The boom in homeland security that followed 9/11 had several casualties, one of them justice, especially when it came to encouraging and then rounding up supposed home grown terrorists. It happened in several cities, but because one of the cases that occurred in upstate New York went to trial, filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, who made last year’s chilling “Cheshire Murders,” got access to miles of surveillance footage, showing just how much a shadowy FBI informant entrapped four down on their luck, small time criminals to agree to do terrorist act.
The deal, according to the engrossing “The Newburgh Sting” (HBO, 9 p.m.), involved a promise of $250,000 each — “Change your life money,” according to one of the interviewees. It’s an important, engrossing look at the extent to which the FBI would go to put (fake) bombs in the hands of criminals, in order to arrest them for being bombers (and taking credit in embarrassing press conferences later). The most chilling footage may be in the beginning when the car of the informant is followed by a camera affixed on something hovering above – satellite or drone?
In another documentary tonight, a teenage Dane who dreams of a ballroom dancing career enlists a Russian partner in “Dance for Me” on “POV” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
The new reality series “Way Out West” (truTV, 10 p.m.) follows families with outfitting businesses for fisherman, hikers, campers, trackers and horse riders in mountainous Idaho.
Before Andi reaches her decision regarding her final two, Nick and Josh, the eliminated dudes get to relive their issues on the “Men Tell All” episode of “The Bachelorette” (ABC, 8 p.m.), where the two hour episodes has room on an update on Ashley and J.P. since their marriage (yeah, the names don’t ring a bell with me either). And there’s a look at the upcoming “Bachelor in Paradise” that starts in two weeks.
Not a lot to recount in the life of a royal this young, but here’s “Prince George Turns One!” (E!, 8:30 p.m.), a title that, like the network, uses an exclamation mark. Hope he gets cake all over his face.
Let’s hope any celebration is more reserved than the one on the season one finale on “Ladies of London” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Speaking of royalty, the 13 remaining contestants have to make something with Alaskan king salmon on “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
It kicks off an all Gordon Ramsay night on the network with the return of his “Hotel Hell” (Fox, 9 p.m.), in which he tries to improve individual hotels. The first is a luxury place in Las Cruces, N.M., where the owner fancies herself as Cher.
The people who live “Under the Dome” (CBS, 10 p.m.) are frankly getting sick of living there.
“Seed” (The CW, 9 p.m.) and “Backpack” (The CW, 9:30 p.m.) did poorly in their premieres last week.But they’re both back.
“Whose Line is It Anyway?” (The CW, 8 p.m.) was renewed for another 24 episodes for 2015. So they might find out whose line it is after all.
Hard to find a better double bill than “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (Starz, 5 p.m.) and “The Squid and the Whale” (Starz, 7 p.m.).
It’s a night of films based on Agatha Christie on Turner Classic Movies, with “And Then There Were None” (8 p.m.), “Under the Sun” (10 p.m.), “Murder, She Said” (midnight), “Ten Little Indians” (1:30 a.m.) and “Witness for the Prosecution” (3:30 a.m.).
Baseball includes Texas at Yankees (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
In arena football, it’s Tampa Bay at Spokane (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Dan Aykroyd, Julia Stiles. The View: Kate Hudson, Lavern Cox, Jason Biggs. The Talk: Chris Colfer, Jessica Radloff, Jeff Mahin. Ellen DeGeneres: Lady Gaga (rerun). Wendy Williams: Chloe Melas, Tinashe.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jeff Daniels, Jimmy Webb. Jimmy Fallon: Kate Hudson, Ellar Coltrane, Nico & Vinz. Jimmy Kimmel: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper. Seth Meyers: Zach Braff, Jack Atonoff, Bleachers. Craig Ferguson: Octavia Spencer, Brad Goreski. Carson Daly: Marc Webb, the Colourist (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Bhaskar Sunkara. Jon Stewart: Sue Turton. Stephen Colbert: Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Arsenio Hall: LL Cool J, Jesse Williams, Prentice Powell (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Carl Reiner, Angela Kinsey, Reggie Watts. Chelsea Handler: Paul Sabourin, Greg “Storm” DiCostanzo, Mike Phirman.