.