AMC, 8:00 p.m. ET
When I recently made a list of “spider-web” movies, of films that ensnare me each time they’re televised, how did I forget this one? When you’re talking about entertainingly repeatable films, this 1993 Bill Murray comedy may be the ultimate article. It’s all about repetition – up to a point. What a delightful movie, and, by Murray, what a confident, clever performance. Hard to believe, but next year, this movie will be 20 years old. Groundhogs usually don’t live past 10 years, but this Groundhog, I’m sure, will be around for many, many days to come. Including yesterday and today.
Sundance, 8:00 p.m. ET
It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you – and as this 2006 documentary proves conclusively, the United States government was out to get John Lennon. Get him out of the country, that is, even though all the former Beatle wanted to do was live in New York City. Sadly, that’s where he died instead – but not before winning his battle to live there in peace.
DirecTV Audience Network, 9:00 p.m. ET
The flash-aheads and teases are over – or, at least, converging. Tonight, Ellen (Rose Byrne) and Patty (Glenn Close) are so eager to face each other and duel in court that they each, independently, scuttle their respective clients’ plans for a plea bargain. These two women want to butt heads, and horns, in court – and it looks like they’re about to do precisely that.
ABC, 10:00 p.m. ET
SERIES FINALE: Part 2 of 2. Terence Wrong’s strong summer series concludes with one final captivating hour, rotating among several touching medical stories – some life-and-death, others quality-of-life. Among the former: investment banker Rita Severino (pictured), mother of two, who has to calculate the risks of having a complex operation to remove a large tumor behind her liver, or sell herself short. The operation requires removing, then replacing in their proper places, all of her major abdominal organs. Hard to imagine – and, I imagine, even harder to approve as a surgical procedure on yourself.
Comedy Central, 10:00 p.m. ET
Tonight’s new episode is titled “Viva Mars Vegas,” which means, for Fry and the gang, another bling-filled trip to the interplanetary vacation spot of the future. Futurama has visited Mars Vegas before, but this is the newly reopened version, which even comes with a new slogan: “What You Don’t Know About Your Bedspread Won’t Hurt You.” Yikes.