Crash Course, An especially pleasurable documentary that tells the story of African-Americans jazz musicians finding a welcome home in prewar France, "Harlem in Montemarte: A Paris Jazz Story" makes its premiere on "Great Performances" (WGBY, Channel 57, 8 p.m.; CPTV, 9 p.m.).
Telling the tale of well known figures such as Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt as well as the less well known Sidney Bechet, Eugene Bullard and Bricktop. It benefits from a liberal use of the hot jazz music that ensued. Locally, it's preceded by a replay of "American Masters" (CPTV, 8 p.m), "The World of Nat King Cole."
Likely the dumbest new show to start this week is "Crash Course" (ABC, 9 p.m.), a collision course driving competition with the pedigree of the accompanying "Wipeout" (ABC, 8 p.m.).
In "Crash Course," five teams of two compete each week in a number of "automotive challenges" that eliminates teams one by one. The winner has a chance to win $50,000. There's an especially cheap look to the production. Banter between co-hosts Dan Cortese and Orlando Jones is supposed to make this entertaining; it doesn't.
The initial season of the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced undercover cop drama "Dark Blue" (TNT, 10 p.m.) has its season finale. "Leverage" (TNT, 9 p.m.) was to have ended its summer season tonight as well, but has leveraged its way to an additional couple of weeks.
A bridal store manager in Long Island gets to meet stars from two of her favorite shows, "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and she think it's coincidental on "Make My Day" (TV Land, 10:30 p.m.).
Samuel Mudd's home in Maryland is scoured for spooks in tonight's "Ghost Hunters" (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
Bald is beautiful and Yul Brynner is the star all day on Turner Classic Movies, with the prime time offerings of "The King and I" (8 p.m.), "The Magnificent Seven" (10:30 p.m.), "Westworld" (12:45 a.m.) and "Futureworld" (2:15 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Regis and Kelly: Matthew McConaughey, Adam Lambert, Amy Poehler (rerun). The View: Robert Iger, Patrick Dempsey, John Lasseter (rerun). Bonnie Hunt: Dick Van Dyke, Common (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Penelope Cruz, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Q-Tip (rerun). Wendy Williams: Aubrey O'Day, Curtis Stone.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Anne Heche, Jim Parsons, Car Bears on Fire. Conan O'Brien: Bradley Cooper, Franz Ferdinand. Jimmy Kimmel: Robin Williams, Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt & Kim. Jimmy Fallon: Fred Armisen, the Mighty Boosh, Fo Rida (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Holly Hunter, Camera Obscura (rerun). Carson Daly: Sasha Grey, Ryan Hunter-Reay, the Kills (rerun). Jon Stewart: Bill Russell (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Tom Hanks, Lt. General Charls H. Jacoby Jr., Barham Saleh (rerun).
