Two documentaries meant to chronicle the American serviceman before Veteran’s Day get to their point through unusual means.
“The Last Patrol” (HBO, 9 p.m.) chronicles a trip filmmaker Sebastian Junger always meant to make with his friend, the war correspondent Tim Hetherington — walking the Amtrak lines (quite illegally) all up the East Coast, to find the real America. Hetherington was killed covering the Libyan civil war in 2011, so Junger takes up the hike with the photographer who was with the correspondent at the time of his death as well as two combat vets they’d known from making the film “Restrepo.”
The journey from D.C. to Baltimore and Philly and over toward Pittsburgh gives them time to talk about their experiences and views on life and lets them heal a bit as they take their preliminary pulse of the nation. Along the way it does one of the better jobs reflecting the burdens of the modern soldier and the malaise in the country they served.
The other documentary, “Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) follows the progress of the 2014 United States Paralympic sled hockey team – who play the game on bladed sleds instead of skates. Training for the Winter Games, the team include four former soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s America’s Choice night on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.), where Tommy Chong seems to be the next person to be logically voted off, considering his average scores.
Is it necessary for “Gotham” (Fox, 8 p.m.) to make up new villains? The Mask makes its debut tonight.
The Top 20 start performing live on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), but there’s time for Maroon 5 to perform as well.
“Jane the Virgin” (The CW 9 p.m.) moves in with Michael.
In case you wanted to know what happened to the brash blonde and her bratty sons here’s “Growing Up Gotti: 10 Years Later” (A&E, 9 p.m.).
Alan Alda returns on a new episode of “The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.) set in Moscow.
An episode of “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.) imagines a time before Castle and Beckett had met.
The male stars of silent films are saluted tonight on Turner Classic Movies with Rudolph Valentino in “The Sheik” (8 p.m.), Douglas Fairbanks on “The Thief of Bagdad” (9:30 p.m.), John Gilbert in “The Big Parade” (12:15 a.m.), Ramon Novarro in “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ” (3 a.m.) and Lon Cheney in “He Who Gets Slapped” (5:30 a.m.).
Monday Night Football has Carolina at Philadelphia (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.).
In basketball, it’s Atlanta at New York (NBA, 7:30 p.m.) and San Antonio at Clippers (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ewan McGregor, Ioan Gruffudd. The View: Sting, cast of “The Last Ship,” Stana Katic, Tai Beauchamp, Gretchen Wilson. The Talk: Octavia Spencer, Todd Chrisley, Amanda de Cadenet, Tory Johnson. Ellen DeGeneres: Christoph Waltz, Demi Lovato. Wendy Williams: Nina Parker, Victoria, Carmine, Frank & John Gotti. Meredith Vieira: Valerie Bertinelli. Queen Latifah: Bob Saget, Harry Lennix, Eric Greenspan.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Katie Holmes, Alex Zanardi, Jessica Hernandez. Jimmy Fallon: Jeff Daniels, Mackenzie Foy, the New Basement Tapes. Jimmy Kimmel: Keira Knightley, Nate Parker, Spandau Ballet. Seth Meyers: John Lithgow, Ben Feldman, Jenny Lewis. Craig Ferguson: Eric Idle, David Tennant, Permalee. Carson Daly: Lisa Ling, Self, Nick Youssef. Tavis Smiley: Nate Parker, Dr. Valerie Purdue-Vaughns. Jon Stewart: Bruce Springsteen and Frank Caruso. Stephen Colbert: Andy Cohen. Conan O’Brien: Edward Norton, Octavia Spencer, Olivia Jean.