‘Tropic Thunder’
8 p.m., HBO
Controversial for its irreverent take on certain matters — the typical approach of director, co-writer and star Ben Stiller (left in photo with Robert Downey Jr.) — this moviemaking spoof also is mightily funny. Stiller, Downey and Jack Black play actors who land in the midst of an actual conflict while making a war adventure film in Southeast Asia. The cast also includes Nick Nolte and a barely recognizable, riotous Tom Cruise.
‘Love in the Afternoon’
7 p.m., TCM
Master director Billy Wilder (“Some Like It Hot”) pays tribute to his own filmmaking idol, Ernst Lubitsch, with this charming 1957 romantic comedy. Wilder’s former “Sabrina,” Audrey Hepburn, stars as a naive musician who develops a crush on a wealthy and much older American playboy (Gary Cooper). Maurice Chevalier co-stars as her father, a private detective.
‘Hawthorne’
8 p.m., TNT
The moral of this new episode is “Don’t let your mouth write checks that your uterus can’t cash.” Christina (Jada Pinkett Smith) is caught in the middle when two sets of parents fight for custody of a newborn baby whose birth mom had apparently promised it to both couples.
‘The Cleaner’
9 p.m., A&E
Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg guest stars in this new episode, which finds William (Benjamin Bratt) answering a wealthy woman’s request to retrieve her son from jail. He and Swenton (Esteban Powell) manage to get him released, but it soon becomes obvious he’s not ready to turn his life around. On the way back to Los Angeles, William meets a 13-year-old drug runner and wonders if there’s a way to save him.
‘Rescue Me’
9 p.m., FX
Tommy steps in to put a halt to Kelly’s advances on Damian; Lou approaches Needles to act as a buffer to Tommy.
‘Saving Grace’
9 p.m., TNT
The squad investigates the death of a parole officer; Grace and Johnny finally track down Neely; Rhetta makes some personal changes in the wake of her problems with her husband.
‘Late Show With David Letterman’
10:35 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2
Singer Paula Abdul; Neil Patrick Harris presents the Top 10 list; Elvis Costello performs.
‘The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien’
10:35 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5
Actor Jon Hamm; freestyle motocross athletes; Cobra Starship performs with Estelle.
