Alan Cumming joins "Prodigal Son" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) for a two-episode story arc and appears to have a blast doing so. He portrays the impossibly vain Interpol sleuth Simon Hoxley. He’s known the world over as "The Mind Sleuth." That’s also the title of his best-selling book.
His hair upswept and his gestures theatrical, Simon is full of himself, an act meant to intimidate all of the other mere detectives in the room. It’s fun to see Cumming tearing up the scenery. He was previously cast on the CBS police series "Instinct," based on a book by James Patterson. While the show touted his character as network television’s first openly gay male detective married to another man, Cumming seemed uncharacteristically buttoned-down in the part.
In "Prodigal Son," he plays off his role as the decadent, witty and ultimately frightening host in "Cabaret."
— The documentary "Our Towns" (9 p.m., HBO, TV-14) follows husband-and-wife journalists James and Deborah Fallows on a 100,000-mile trip to see what makes American communities, small cities and towns tick. After writing in and about China for Atlantic magazine for decades, they decided to apply the same approach to their own country.
Their study, conducted between the end of the Great Recession and the beginning of the pandemic, still found many communities animated by a sense of civic engagement.
As the economy has shifted to allow many to work "anywhere," many have moved to richer coastal cities, but many more have remained in their hometowns or have moved to smaller communities that give them the sense of a hometown."
While "Our Towns" has the sense of a broad-brush survey, it fills a void left by television’s consistent view of America. When the Fallows invited local leaders to explain why their towns deserved to be celebrated, they received responses from more than 1,000 communities. A sign both of local pride and a sense of media neglect and condescension.
— In cooperation with ProPublica, "Frontline" (10 p.m., PBS, check local listings) has spent three years investigating far-right militia movements and extremist organizations. The 90-minute documentary "American Insurrection" shows how from the 2017 march in Charlottesville, Virginia, to the violent assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, such groups were emboldened and encouraged by President Trump and took their cues from the White House.
— Anya Taylor-Joy ("Queen’s Gambit") stars in the 2020 romance "Emma" (9 p.m., HBO Signature), the latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel. A game supporting cast includes Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart and Bill Nighy.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A case hits close to home on "The Resident" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa discover ancestors both recent and far removed on "Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr." (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings).
— Four-leaf clovers loom large in the 2021 romance "As Luck Would Have It" (8 p.m., Hallmark, r, TV-G), about an American lass looking for love on the Emerald Isle.
— An abduction story has a dark backdrop on "FBI" (9 p.m., CBS, R, TV-14).
— Martha Stewart presides over a contest in an outdoor kitchen in Maine on "Chopped" (9 p.m., Food, TV-G).
— Kevin visits Randall on "This Is Us" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Cassie and Jenny face new headaches as "Big Sky" (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14) returns from hiatus with a two-hour helping.
— While awaiting trial, a suspect resumes his killing spree on "FBI: Most Wanted" (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— Max reaches out to the HIV-positive community on "New Amsterdam" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
The 1930 musical "King of Jazz" (8 p.m., TCM, TV-G) profiles bandleader Paul Whiteman and many of his sidemen, including the Rhythm Boys featuring Bing Crosby. An early example of the Technicolor film process, "Jazz" also included cartoons animated by Walter Lantz, later known for his "Woody Woodpecker" efforts.
SERIES NOTES
A drive with an ex con ends badly on "NCIS" (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … Dwayne’s false front crumbles on "Young Rock" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Rebel Wilson hosts "Pooch Perfect" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Frost has an image problem on "The Flash" (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) … A gimmicky wedding segment puts Kenan in the mood for love on "Kenan" (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … A new ally on "Supergirl" (9 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Robinson and Celeste on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Denis Leary, Cristin Milioti and Patrick Radden Keefe visit "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (12:35 a.m., NBC).
