It was “Thriller” that created the phenomenon, but it was Michael Jackson’s previous album, “Off the Wall” that might have been the biggest career breakthrough, bursting from adolescence to adulthood with a captivating sound, on a new label, honed by his new producer Quincy Jones. A fine documentary about the era, that incorporates a lot of previously unseen performance footage and interviews with everybody from Kobe Jackson to Sammy Davis Jr., “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) is one of the best documentaries ever produced about a single album and is directed by Spike Lee.
By all rights, Michael Jackson’s 1993 halftime spectacle ought to be part of “Super Bowl Greatest Halftime Shows” (CBS, 9 p.m.), which includes the performances in recent years by Katy Perry, Missy Elliott, U2, Paul McCartney, Bruno Mars, Beyonce, Prince and the Rolling Stones. Chris O’Donnell narrates.
The first new cartoon on HBO in years comes from the team behind “Togetherness,” Mark and Jay Duplass, executive producing the animated effort of Phil Matures and Mike Luciano, “Animals” (HBO, 11:30 p.m.), collects an impressive array of comic stars to voice their animal characters, who are trying to navigate New York City like the humans around them (often using the same bro language and aims). It’s funnier than you’d expect it to be and the best such animated fare on the network since the very similar in sensibility “The Adventures of Tim.”
“Vice” (HBO, 11 p.m.) returns for its fourth season, with newly enlisted correspondent Kaj Larsen, a former Navy SEAL, looking into Boko Haram’s rise in Nigeria. Also reporter Isobel Yeung reports on gene-editing technology.
It follows a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) with guests Gloria Steinem, Erin Brockovich, Armstrong Williams, P.J. O’Rourke and Alex Wagner.
Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Jamie Barton all participate in the Richard Tucker Opera Gala on “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
He’s not on Fridays on “The Soup” any more, but Joel McHale guest stars on a Valentine’s Day edition on “Dr. Ken” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
Actor Paul Wesley directs an episode of “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
Abbie’s gone missing on a new “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
“Guy and Hunter’s European Vacation” (Food, 10 p.m.) is not a National Lampoon movie, but a series following Guy Fieri and his son where they eat their way through a trip on the continent beginning in Athens.
An underwater monster hits Portland on “Grimm” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ 31 Days of Oscar tonight stays in the 1920s and ’30s with “The Love Parade” (8 p.m.), “The Smiling Lieutenant” (10 p.m.), “It Happened One Night” (11:45 p.m.), “A Free Soul” (1:45 a.m.), “Berkeley Square” (3:30 a.m.) and “Merrily We Live” (5 a.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Columbia at Yale (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.), Harvard at Princeton (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Central Michigan at Akron (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.) and Saint Peter’s at Siena (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
Among women’s games, it’s Quinnipiac at Siena (ESPNU, 5 p.m.).
NBA action has Indiana at Atlanta (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and San Antonio at Dallas (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Leslie Mann. The View: Michael Symon. The Talk: Tim Allen, Eddie Jackson. Ellen DeGeneres: Heidi Klum, Panic at the Disco. Wendy Williams: Dr. Phil McGraw, Alex Guarnaschelli. The Real: Natasha Eubanks. Meredith Vieira: Carmen Electra, Marcus Lemoniz.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Bobby Cannavale, Donny Deutsch, Charles Kelley. Jimmy Kimmel: Shaquille O’Neal, Alison Brie, Banners (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Rebel Wilson, Jack Huston, Nathaniel Ratliff & the Night Sweats. Seth Myers: Leslie Mann, Joshua Jackson, Benjamin Walker, Russell Simins. James Corden: Gwendoline Christie, Brüskere “Jazz” Gray, Coldplay (rerun). Carson Daly: Michelle Beadle, Melanie Martinez, Courtney Schuerman (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Lenny Abrahamsson, Roger Guenveur Smith.