Cable covers political contests as if they’re fights, so it figures that on the night of covering the New Hampshire Primary there are a couple of documentaries on boxers.
On “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), “The Fight” explores the 1938 heavyweight bout between Max Schmeling and America’s Joe Louis.
At the same time, “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes” (HBO, 9 p.m.) follows the story of Muhammad Ali through his interaction with talk show host Dick Cavett.
Speaking of the New Hampshire primaries, there are updates tonight on the cable news networks, technology willing. And real time results also make their way into a special episode of “The Connors” (ABC, 8 p.m.), broadcast live.
Sometimes a network presents a new show just so it could get in business with its producer. In the case of “For Life” (ABC, 10 p.m.), that’s Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the rapper turned TV maker, whose “Power” just ended its successful run on cable. He brings the difficult to believe story about a man serving a life sentence who is nonetheless let out of jail to try cases. Whatever measure of well-meaning it may have, it’s awfully dull. Nicholas Pinnock and Indira Varma star.
In Ava DuVernay’s new series “Cherish the Day” (OWN, 10 p.m.), a couple’s relationship is chronicled over five years, with each episode representing one day. Among the cast of Alano Miller and Xosha Roquemore is Cicely Tyson.
Valentine’s Day is the theme to a number of shows tonight, from “Black-ish” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) to “The Flash” (CW, 8 p.m.).
Last year’s foreign-language winner gets another look in the documentary “Road to ‘Roma’” (Netflix, streaming.
Interactive TV comes to kids’ programming with a choose-your-adventure special “Captain Underpants Epic Choice-O-Rama” (Netflix, streaming).
Sara, Rory and Ava crash a high school reunion on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (CW, 9 p.m.).
On “Schitt’s Creek” (Pop, 9 p.m.), Johnny helps Bob get back in the dating world.
Kate finds strength in an unexpected place on “This is Us” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Reynolds makes an important career decision on “New Amsterdam” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
On “Project Blue Book” (History, 10 p.m), an alien invasion in Kentucky may explain the rise of Mitch McConnell.
The pride parade looms on “Vanderpump Rules” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Kirk Douglas, who died last week at 103, finally gets a two film showcase on Turner Classic Movies’ pre-planned 31 Days of Oscar with “The Bad and the Beautiful” (11 p.m.) and “Lust for Life” (1:15 a.m.). The rest of the day’s roster has continues with “The Grapes of Wrath” (6:15 a.m.), “It’s a Great Feeling” (8:30 a.m.), “Romance on the High Seas” (10 a.m.), “Julie” (noon), “Madame Bovary” (1:45 p.m.), “Indiscretion of an American Wife” (3:45 p.m.), “The Young Lions” (5 p.m.), “Peyton Place” (8 p.m.) and “The Great Escape” (3:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Clippers at Philadelphia (TNT, 7 p.m.) and Boston at Houston (TNT, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Philadelphia at Islanders (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Mississippi State at Mississippi (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), North Carolina State at Syracuse (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Kentucky at Vanderbilt (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Rhode Island at Dayton (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), Michigan State at Illinois (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Oklahoma State at Kansas State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Notre Dame at Virginia (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Utah State at Colorado State (CBS Sports, 9:30 p.m.) and New Mexico at San Diego State (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Constance Wu, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The View: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Bari Weiss. The Talk: Jeff Probst. Ellen DeGeneres: Robin Roberts, Dwayne Wade, Jerry Harris. Kelly Clarkson: Justin Hartley, Abby Elliott. Tamron Hall: Nick & Vanessa Lacey. Wendy Williams: Remy Ma. The Real: Joy Bryant, Ravi Patel.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Jimmy Kimmel: Amy Poehler, David Sedaris, SuperM. Jimmy Fallon: Constance Wu, Backstreet Boys, Skip Marley & H.ER. Seth Meyers: RuPaul, Stacey Abrams, Maria Bamford, Elijah Wood. James Corden: Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Lou Sanders. Lilly Singh: Nico Santos, Sabrina Jalees. Trevor Noah: Wale. David Spade: Ian Edwards, Tim Dillon, Beth Stelling. Conan O’Brien: Jim Carrey.