1) American Film Institute lifetime award, 10 p.m., TNT. The first 48 winners have included lots of Americans and Englishmen, plus ones from Germany, Scotland, Austria-Hungary and the Bahamas … but none from Australia. Now that’s rectified. Nicole Kidman (shown here) did Aussie TV at 16; 40 years later, she has an Oscar (“The Hours”), an Emmy and more.
2) “My Life is Murder” season-openers, 9 and 10 p.m.,, BBC America and www.acorn.tv. Near Kidman’s homeland is New Zealand, a splendid place to film. This series has gorgeous backdrops, great architecture, bright colors and likable people, led by Lucy Lawless as a crimesolver. The mysteries are so-so, but “Murder” remains entertaining.
3) “Great American Recipe,” 9 p.m., PBS. Here are eight American home cooks with far-ranging roots. Their food preferences reflect China, Sicily, Mexico, El Salvador and more. This eight-week competition pushes the feel-good elements way too hard, but remains fairly pleasant to watch.
4) “In the Heat of the Night,” 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. Two of the all-time greatest actors collide, in a smartly contrived story. Sidney Poitier plays a Philadelphia police detective, working a case with a bigoted Southern sheriff (Rod Steiger.).The result won five Oscars, including best picture, actor (Steiger) and script.
5) SPORTS: The fifth game of the best-of-seven basketball finals is tonight … unless the Celtics completed a four-game sweep. Also, U.S. Olympic swimming trials are at 7 p.m. on USA and 8 on NBC and Peacock, switching to diving at 9:15. And Reds-Pirates baseball is 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
— Mike Hughes, TV America