You don’t really do a biography of Mel Brooks; you turn on the camera and try to hang on. At 86, he’s still full of stories and energy as he tells of his upbringing (and makes it up at one point) and goes point by point into his career highlights, from “Your Show of Shows” to a string of successful movies that began with “The Producers,” the musical version of which decades later fulfilled a childhod dream. “Mel Brooks: Make a Noise” makes its debut tonight on “American Masters” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
The French street artist JR, whose work has popped up in D.C., Greenpoint, and most recently Times Square, is profiled in a new documentary “Inside Out: the People’s Art Project” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
One of the great series in recent years comes to an end as the radiant Laura Linney and the terrific ensemble cast of “The Big C” put the series — and Cathy — to rest after four seasons and the brief four episode epitaph they’ve been presenting as “The Big C: The Hereafter” (Showtime, 10 p.m.). Last week’s episode was a knockout and this week’s finale ought to be even better.
Also reaching its finale tonight is the very strong, lyrical series “Rectify” (Sundance, 10 p.m.), which will be back for another season, thank goodness.
“The Goodwin Games” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.) is a new comedy with a dim premise: Siblings have to compete in physical contests in order to qualify for the family fortune. Becki Newton, T.J. Miller and Scott Foley star in the sitcom, held in such low esteem by its network to get a May 20 premiere. Its regular time will be Thursdays.
Ditto “Motive” (ABC, 10 p.m.) a new police procedural picked up from Canadian TV where the very pretty people on homicide know the victim and the suspect; all they have to figure out is why. It’s from Daniel Cerone, an executive producer on “Dexter” and “the Mentalist.” It’s set in Vancouver and the first victim is a school teacher played by Joey McIntyre. Kristin Lehman and Louis Ferreira star.
The four finalists in the 16th season finale of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) aren’t of course, actual stars at all. Still, the Disney star known as Zendaya will compete with NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones, “American Idol” country castoff Kellie Pickler and Olympic gymnast Alexandra Raisman for the mirror ball trophy, given Tuesday after tonight’s votes are tallied.
Reaching its first season finale is “Bates Motel” (A&E, 10 p.m.), the imaginative and slightly screwy prequel to “Psycho” set in the modern time. They’ll look for a big cliffhanger, but probably no showers as they set up next season’s drama.
For its fourth season finale “Mike & Molly” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.) goes to the Renaissance Faire. “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 10 p.m.0 also reaches its season finale, its third.
It’s been hanging on way past its time, as a sitcom to plug in late in the seasons when other comedies fail. But the luck for “Rules of Engagement” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) has reached its. After six seasons and exactly 100 episodes (enough now to sell to syndication), the David Spade comedy will air its last episode tonight; of course, it’s been thought canceled before only to return.
The means of communication to young women targeted in Tionna Smalls’ new show is indicated by its title: “Girl, Get Your Mind Right” (MTV, 6 p.m.).
The success of the James Bond movies a half century ago led to an equally impressive number of spoofs and parodies. Six of them replay tonight on Turner Classic Movies: James Coburn as “Our Man Flint” (8 p.m.), Dean Martin in “The Silencers” (10 p.m.) and “Murderers’ Row” (11:45 p.m.), the British import “Carry on Spying” (1:45 a.m.) and Vincent Price in both “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine” (3:30 a.m.) and its sequel “Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs” (5:15 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Colin Farrell, Elisabeth Moss, Candice Glover. The View: Michael Caine, Brooke Shields. The Talk: Shemar Moore, Anne Heche, Carnie Wilson. Ellen DeGeneres: Ed Helms.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Will Smith, the National. Jay Leno: Bradley Cooper, Heidi Klum, the Dream and Kelly Rowland. Jimmy Kimmel: Ed Helms, Jewel. Jimmy Fallon: Colin Farrell, Jaden Smith, Ahmir. Craig Ferguson: Heather Graham, David Benioff. Carson Daly: Matthew Cooke, Johnny Tergo, Grape St. Tavis Smiley: Olympia Snowe. Jon Stewart: Ellen Page. Stephen Colbert: David Sassoon. Conan O’Brien: Sarah Chalke, the Black Angels. Chelsea Handler: Natalie Maines, Fortune Feimster, April Richardson, Julian McCullough.