You'll feel good

I had the good fortune to see James Brown perform late in his career, but his stamina and skills were a pale imitation of him in his prime, a period well represented in "Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown." The documentary, co-produced by Mick Jagger, combines staggering footage and candid interviews by former bandmates that provide a fair portrayal of the Godfather of Soul. The 1964 "T.A.M.I. Show," on which he successfully upstages the Rolling Stones, is priceless. I certainly wouldn't have minded another hour that explored Brown's up-and-down period in the '80s. Sequel, Mick? 8 p.m. Monday, HBO

Back in session

The best running joke in "Alpha House," Garry Trudeau's live-action take on politics, is the senators are too busy worrying about their images and re-election to actually get anything done. This isn't new territory for the legendary "Doonesbury" cartoonist, but it's a treat to see such stars as John Goodman, Wanda Sykes and even Bill Murray poke fun at Beltway life in this second season. Now streaming at studios.amazon.com.

Love is the law

Those who enjoyed Eliza Coupe's passive-aggressive character on "Happy Endings" will be happy to know that she's landed on her feet in "Benched," a highly enjoyable new sitcom in which she plays a corporate lawyer who downsizes into the public defender's office. We've seen plenty of comedies set in the legal world, but few have been as clever as this promising effort that also showcases the efforts of former Minnesotan Maria Bamford. 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, USA

Ladies night

The award for most-improved sitcom of last season goes to "Mom," which returns with an eventful episode in which the family's finances take a nose-dive. It took a while, but I finally have gotten used to the bawdy side of Emmy winner Allison Janney (left) and Anna Faris' deer-in-the-headlights reaction shots. It's good to have them back. 7:31 p.m. Thursday, WCCO, Ch. 4

Neal Justin