Four months after taking office in 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot twice by a delusional assassin named Charles Guiteau in a D.C. train station. For the next 79 days, the nation was held rapt as teams of doctors and inventors (including Alexander Graham Bell, trying to make the first metal detector to find the bullets) struggled to keep him alive.
The story of the drama, based on Candice Millard’s best seller “Destiny of the Republic, Murder of a President” is the subject of tonight’s “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), which shortened its title to “Murder of a President.” Tony winner Shuler Hensley stars as Garfield in the re-enactments, Kathryn Erbe of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” is his wife Lucretia. Will Janowitz of “The Sopranos” and “”Boardwalk Empire” is the assassin.
The excesses of the week begins with the annual “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2016” (CBS, 8 p.m.), a two hour event hosted by Katharine McPhee and Boomer Esiason.
The new show “Rattled” (TLC, 10 p.m.) follows four couples to parenthood. It is co-produced by, but alas, does not feature Drew Barrymore.
It’s Chinese New Year, of course, on “Fresh Off the Boat” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
They’re running out of supervillian names. On “The Flash” (The CW, 8 p.m.), there is, for example, Tar Pit.
Maya Lin, Frank Gehry and Richard Branson have their pasts examined on “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
Having more fun, possibly, are those playing a sports-themed “Hollywood Game Night” (NBC, 8 p.m.) — Al Michaels, Rich Eisen Apolo Ohno, Tara Lipinski, Nate Burleson and Maurice Jones Dres
Winston and Cece shop for a wedding dress on “New Girl” (Fox, 8 p.m.). Jimmy visits a Korean spa on “Grandfathered” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
Body cams become part of the procedures at “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
The characters on “Pretty Little Liars” (Freeform, 8 p.m.) remain on edge, worried that they’ll all age another five years in a flash.
Is “The Muppets” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) fixed yet?
“Chicago Med” (NBC, 9 p.m.) has been picked up for a second season.
Abby locks the team out of her studio on “Dance Moms” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.). With any luck, she’ll lock out cameramen, too.
“The Expanse” (Syfy, 10 p.m.) reaches its first season finale.
Can men be friends with women? Vanessa doesn’t think so on “Married at First Sight” (A&E, 9 p.m.).
A Hollywood star might be a menace, “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (ABC, 9 p.m.) learns.
Tickle goes to court in Virginia on “Moonshiners” (Discovery, 9 p.m.). First question: Is Tickle your real name?
It’s Halloween on “The Little Couple” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
The title of tonight’s “iZombie” (The CW, 9 p.m.) is “Fifty Shades of Grey Matter.”
Another mass shooting, this time on “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
A heat wave blasts L.A. on “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
The only reason for this singing competition is its title: “Pitch Slapped” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
Are they getting any closer to solving the cold case on “Killing Fields” (Discovery, 10 pm.)?
The weird connections of Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar continues tonight with “The Sting” (8 p.m.), “The Verdict” (10:15 p.m.), “From Here to Eternity” (12:30 a.m.), “The Human Comedy” (2:45 a.m.) and “Blossoms in the Dust” (4:45 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Kentucky at Tennessee (ESPN, 7 p.m.), South Carolina at Georgia (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Georgetown at Butler (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), UNLV at New Mexico (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Indiana at Michigan ((ESPN, 9 p.m.), West Virginia at Iowa State (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Duke at Georgia Tech (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Providence at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.) and Colorado State at San Diego State (ESPN2, 11 p.m.).
In women’s games it’s West Virginia at Texas Tech (Fox Sports 2, 11 p.m.).
In pro basketball it’s Miami at Houston (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Minnesota at Lakers (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
In NHL action, it’s Florida at Washington (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: John Travolta, Kermit the Frog. The View: Miss Piggy, Courtney B. Vance. The Talk: Sean Hayes, Jamie-Lynn Sigler. Ellen DeGeneres: Judge Judy Sheindlin, Jacob Tremblay, Sia. Wendy Williams: Meagan Good, DeVon Franklin, Cesar Millan. The Real: Judge Greg Mathis. Meredith Vieira: J.B. Smoke, Jo Frost.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: David Schwimmer, Joel Ostern, M. Ward. Jimmy Kimmel: George Clooney, Dave Salmoni. Jimmy Fallon: Kevin Hart, Noel Fielding, Joshua Topolsky, Dr. Lonnie Smith (rerun). Seth Meyers: Eva Longoria, Jason Mantzoukas, Sunil Yapa, Glenn Kotche (rerun). James Corden: Josh Radnor, Maggie Grace, Nathan Sykes, Chris Martin. Carson Daly: Judah Friedlander, Heartless Bastards, John Florence (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Tim Robbins, Bryonn Bain. Trevor Noah: Peter Bergen. Larry Wilmore: Lewis Black. Conan O’Brien: Charlie Day, Rob Gronkowski, Daniel Sloss.