Although he was once the most well-known name on the planet, Ken Burns’ fascinating new four-night documentary “Muhammad Ali” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) is full of deeper information on the world champion who brought his influence on politics and religion as one of 20th century’s biggest personality. It begins tonight with his early years in Louisville as Cassius Clay, when early skills brought him to win the 1960 Olympics, building up to the 1964 battle with Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion.
Cedric the Entertainer hosts The 73rd Emmy Awards (CBS, 8 p.m.) before a limited audience from L.A. Live’s event deck, the first big live awards show since the pandemic. “The Crown” and “The Mandalorian” lead nominations with 24 each. Later, Cedric also appears with Nikki Glaser and London Hughes on the panel on “To Tell the Truth” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Look for the stars of “Scenes from a Marriage” (HBO, 9 p.m.) to be among Emmy nominees next year, even though it’s star Jessica Chastain’s less prominent starring role this weekend (behind her “Eyes of Tammy Faye”).
From the people who brought you the documentary series on Watergate “Slow Burn” is the new “Fiasco” (Epix, 10 p.m.), which looks at the details of the Iran-Contra affair, based on the podcast of the same name.
Sunday Night Football has Kansas City at Baltimore (NBC, 8:20 p.m.). Earlier games include San Francisco at Philadelphia (Fox, 1 p.m.), Las Vegas at Pittsburgh (CBS, 1 p.m.) and Dallas at Chargers (CBS, 4:25 p.m.).
“The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth” (Showtime, 8 p.m.) resumes, with an interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who survived a recall try this week by a landslide.