It’s telling that most of the clips used to justify the 19th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) to Eddie Murphy come from his four year stint on “Saturday Night Live” that ended 31 years ago. As the accolades pile up from figures like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Trevor Noah, the film clips from his very successful movies that followed are surprisingly flat.
There’s a welcome musical break when Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes joins Sam Moore on “Hold On, I’m Coming” (but sadly, not Murphy’s own weird chart hit, “Party All the Time” ).
Murphy, who refused to do anything funny on the 40th “SNL” special last year — specifically a Bill Cosby bit — attempts to make up for it with a brief acceptance speech in which he impersonates Cosby ranting about the idea that the denounced comic return his own awards. The bit invokes the comic who first called out Cosby in recent years, Hannibal Burrus. Which sort of ties it back to Twain, who was originally from Hannibal, Mo.
A number of strong documentaries tonight is capped by “3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” (HBO, 9 p.m.), which takes a deep look at the trial of the white guy charged with killing an unarmed teenager over loud music outside a gas station in Florida on the day after Thanksgiving, 2012. What you’ll learn — about the polite suburban teens who were supposed thugs, about the person who shot the gun and about the verdict — may surprise you.
The struggles of a 94 woman to find a new home for her 64-year-old daughter with an intellectual disability is the subject of Sophie Sartain’s “Mimi and Dona” tonight on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10:30 p.m., check local listings).
Robert Kenner’s “Merchants of Doubt” (Starz, 8:20 p.m.) looks at the industry of denying climate change, based on the book by Naomi Orestes and Erik M. Conway.
In the concluding half of “Saints and Strangers” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.), I supposed they get around to carving the turkey. Part one repeats at 7 p.m.
A third season has been ordered for the terrific “Fargo” (FX, 10 p.m.), where the gang war continues unabated tonight and more major characters are eliminated.
Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor hang round Los Angeles after the American Music Awards long enough to perform on part one of the finals for “Dancing on the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) where the remaining dancers are Nick Carter, Bindi Irwin, Carlos PenaVega and soldier Alek Skarlatos. And it’s freestyle night.
Having Michael McKean host the new “Food: Fact or Fiction” (Cooking, 10:30 p.m.) will only make the facts he turns up seem more suspect.
Everyone apparently calmed down from the Paris attacks enough to allow last week’s episode of “Supergirl” (CBS, 8 p.m.) which concerned a series of bombings, to be shown now, a week late.
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW, 8 p.m.) consults with Dr. Phil about her obsession.
Like many network dramas, “Blindspot” (NBC, 10 p.m.) ramps up the action with a midseason cliffhanger.
A cruise ship entertainer is murdered on “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
The Top 11 sing on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
“Jane the Virgin” (The CW, 9 p.m.) interviews babysitters.
“Toy Story 2” (ABC Family, 6:30 p.m.) and “Finding Nemo” (ABC Family, 8:30 p.m.) is a pretty good animation double feature for a Monday.
Amid playing all those Christmas movies since Halloween, Hallmark has a party too with “Home & Family Primetime Holiday Special” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), staring the daytime hosts.
The 25th anniversary of “Home Alone” (AMC, 7 and 9 p.m.) leads to a double play.
Shirley MacLaine is star on Turner Classic Movies tonight with “Being There” (8 p.m.), “Some Came Running” (10:30 p.m.), “What a Way to Go!” (1 a.m.), “The Sheepman” (3 a.m.) and “The Yellow Rolls-Royce” (4:45 a.m.).
Monday Night Football has Buffalo at New England (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes St. John’s vs. Vanderbilt (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.), Indiana vs. Wake Forest (ESPN2, 5 p.m.), Ohio vs. FSU (CBS Sports, 6:30 p.m.), NJIT at Providence (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m.), LSU vs. Marquette (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Kansas State vs. Missouri (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Texas-Arlington at Memphis (ESPNews, 8:30 p.m.), Kansas at Chaminade (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Tulsa vs. USC (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Northwestern vs North Carolina (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.) and UNLV vs. UCLA (ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Pharrell Williams, Jena Malone. The View: Ron Davis, Lucia McBath, Kimberly Schlapman, Stacy London. The Talk: Rachael Ray, Ellen K, Poppy Montgomery. Ellen DeGeneres: Sylvester Stallone. Wendy Williams: Bevy Smith, Robert Verdi, Katrina Szish. The Real: John O’Hurley, Tahj Mowry. Meredith Vieira: Joy Behar.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Sylvester Stallone, Ted Koppel, My Morning Jacket. Jimmy Kimmel: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Bodega, J.J. Abrams. Jimmy Fallon: Kelly Ripa, Adele. Seth Meyers: Sarah Palin, David Tennant, Holly Holm, cast of “Spring Awakening,” Brian Chase. James Corden: Rob Lowe, David Spade, Shawn Mendes. Carson Daly: Meagan Good, Lagwagon, Joy-Ann Reid (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Sasha Abramsky, Dr. Kathryn J. Edin. Trevor Noah: Christine and the Queens (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Matt LeBlanc, Jessica St. Clair, Hot Chip (rerun).