Ken Burns’ epic history “The American Revolution” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) comes as the 250th anniversary of the nation approaches and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding has gone kaput. It’s as broad and interesting as you can expect, including far more context from the people who were already here, in tribes, as well as the formation of a united front among a very diverse 13 colonies to defeat the British.
There are voices you will recognize reading tracts and quotes, including Tom Hanks, Adam Arkin, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L. Jackson, Claire Danes, Ethan Hawke, Maya Hawkes, Kenneth Branagh, Merly Streep, Live Schreiber, Mandy Patinkin, Damian Lewis, Laura Linney and Edward Norton, among others.
There’s more reliance on paintings to tell the sweeping story, but also for the first time, re-enactments with unusual approaches (such as overhead troop movements). Tonight’s initial episode spans from May 1754 to May 1775 and includes the Seven Years’ War that led up to the first shots at Concord. The 12-hour documentary, chock with a new set of historians to help tell the tale, will run for six consecutive nights this week.
A second season begins for Taylor Sheridan’s modern-day Western “Landman” (Paramount+, streaming) with Sam Elliott joining the cast of Demi Moore, Billy Bob Thornton and Andy Garcia.
Sunday Night Football has Detroit at Philadelphia (NBC, 8:15 p.m.). Earlier games include Washington vs. Miami (CBS, 9:30 p.m.) from Madrid, Green Bay at Giants (Fox, 1 p.m.), Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (CBS, 1 p.m.) and Baltimore at Cleveland (CBS, 4:25 p.m.).
The documentary “Prime Minister” (CNN, 9 p.m.) follows the rise of former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO, 11:10 p.m.) ends its 12th season with probably something good.
There’s a shakeup at Ron’s work on “The Chair Company” (HBO, 10:05 p.m.).
“Tracker” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) looks for four missing teenage hikers.
Tallulah gets anxious about online hate on “I Love LA” (HBO, 10:40 p.m.).
“Tidings for the Season” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) is a made for TV holiday romance about a newscaster who meets the mother of a young fan. B.J. Britt and Tamera Mowry-Housley star.
“Montana Mavericks” (CW, 8 p.m.) is the first of a half dozen original movies derived from Harlequin novels, this one about an author who inherits her family’s ranch, where she meets a cowboy vet. Katherine McNamara and Dennis Andres star.
Bart runs against Mayor Quimby’s son for student council president on “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) remembers back when the restaurant first opened.
Shlub has a gambling problem on “Krapopolis” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
“Universal Basic Guys” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) test out an autonomous car.
Stacey unveils her line of gummies on “The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
“BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) is a dispatch from the network’s fan convention in Las Vegas.
An apprentice is trained on “Snakes in the City” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.).
“Yellowstone Wardens” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.) battle a string of trespassing incidents.
Helen’s motives are questioned on “Talamasca: The Secret Order” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
“Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers, Part 2” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) concludes the movie that started Saturday. Part 1 reruns at 6 and 10.
An accountant for a Christmas lodge has to scramble to make the mortgage — and romance! — in the made-for-TV “Saving the Christmas Ranch” (UPtv, 7 p.m.).
“Aerial Mexico” (Smithsonian, 8 p.m.) highlights the western part of the country.
Edible artifacts is the assignment on “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” (Food, 9 p.m.).
“Sweet Empire: Winter Wars” (Food, 9 p.m.) has to make sweets that evoke vintage toys.
With the house sold and the family broken up, we can only hope it’s also the end of the show “Sister Wives” (TLC, 10 p.m.), though it probably isn’t.
“60 Minutes” (CBS, 7:30 p.m.) examines Trump’s pardon of a crypto kingpin found guilty of money laundering.
It’s Jeff Bridges night on Turner Classic Movies with “The Big Lebowski” (8 p.m.) and “The Fabulous Baker Boys” (10:15 p.m.). The silent feature at midnight is “The Cheat” (12:15 a.m.), followed by the imports “The Life of Oharu” (2 a.m.) and “Lola” (4:30 a.m.).
Hockey includes Nashville vs. Pittsburgh (NHL, 9 a.m.) from Sweden, and Detroit at Rangers (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Notre Dame at Ohio State (Fox Sports 1, 12:30 p.m.), Houston vs. Auburn (ESPN, 3 p.m.) and UNLV at Memphis (ESPN, 5 p.m.) and Miami vs. Florida (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.).
Women’s games include TCU at North Carolina (ESPN, 1 p.m.).
Motor sports include the Valencia Grand Prix (Fox Sports 1, 8 a.m.) and the NHRA Finals (Fox Sports 1, 5 a.m.).
Soccer includes Ireland at Hungary (Fox Sports 1, 9 a.m.), Armenia at Portugal (Fox Sports 2, 9 a.m.) and Norway at Italy (Fox Sports 1, 2:45 p.m.).
Canadian football has Montreal at Saskatchewan (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.) in the Grey Cup.
The ISU Speed Skating World Cup (NBC, 2 p.m.) precedes the free dance and women’s free skate at Skate America (NBC, 3 p.m.).
There is also the U.S. Olympic curling trials (USA, 2:30 p.m., 5:30 and 7 p.m.).
Men’s college soccer has Princeton vs. Cornell (ESPNU, 11 a.m.) and Virginia vs. SMU (ESPNU, 1 p.m.).
Women’s college volleyball includes SMU at Stanford (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Filmmaker Ken Burns, Rep. Thomas Massie, Sen. Chris Murphy, Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett. CBS: Sens. Bill Cassidy and Jeanne Shaheen, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Reps. Don Bacon and Tom Suozzi. NBC: Sens. Tim Kaine and John Barrasso, Rep. Ro Khanna. CNN: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Becca Balint, Mehmet Oz, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. Fox News: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, FBI Director Kash Patel, Sen. Katie Britt, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Article III project president Mike Davis.