Like a lot of new TV stars, Whitney Thore was found on the internet, where she refused to let her sudden weight gain because of a medical problem stop her exuberant pursuit to dance. Its popularity quite naturally led to a series, “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” (TLC, 10 p.m.), which follows her life going forward.
“People are very either inspired by the fact that I’m dancing or they’re very put off,” Thore told reporters at the TV Critics Association winter press tour last week in Pasadena. ” One of my favorite comments that I see on YouTube a lot is people writing, ‘Why does she think she can dance like that? She needs to lose some weight. She should exercise,’ which is really hilarious and counterintuitive, right, because, duh, that’s what I’m doing.”
The history of the KKK in North Carolina on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) notes the rise, fall and rise again of the brutal racist organization that rose again during desegregation battles of the 1960s. There seems to be an awful lot of justifying of their organization (they were afraid of losing jobs) and ultimately you wonder why they focus so much on Grand Dragon Bob Jones.
A look at Vladimir Putin’s extraordinarily long career is the subject of a new “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Fresh on the heels of another fine job co-hosting the Golden Globes, Amy Poehler and the talented troupe of “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8 p.m.) start their final season with a pair of episodes and an unusual shift in the action two years ahead.
Another great comedy in its final season, “Kroll Show” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) begins its dense stories with a story about Bobby Bottleservice.
“Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.) looks into gender equality in school sports with an episode titled “What is Title IX and Why Do You Care?”
There’s an update for the couples who met and married for a reality show and green card in “Married at First Sight: The First Year” (FYI, 9 p.m.).
The new reality show “Mikie Saves the Date” (FYI, 10 p.m.) follows the activities of wedding planner Mikie Russo.
A second season starts for “Restaurant Startup” (CNBC, 10 p.m.), pitting hopeful eatery operators against one another, tonight in San Francisco.
When you’re undertakers by day and wrestlers by night, you’ve got to expect the reality show producers to knock on your door eventually. They do for the Lathams on “Wrestling with Death” (WGN, 10 p.m.), from the producers of “Pawn Stars.”
A new season begins for “FaceOff” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) featuring winners of past season mentoring contestants.
There’s a new season of the “Genealogy Roadshow” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) set in New Orleans.
And time to check in on “Kate Plus Eight” (TLC, 9 p.m.), with the kids all older, a family trip to New England planned, and mom just as besieged as she is on “Celebrity Apprentice.”
“Marvel’s Agent Carter” (ABC, 9 p.m.) moves into its regular time slot following last week’s premiere.
“Shark Tank” (ABC, 8 p.m.) swims into an empty time slot.
Can children whip meringue? They try on “MasterChef Junior” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
In men’s college hoops, it’s Michigan at Ohio State (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma State at Kansas (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Arkansas at Tennessee (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Butler at Seton Hall (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Missouri at Kentucky (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Miami at Duke (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Alabama at South Carolina (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Georgetown at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Georgetown at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.) and UNLV at Boise State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.).
The 15-film Tuesday night spotlight on Robert Redford on Turner Classic Movies this month continues with “This Property is Condemned” (8 p.m.), “Barefoot in the Park” (10 p.m.), and “Inside Daisy Clover” (midnight).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Chris Hemsworth, Ella Henderson, Dr. Joel Fuhrman. The View: Josh Gad, Ioan Gruffudd, Evan, Jodi Applegate & Naya Rivera. The Talk: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Common, Louis Aguirre, Fabio Viviani. Ellen DeGeneres: Julianna Margulies, Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson. Wendy Williams: Patricia Heaton, Terrell Owens, Jamie Anderson. Meredith Vieira: Famke Jannsen. Queen Latifah: Christopher Meloni, Bryce Dallas Howard (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Anderson Cooper, Shovels & Rope. Jimmy Fallon: Chris Hemsworth, Sienna Miller, Joey Bada$$. Jimmy Kimmel: Jessica Chastain, Patricia Arquette, Childish Gambino. Seth Meyers: Michael Strahan, Olivia Munn, Mark & Jay Duplass. Late Late Show: Seth Green, Melissa Fumero, Linda Perry, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood & Aisha Tyler. Carson Daly: Jack O’Connell, Coves, Andrew Orvedahl (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Pierre Labossiere, Marion Cotillard. Jon Stewart: Marco Rubio. Conan O’Brien: Matt LeBlanc, Felicity Jones, Mariachi El Bronx.