Everybody expects election coverage (6 p.m., ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, Fox News; 9 p.m., PBS) to dominate primetime and beyond. But there are alternatives for viewers who have heard enough about closing polls, exit polls and spin.

• Turner Classic Movies gets the prize for cheeky counter-programming with “Dark Victory” (7 p.m.), the 1939 tearjerker about a spoilt socialite (Bette Davis) afflicted with a sudden, fatal disease. Not only does the title speak to everyone whose favored candidate does not win, it also stars Ronald Reagan, a man who came to know something about election nights.
• AMC never misses a chance to broadcast “The Godfather” (7 p.m.), the pulp classic about a mob family dynasty. It has absolutely nothing to do with elections, but then again, the first line of the movie is “I believe in America,” a must for every stump speech.
• The FX network takes the safe choice by showing “The American President” (7 p.m.), director Rob Reiner’s 1995 drama about the unexpected romance between a widowed commander-in-chief (Michael Douglas) and a pretty lobbyist (Annette Bening).
• The 2000 kids’ movie “Mail to the Chief” (7 p.m., Disney) takes a slightly less exalted view of White House life. The president (Randy Quaid) begins on online friendship with a teen on the Internet, where they exchange ideas, jokes and advice.
• Politics and cartoon lore mix on a new installment of “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” on “Adult Swim” (10 p.m., Cartoon Network). Quick Draw McGraw finds himself on the wrong side of the law after he attempts to put the El Kabong on the Dalton gang with his trusty guitar. Outraged, McGraw turns to Harvey to defend his constitutional right to keep and bear guitars. Inspired by this legal wrangle, Harvey’s boss runs for president funded by billions from the guitar lobby.
• The habit-kicking reality series “Cold Turkey” (8 p.m., Pax) moves to Tuesday nights starting tonight. This series follows a group of contestants who were hoodwinked into appearing on a fantasy-fulfilling contest, only to be told that they have to quit smoking to win. Nicotine deprivation and surly personalities make for a combustible combination. Repeats of last week’s “Turkey” air at8 p.m., followed by an original at 9 p.m.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Rory infiltrates a Yale secret society on “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m., WB).
• Jon Stewart anchors the fake news special “Election Night 2004: Prelude to a Recount” (9 p.m., Comedy Central). Guests include former presidential candidate (and host of the forthcoming Spike series “I Hate My Job”) the Rev. Al Sharpton and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.