What's On Tonight (Sunday): Heeeeeere's... Late Night

The Story of Late Night program subjects

Happy Mother's Day! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, May 9!

Tonight's Top Pick is CNN's recent docuseries The Story of Late Night, which chronicles the late-night genre and format from its origins in the early 1950s to today. Last week's premiere took us through the mid-60s with Johnny Carson as the still-new host of The Tonight Show. Tonight, he manages the turbulent late '60s and rises to becoming a cultural icon and king of late night in the 1970s. (Plug for There's... Johnny! It was a good show!)

Elsewhere, the Legends search for Sara, The Nevers await an execution, Pose must get rid of a suitcase, America crosses the Atlantic to enter WWII, Pass the Mic celebrates moms, Zoey and the Girls do flashbacks, CNN dissects Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and there's a When Calls finale.

STREAMING & EARLY PRIMETIME

60 Minutes (CBS, 7 p.m.): The dramatic missions to Mars by the tiny helicopter Ingenuity and the rover Perseverance... Jews who escaped the Nazis and returned with the U.S. Army to fight Hitler during WWII.

Bless the Harts (Fox, 7:30 p.m.): When the Harts are stuck inside on Violet's rainy spring break, Jenny gets incredibly competitive about board games. When trying to avoid her daughter's competitive streak, Betty gets a ride-along in a cop car.

📺 Doctor Who (Retro TV, 6 p.m.): The Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe battle joins the Gonds against the Krotons, who enslaved the Gonds for millenias.

5 MORE FOR THE RECORD: 9 Months with Courteney Cox (Facebook, 5 p.m., season premiere); The American Ninja Warrior Women's Championship (NBC, 7 p.m., special); America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 p.m.); Axios (HBO, 6 p.m.); Snapped (Oxygen, 6 p.m.)

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

🎥 Burning Little Lies (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): Instead of Little Fires, it's little lies, but there's still fire. Lies take over the fire station!

Dwight in Shining Armor (BYUtv, 8:30 p.m.): Hammond and Ragana plot their next move to complete the Scrying Pool and kill Gretta and Baldric. Dwight and Gretta prepare for battle! But restored memories from all their pasts weigh heavily on our group of heroes.

The Equalizer (CBS, 8 p.m.): The daughter of McCall's deceased CIA mentor is pursued by a hit squad in France. Meanwhile, Aunt Vi becomes suspicious when McCall skips out on another family night.

The Girlfriend Experience (Starz, 8 p.m.): Iris gets better at simulating the perfect girlfriend experience for her clients. Simultaneously at NGM, Iris and her co-workers start training the AI model with new, simulated sets.

The Great North (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): A blizzard threatens the Tobin family game night, and Beef makes a new friend in the woods.

Legends of Tomorrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): Ava hopes that her abilities will help lead to locating the aliens spread out on the timeline, which could ultimately lead to finding Sara. Meanwhile, Sara tries to figure out a plan and runs into Amelia Earhart.

The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): Lisa makes a shocking college decision, wounding Marge.

What's Going On: Marvin Gaye's Anthem for the Ages (CNN, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. Don Lemon explores the impact and genius of Marvin Gaye, his unprecedented What's Going On album and the anatomy of several of the 1971 record's iconic hits that reflect significant challenges and divisions in the nation today.

QUICK HITS:

Autopsy: The Last Hours Of... (Reelz): Scott Weiland

Biography (A&E): Booker T

A Year in Music (AXS TV): 1982

5 MORE FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? (TLC); American Idol (ABC); Naked & Afraid XL (Discovery Channel); The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo); The Top Ten Revealed (AXS TV, season premiere)

🕘 9:00 EASTERN / 🕗 8:00 CENTRAL

Atlantic Crossing (PBS, 9 p.m.): With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Olav arrives from England as America enters the war, and Missy becomes suspicious of ties between Martha and FDR.

Batwoman (The CW, 9 p.m.): When Sophie must face a foe from her rookie days with The Crows, Ryan, Mary, and Luke are also pulled into the villain's game. For Alice, the tables turn when she finds herself in dire circumstances.

Bob's Burgers (Fox, 9 p.m.): The Belcher kids get caught up in a game of cat-and-mouse when Dr. Yap comes to the restaurant in search of something that was taken from the waiting room of his office. Elsewhere, Bob, Linda, and Teddy try to clean a huge bird poop off the restaurant's window.

City on a Hill (Showtime, 9 p.m.): Assuming the involvement of the Campbell brothers at the Copeland territory shootout, Jackie confronts Grace, who can no longer sidestep her sons' criminal activity.

Family Guy (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): Brian tries to convince the Griffins that their new adopted cat is evil.

Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.): Grace wakes up with a case of amnesia and sees what has become of her friends after she has been gone for years. She struggles to put the puzzle pieces together on what has transpired.

Godfather of Harlem (Epix, 9 p.m.): An unlikely partnership proves to be extremely lucrative for Bumpy Johnson and Chin Gigante, but their success puts targets on their backs. Malcolm X fights off attacks on his character and his life.

Louisiana Law (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Deep in the woods and bayous of Louisiana, wildlife agents protect the state's resources.

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 9 p.m.): When military grade technology is stolen, a deaf engineer helps Kensi and NCIS track down the tech before it's taken out of the country.

The Nevers (HBO, 9 p.m.): As the city buzzes with anticipation over a pending execution, Penance grapples with a moral calling at odds with Amalia's plan. With the two women at a crossroads, the Orphans must decide whom to follow.

Pass the Mic: BET Mother's Day Edition (BET, 9 p.m.): SPECIAL. Legendary soul artists sing their most uplifting, heartwarming, prolific records in celebration of mothers around the world.

Saints & Sinners (Bounce TV, 9 p.m.): An unholy alliance between Rex and a major player sets the stage for a high stakes battle.

⭐ The Story of Late Night (CNN, 9 p.m.): Johnny Carson deftly navigates the turbulent 1960s to elevate The Tonight Show into a cultural touchstone, enshrining himself as the undisputed king of late night, and his success begets competition with the emergence of Dick Cavett and Merv Griffin. I think this is the kind of subject Paul Buchman should have done in the '90s. (Also, Thoughts!)✔️

When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel, 9 p.m.): SEASON FINALE. Elizabeth finally realizes who she is supposed to be with. The town rallies together to say goodbye and good luck to one of its own.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (NBC, 9 p.m.): In therapy, Zoey reflects back on her unexpectedly profound first day working at SPRQPoint.

QUICK HITS:

Unsung (TV One, season finale): Lyfe Jennings

5 MORE FOR THE RECORD: 60 Minutes+ (Paramount+); Chris Cornell: Life, Death & Money (Reelz, special); Confronting a Serial Killer (Starz); Married to Medicine (Bravo); Worst Cooks in America (Food Network)

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

Condor (Epix, 10 p.m.): Joe's morality is put to the ultimate test as he attempts to stop the plague from being released.

Couples Therapy (Showtime, 10 & 10:30 p.m.): Matthew and Gianni struggle with sober sex. Michal examines her past for the key to her anxiety. Dru can't face the painful truths about Tashira's family. Later, Orna helps Matthew make a connection between his troubled sex life and his reasons for drinking. Also, a parenting conflict forces Tashira to question whether she can accept Dru as her son's stepfather.

The Gloaming (Starz, 10 p.m.): SEASON FINALE. The investigation reaches its conclusion when Molly is taken hostage and Alex is captured.

Good Girls (NBC, 10 p.m.): Flashbacks reveal the road that led Rio to his present life. Maybe he has a run-in with Zoey, too? Crossover! ZoeyVerse! Beth gets a surprise visit from Nick, who warns her against a relationship with Rio. Dean is roped into a pyramid scheme by his biker gang.

Mare of Easttown (HBO, 10 p.m.): With Mare forced to take a backseat on the murder case (she had to hand in her badge and gun last week), Colin presses a local priest about the vague circumstances that prompted his transfer to the parish. An anonymous call gives Dawn hope that Katie might still be alive.

NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 10 p.m.): Pride directs the team to link Sasha to the recent attacks in New Orleans. Carter and Tammy search for a stolen highly trained military dog, hopefully not named Bear. Pride and Rita make an important decision about their wedding... so this show will end with a wedding? Blah.

Pose (FX, 10 p.m.): After she is unjustly arrested, Elektra convinces Blanca to aid in disposing of the trunk in her closet before the police find it.

The Rookie (ABC, 10 p.m.): Officers Nolan and Bradford hope they can de-escalate a drug war before any innocent lives are lost. Officer Harper hopes she can get Officer Chen ready to go under cover. Undercover?

United Shades of America (CNN, 10 p.m.): Kamau digs deeply into the discrimination and racism that lingers in programs like STEM (see also: this). He also looks at efforts to build a more inclusive workforce for the globally competitive future in technology and space.

QUICK HITS:

Uncensored (TV One, season finale): Jaleel White

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo): Real housekids of Bravo

5 MORE FOR THE RECORD: Bar Rescue (Paramount Network); Deep Water Salvage (Weather Channel); Extreme Sisters (TLC); On the Case with Paula Zahn (Investigation Discovery); ; WWE's Most Wanted Treasures (A&E)

💤💤😴💤💤

Birdgirl (Adult Swim, midnight): SEASON FINALE. Judy discovers a product her father invented is leaving holes in her... and not the metaphorical kind.

Ziwe (Showtime, 11 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Ziwe Fumudoh has a variety show! It will have musical numbers, interviews, guest stars and sketches. Yeah, you probably don't know who she is -- she came from Desus & Mero after a YouTube start. In the first episode, Ziwe discusses the phenomenon of white women with guest Fran Lebowitz and hosts a focus group for real women named "Karen."✔️

FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day Pillow Talk: Happily Ever After (TLC, 11 p.m.); Bravo's Chat Room (Bravo, 11 p.m.); Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO, 11 p.m.); Mediterranean Life (HGTV, 11 p.m.)

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Note: All times are Eastern.
More TV Listings: The Futon Critic; Zap2it
Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback

✔️: Video/gif/photo included

Happy watching, everyone!