“Love Is …” (10 p.m., OWN, TV-14) has nothing to do with that corny little single-panel comic strip. It’s a multilayered tale of romance set in the 1990s, but narrated from the point of view of the present day. It’s about two powerful TV producers and made by those same people, setting a tall order for its performers.
Michelle Weaver portrays young Nuri (circa ‘97), a beautiful woman with a variety of suitors, from smooth talkers to church-supper companions. A show dedicated to portraying the act of falling in love and sustaining romance, it follows Nuri and her various lovers while also following those men and their other relationships.
Into her life arrives Yasir (Will Catlett), who changes everything. Wendy Davis and Clarke Peters star as the present-day Nuri and Yasir, talking about their 20-year relationship from an older and wiser perspective.
“Love Is …” also follows their professional lives as black filmmakers and producers in the late 1990s, and shows how depictions of black life (and love) have changed. Created by producers Mara Brock Akil (“Girlfriends,” “Being Mary Jane” and “The Game”) and Salim Akil (“Black Lightning”), who are the real people behind Nuri and Yasir.
— Accused of killing her young son (her other son was also murdered in the same incident, but she wasn’t charged with his death) and faking her own injuries, Darlie Routier’s trial begins in the small, conservative town of Kerrville, Texas, on the second episode of “The Last Defense” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
Produced by Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang, “Last Defense” is a limited documentary series following death row cases where a great deal of reasonable doubt about the convicted has accumulated in the years and decades since their guilty verdicts.
— “Pressing On: The Letterpress Film” follows artists and printers young and old who maintain old-fashioned printing presses.
Obsolete for decades since the arrival of computer-generated graphic design and type, letterpress art has become increasingly popular with young artists, who love working with the touch, feel and smell of metal type, ink and paper.
“Pressing” also follows veteran printers adamant about extolling the 500-year legacy of print as well keeping their machines going and their craft alive.
“Pressing On” is available today on DVD and Video on Demand services including iTunes, Amazon, Vimeo, Vudu, Fandango Now, InDemand, DirecTV and Kanopy.
For the uninitiated, Kanopy is a digital streaming service made available at public libraries all over the country. Ask you librarian if your system offers Kanopy.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Revolving identities on “Bull” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— Dissension roils a board meeting on “The Bold Type” (8 p.m., Freeform, TV-14).
— Surprising revelations on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
— President Wilson lays out his vision for a war to end all wars on episode six of “The Great War: American Experience” (9 p.m., PBS, r, TV-PG, check local listings).
— Rocky Carroll narrates “48 Hours: NCIS” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
— Talents audition in a variety of styles on “World of Dance” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
— Pablo Picasso withdraws in search of perfection on the 10th and final episode of this season’s “Genius” (10 p.m., National Geographic, TV-14). Next season’s “Genius” will focus on Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein.”
CULT CHOICE
— Recently rebooted with stars Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez, the 1987 Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell comedy “Overboard” (8 p.m., Pop, TV-PG) has not been airing on cable every day for the past 32 years. It only seems that way.
SERIES NOTES
A blow to British intelligence on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) … Acts audition on “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Jamie Foxx hosts “Beat Shazam” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … On two helpings of “The Middle” (ABC, r, TV-PG), car theft (8 p.m.), public displays of affection (8:30 p.m.) … Danny Trejo guest-stars on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG).
Andy Cohen hosts “Love Connection” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … On two helpings of “Blackish” (ABC, r, TV-14), half-baked heritage (9 p.m.), dogged determination (9:30 p.m.).
LATE NIGHT
Becca Heller is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Jeff Goldblum, Sebastian Maniscalco and Nothing But Thieves appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Josh Brolin, Ruth Negga and Walk the Moon are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Whoopi Goldberg, David & Lauren Hogg and Mike Shinoda on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC).
Benicio Del Toro, Michael Ian Black and Hayley Kiyoko visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS) continues its week from London.
