Jack's back

"Jack Reacher," the 2012 Tom Cruise vehicle, didn't seem like a surefire candidate for a sequel, but never underestimate Cruise's drawing power overseas. Check out the decent if not stellar original before deciding whether to venture out to the theaters this weekend for "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back."

6 p.m., FX

The body electric

Hard to believe there hasn't been a major motion picture about Nikola Tesla, the troubled scientist whose lack of street smarts kept him from getting full credit for changing the world. "Tesla," a new edition of "American Experience," makes the case for Tesla's under­appreciated status and lays the groundwork for the Hollywood treatment. Joaquin Phoenix would be perfect as the sometimes charming, often impossible genius who understood electricity but couldn't figure out how to pay the rent.

8 p.m., TPT, Ch. 2

Cougar town

"Phi Slama Jama" may not be as high profile as the wide-ranging take on O.J. Simpson, but the ESPN series "30 for 30" is almost always interesting, and this documentary about the University of Houston basketball team in the mid-'80s should be no exception. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were among the team's high-flying standouts.

7 p.m., ESPN

Neal Justin