The great film director Robert Altman, who created a style and a number of greatly entertaining films, is the subject of a new documentary by Ron Mann, “Altman” (Epix, 8 p.m.), largely derived from older interviews before the director’s death in 2006. Though it’s not accompanied by his greatest films, from “Nashville” to “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” and “MASH,” it is followed by a couple of pretty good ones, “The Long Goodbye” (Epix, 9:45 p.m.) with Elliott Gould, and “Popeye” (Epix, 11:45 p.m.), with Robin Williams.
There are fashion designer competitions and there are reality show contests for tattoos and special effects makeup. So it figures that there should be one for body painting. Thus: “Skin Wars” (GSN, 9 p.m.), spicing up the former Game Show Network by using the full body as canvas. Rebecca Romijn hosts; judges include RuPaul, Craig Tracy and Robin Barcus Slonina. The winner gets $100,000, paint and a gig. Each week’s loser has to watch as their creations are washed off the skin.
Another new show tonight recycles “Top Chef” contestants just as you would use leftovers in the kitchen. The premiere of “Top Chef Duels” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) pits Richard Blais against Marcel Vigneron in making burgers and dessert. Curtis Stone is the host. The judges are Wolfgang Puck, Gail Simmons and Hugh Acheson.
Public television’s experiment with lurid, misleading Discovery-style titles ends with the finales of the series “Sex in the Wild” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), about mating habits of whales and dolphins tonight; and “My Wild Affair” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), which is actually about bonds between humans and animals. Tonight: A man and a harbor seal.
New approaches to the cut the lady in half trick are presented on the British import “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (The CW, 8 p.m.). First of all, does it always have to be a lady?
The Top 10 are paired with “all-stars” of previous seasons on a live edition of “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Rachel McAdams looks into her family roots on “Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Molly has been acting strangely on “Extant” (CBS, 10 p.m.) and it’s not just those cravings.
Queen Latifah guest stars on “Hot in Cleveland” (TV Land, 10 p.m.), as Bill Bellamy’s aunt.
Paul Muni, the star of the day on Turner Classic Movies, is featured in 13 movies, mostly from the 1930s: “The World Changes” (6 a.m.), “Hi, Nellie!” (7:45 a.m.), “Bordertown” (9 a.m.), “The Good Earth” (9 a.m.), “Juarez” (1:30 p.m.), “Angel on My Shoulder” (4 p.m.), “The Last Angry Man” (6 p.m.), “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” (8 p.m.), “Scarface” (9:45 p.m.), “Black Fury” (11:30 p.m.), “Dr. Socrates” (1:15 a.m.), “The Story of Louis Pasteur” (2:30 p.m.) and “The Life of Emile Zola” (4 a.m.).
Baseball tonight has Boston at St. Louis (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Katie Holmes, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Rebecca Romijn. The View: Tyra Banks, T.I., Sunny Hostin, S.E. Cupp. The Talk: Jaime Pressly, Alex Isaly, Marie Osmond. Ellen DeGeneres: Kirstie Alley, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Zane Beadles, the Cream Pies, Loni Love (rerun). Wendy Williams: Jon Gosselin (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Martha Stewart, Bill Murray, Lady Gaga (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Megan Fox, Nick Cannon, Wiz Khalifa. Jimmy Kimmel: Chloe Grace Moretz, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Seth Meyers: Clive Owen, Sarah Paulson, Chase Rice. Craig Ferguson: Kelsey Grammer, Sloane Crosley. Carson Daly: Roy Choi, the Growlers, Sylvan Esso (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Mel Brooks (rerun). Jon Stewart: The Wu-Tang Clan. Stephen Colbert: Michael Fassbender. Arsenio Hall: Rick Ross, cast of “Total Divas,” Kanye West, Big Sean (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Lizzy Caplan, Sam Morril. Chelsea Handler: Ethan Hawke, Ron Funches, Sarah Colonna, Ross Mathews.