“Nature” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) moves into wacky territory by trying to fool animals by placing life-like robots among them. If they wanted up close observation, they could have just installed a motion-detecting camera. But here they’re trying something more strange by placing remote controlled monkeys and birds among real ones. Some of them, of course, see right through the ruse. Weird as it is, they are stretching “Spy in the Wild” into a five part miniseries.
Later, flashier photography looks at “Aurora: Fire int he Sky” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
Though I can’t think of him without thinking of Cowboy Curtis on “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” Laurence Fishburne stars as Nelson Mandela in the six-hour three-part miniseries “Madiba” (BET, 9 p.m.).
Anika Noni Rose captures a lead role in the new series “The Quad” (BET, ), as new president of a historically black university; Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Jasmine Guy also are featured.
Fresh from Miss Universe, Steve Harvey hosts another “Showtime at the Apollo” (Fox, 8 p.m.) with appearances from Chaka Khan, T.I., Mike Epps and a raft of hopefuls.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins the cast of “Vikings” (History, 9 p.m.) just as it reaches its fourth season finale.
The ER is quarantined after a viral outbreak on “Code Black” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
A female vigilante wreaks havoc on “Arrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
The trio plays a charity event on “Star” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
A fake dating profile is meant to lure two fugitives on “Hunted” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
The crew on “Criminal Minds” (CBS, 9 p.m.) puzzle over a hieroglyph.
“The Magicians” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) look for a new weapon to fight the Beast. Later on the same network, “The Expanse” (Syfy, 10 p.m.) returns for a second season.
“The 100” (The CW, 9 p.m.) returns for its unlikely fourth season. About 100 people watch this show.
Turner Classic Movies decided to run its annual 31 Days of Oscar event alphabetically. It begins, then, with “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” (6 a.m.), “Adam’s Rib” (8 a.m.), “The Adventures of Mark Twain” (10 a.m.), “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (12:15 p.m.), “After the Thin Man” (2 p.m.), “Agatha” (4 p.m.), “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (6 p.m.), “All About Eve” (8 p.m.), “An American in Paris” (10:30 p.m.), “Annie Hall” (12:30 a.m.), “Around the World in 80 Days” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Asphalt Jungle” (5:30 a.m.).
NBA action it’s Minnesota at Cleveland (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Chicago at Oklahoma City (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Boston at Washington (NBC Sports, 8 p.m) and Colorado at Los Angeles (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops today include Syracuse at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Richmond at VCU (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), UCF at Houston (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Villanova at Providence (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Marquette at St. John’s (Fox Sports 2, 7 p.m.), TCU at Kansas State (ESPNews, 7:30 p.m.), Cincinnati at Tulsa (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Baylor at Kansas (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Texas Tech at Texas (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Seton Hall at Xavier (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), East Carolina at SMU (ESPNews, 9:30 p.m.), New Mexico at UNLV (CBS Sports, 11 p.m.) and Southern California at Washington (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
Women’s games include Fordham at George Washington (NBC Sports, noon).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Michelle Williams, Carla Gugino, Katie Brown, Busy Philipps. The View: Michael Eric Dyson, Johnny Galecki. The Talk: James Brolin, Zuri Hall, Hilary Duff. Harry Connick: Ali Larter, Cody Garbrandt, Asa Butterfield. Ellen DeGeneres: Wanda Sykes. Wendy Williams: Keke Palmer, cast of Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations.” The Real: Glamour, Kandi Burruss.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Ricky Gervais, Christina Ricci, Jain. Jimmy Kimmel: Rob Lowe, Dave Salmoni, Tom Chaplin. Jimmy Fallon: Keanu Reeves, Judd Apatow, the Lumineers. Seth Meyers: Dakota Johnson, Willie Geist, Paper Route, Kenny Aronoff. James Corden: Aaron Paul, Jenny Slate, Jermaine Fowler. Carson Daly: Kylie Bunbury, !!!, Ismo Leikola (rerun). Trevor Noah: David Miliband. Conan O’Brien: Jamie Dornan, Blake Anderson, Orny Adams.