Best-bets for June 21: honors for young chefs and an old wit

1) “Mark Twain Prize,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. After skipping two years, this comedy prize returns with a gem. Jon Stewart is honored with a cascade of warmth, ribbing and large laughs. Stewart led “The Daily Show” (shown here) for 16 years, winning 10 straight best-variety-show Emmys (which, we’re told, he kept in a cardboard box). We hear from his former correspondents (Steve Carell, Olivia Munn, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms), fellow comics (Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel) and more, including Bruce Springsteen. Read more…

1) “Mark Twain Prize,” 9-10:30 p.m., PBS. After skipping two years, this comedy prize returns with a gem. Jon Stewart is honored with a cascade of warmth, ribbing and large laughs. Stewart led “The Daily Show” (shown here) for 16 years, winning 10 straight best-variety-show Emmys (which, we’re told, he kept in a cardboard box). We hear from his former correspondents (Steve Carell, Olivia Munn, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Ed Helms), fellow comics (Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel) and more, including Bruce Springsteen.

2) “MasterChef Junior” finale, 9 p.m., Fox. At 8 p.m. is a “Road to the Finale” special, showing what’s happened so far. And at 9 is the final face-off between Grayson Price, 11, and Liya Chu, 10; they’re asked to prepare meals that represent themselves. The winner get $100,000, new kitchen appliances and a meal with host Gordon Ramsay; current plans call for both hours to rerun on Thursday.

3) “Motherland: Fort Salem” season-opener, 10 p.m., Freeform. Three young witches entered the military academy, knowing they were taking risks. Raelle’s mother had been killed in the military, as had Tally’s aunts; Scylla’s parents were killed for being draft-dodgers. In the academy, their powers grew; they even saved the world and beat the Camarilla. Their reward was to be accused of killing the vice-president’s daughter; as the third and final season begins, they’re on the run.

4) “Superman & Lois,” 8 p.m., CW. Leading into next week’s season-finale, evil Ally Allston is adding to her immense powers. She’s already done some of that, merging her this-world self and her Bizarro World self. Now she wants to drain Superman’s powers; his wife and sons fight back.

5) “37 Words,” 8-10 p.m. ET, ESPN; concludes next Tuesday. Thursday will mark the 50th anniversary of the day an ediucation amendment – now known as “Title IX” – was signed. The result would gradually nudge females closer to equality in sports. This starts a two-Tuesday, four-hour look at the history.

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