It was Helen Mirren who played an elder Catherine the Great in an HBO series, but in the brash new series “The Great” (Hulu, streaming) Elle Fanning plays a fresh faced Catherine at the beginning of her reign, bedeviled by her hilariously brutish new Russian husband Peter III (Nicolas Hoult). Tony McNamara, who got an Oscar nomination for writing “The Favourite,” which had a similar vibe, exploding the stuffiness of the royal age, serves up more great, saucy entertainment.
The new four-part documentary series “The Last Narc” (Amazon, streaming) tells the story of Kiki Camarena, a DEA agent kidnapped and killed by a Mexican cartel in 1985 (a case previously covered in Netflix’ series “Narcos: Mexico”).
The new British-Spanish series “White Lines” (Netflix, streaming) stars Laura Haddock, who devotes herself to looking for a lost brother in Ibiza. It’s from Alex Pina, who previously created the crime drama “Money Heist.”
The “Dirty John” limited series with Connie Britton and Eric Bana gets a sequel, and while it doesn’t start tonight, “Dirty John First Look” (USA, 8 p.m.) will give a glimpse to the series’ second true story, this one starring Amanda Peet and Christian Slater as Betty and Dan Broderick, whose messy divorce was among the messiest. While the first season originated on Bravo (and is currently streaming on Netflix) the second is on a different network, USA.
Networks rely on homemade creativity for the special “The Greatest #StayAtHome Videos” (CBS, 8 p.m.), hosted by Cedric the Entertainer.
But the grim work of first responders in the Bronx is featured on “Bravery and Hope: 7 Days on the Front Line” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
They couldn’t quite finish the production of the season finale of “The Blacklist” (NBC, 8 p.m.) before the pandemic shutdown began, so they fill in the gaps through animation, which ought to be interesting.
The legacy of Prince George’s County, Md., which has produced 25 NBA stars this century, is told in the new documentary “Basketball County: In the Water” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Van Jones and Don Lemon co-host a second episode of “The Color of Covid” (CNN, 10 p.m.).
On the new “It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer” (Disney +, streaming) the voice of Goofy and Pluto meets real life (non-talking) dogs across the country.
“Fury Files” (Disney +, streaming) digs deeper into Marvel comics mythology.
“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” (Netflix, streaming) returns for its fifth and final season.
Baritone Paulo Szot and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform “Leonard Bernstein’s Mass” on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) from the Ravinia Festival.
“Masters of Illusion” (CW, 8 p.m.) begins a new season, hosted by Dean Cain. Similarly, Justin Wilman returns for the third season of the street level “Magic for Humans” (Netflix, streaming).
Global warming is a problem for “Bering Sea Gold” (Discovery, 8 p.m.).
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1, 8 p.m.) goes Vegas. Then a pop group forms on “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” (VH1, 9:30 p.m.).
Aid to baby’s sleep is pitched in the season finale of “Shark Tank” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
On “Betty” (HBO, 11 p.m.) Janay has a birthday.
Turner Classic Movies has films about families in peril with “Ransom!” (8 p.m.), “Cape Fear” (10 p.m.) and “The Night Holds Terror” (midnight). Later comes a pair of 1980s horror movies from Stuart Gordon, “From Beyond” (2 a.m.) and “Dolls” (3:30 a.m.).
During the day TCM salutes James Mason, born this day in 1909 with “Hotel Reserve” (6 a.m.), “Julius Caesar” (7:30 a.m.), “Lolita” (9:45 a.m.), “Odd Man Out” (12:30 p.m.), “A Star is Born” (2:30 p.m.) and “North by Northwest” (5:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Glenn Close, Chase Stokes, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-More. The View: Chris Christie, Tracy Morgan. The Talk: Candace Cameron Bure, Jo Frost. Ellen DeGeneres: Ken Jeong, David Blaine. Kelly Clarkson: Matt LeBlanc, Bellamy Young (rerun). Tamron Hall: Kevin O’Leary, Alfonso Ribeiro. Wendy Williams: Erika Jayne. The Real: Christina Milian.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Pete Burttigieg, HAIM (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Dwayne Johnson, Daveed Diggs, the Head and the Heart. Seth Meyers: Kristen Bell, Desus & Mero, Little Big Town, Chris Coleman (rerun). Lilly Singh: Tyra Banks (rerun).