TV's Best Bets

Monday, May 30

“Julia,” 8 p.m., CNN; rerunning at 10. Julia Child grew up comfortably, going to prep school and Smith. She did office work during wartime, moved to Paris with her husband … and discovered French cuisine. That changed her life; then she changed cooking, publishing and public TV. Child spent a dozen years co-writing “The French Chef,” sort of invented the book tour and, at 50, created breezy, no-script TV. Here’s a delightful documentary from the people who profiled Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“Theodore Roosevelt,” 8-10 p.m., History, concluding Tuesday. At 5-foot-8 (a half-foot shorter than Julia Child), Roosevelt still had a massive presence. Tonight, we see him retreat twice — after his wife’s death and after he enraged working men by closing New York’s bars on Sundays. The first time he became a cowboy; the second a soldier, charging up San Juan Hill. That led to politics and, as this half ends, the presidency. Some re-enactments feel exaggerated, but it’s still a compelling story.

“American Ninja Warrior All Star Spectacular,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. The new “Ninja” season starts next Monday, but here’s a warm-up. It has face-offs, NBC says, with fan favorites from previous seasons.

“Breeders,” 10 p.m., FX, rerunning at 10:39 and 11:18. Once a good comedy with bits of drama, this is now an excellent drama with occasional laughs. Tonight, Ally works passionately to save the company where she’s worked for a decade; Paul hopes, yet again, to be promoted. Also, their oft-overlooked daughter gets a birthday party. It’s a well-made episode, but definitely not a jolly one.

ALSO: Preceding the Teddy Roosevelt film, History will rerun its six-hour documentary on U.S. Grant; it starts at 2 p.m. Turner Classic Movies wraps up its three-day military marathon, led by the epic “The Longest Day” (1962), from 8-11:15 p.m., and the action film “Dirty Dozen” (1967) at 1:30 a.m. HBO concludes “We Own This City,” its latest Baltimore-cop miniseries, at 9. And Lifetime has a “Bad Seed” sequel at 8 and midnight. Its “Bad Seed” reboot (2018) is at 6 p.m. and midnight.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Monday TV's Best Bets