MGM HD, 7:35 p.m. ET
This 1976 movie is one of the great Robert Altman’s least-seen, most underappreciated films, but it’s wonderful. Paul Newman plays Buffalo Bill, as an older man putting on a Wild West show recreating and exploiting his legendary past adventures. It’s a study of pre-cinema celebrity stardom, starring one of the biggest movie stars of the prior decade. Co-stars include Joel Grey as the show’s producer, Geraldine Chaplin as Annie Oakley, and others. Altman’s direction is fluid and beautiful, and Newman gives one of his most nuanced performances – which is really saying something.
HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET
This 2019 movie is sly and sinister, which also is a perfect description of the titular performance by Octavia Spencer. She plays Sue Ann, who is asked by underage teens to buy some liquor for her. She not only does that, but offers them a safe basement in which to drink it – so long as they call her “Ma.” It’s only after that that Ma, the movie and the character, turns more evil…
BBC America, 9:00 p.m. ET
This is the fourth episode of this superb nature documentary miniseries, and tonight the spotlight turns to Asia – in the sea as well as on the land.
NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET
RuPaul is the guest host tonight, and Justin Bieber the musical guest. But come on – after this week in politics, the real reasons to watch are 1) “Weekend Update,” 2) the deep bench of SNL repertory-company political impersonators, and 3) frequent guest star Alec Baldwin as President Trump. He has to be here tonight, right?