Monday, July 7, 2008

Highlights

Does a dolphin trainer have an unfair advantage in water contests? On "American Gladiators" (Channel 4 at 8 p.m.), a college student, an investment manager and a media director also battle for the prize.

On the premiere of his new show, "Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence" (TCM at 8), Mitchell presents a recent in-depth interview with the late director Sydney Pollack. The director's "Tootsie" (at 8:30) follows the show, then "An American in Paris" (at 11), which Pollack says had a strong influence on him.

Jason and Jesse make last-ditch efforts to woo DeAnna on the two-hour season finale of "The Bachelorette" (Channel 7 at 8), where she chooses her definite-certain-absolute soulmate. Then on "The Bachelorette: After the Final Rose" (at 10), the participants can all finally be honest about what they really think of DeAnna.

Someone's Achy Breaky Heart will be broken when Billy Ray Cyrus says goodbye to another contestant on "Nashville Star" (Channel 4 at 9).

No one was truly a winner in World War II, according to historian Niall Ferguson on the second installment of the three-part series "The War of the World" (Channel 26 at 10), in which he describes the outcome as "a tainted victory" for the Allies.

The documentary "The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not for Sale" (HBO at 9) examines the life of the brilliant painter whose abrasive personality rendered high-profile success impossible.

A&E's all-new lineup has an "Intervention" episode (at 9) featuring a man who turned to drugs after getting kicked off a pro cycling team. On "Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal" (at 10), a girl claims to see the spirit of her late grandmother, jazz singer Nina Simone.

Let the mouth-watering begin -- a new season of "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" (Travel at 10) kicks off with the chef sampling food in Laos.

Wendy and "The Middleman" (ABC Family at 10) discover that aliens love plastic surgery, too!

On "Weeds" (Showtime at 10), nothing puts a damper on a flourishing drug-smuggling business like a death in the family.

Actress Selma Blair, actor Kevin Nealon and jazz singer Steve Tyrell stop by "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (Channel 4, 11:35).

"Late Show With David Letterman" (Channel 9, 11:35) features animal expert Jack Hanna, a musical performance by Kid Rock and a Top 10 list from golfer Annika Sorenstam.

-- Emily Yahr