Turner Classics composes a melodic tribute

Turner Classic Movies honors three acclaimed film composers who all died this past summer. The network will devote the day’s film schedule to movies featuring musical scores by Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith and David Raksin.

Every film buff or would-be cowboy can recall the theme to “The Magnificent Seven” (7 p.m.). Bernstein could never be typecast. His theme for “To Kill a Mockingbird” is considered to be one of the most subtle and beautiful pieces of movie music ever. And who can forget the rousing theme to “The Great Escape”? Bernstein also scored a number of crazy comedies, including “Animal House” and “Ghostbusters.” He died Aug. 18.

Jerry Goldsmith’s prolific work includes several memorable scores, including “L.A. Confidential,” “Chinatown” and “Planet of the Apes,” as well as the 1975 drama “The Wind and The Lion” (9:15 p.m.), nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Goldsmith died July 21.

David Raksin, who died Aug. 4, is represented on TCM by the 1958 film “Separate Tables” (11:15 p.m.). But his most notable film score, for the 1944 mystery “Laura,” remains one of the most popular and widely performed scores of all time. Raksin also wrote memorable music for television shows, including “Ben Casey.”

Bickering couples compete to renovate rooms on “The Complex: Malibu” (7 p.m., Fox). Even by the ever-lowering standards of reality television, this is shamelessly derivative and mind-bogglingly dull. I would rather caulk my own bathtub and watch it dry than spend another second with this show and its cast of preening stereotypes and whiners.

Tonight’s other highlights

  • Kid Rock, Rascal Flatts, Lorrie Morgan and George Jones offer viewers a glimpse of their highway homes on “Greatest Tour Buses” (6 p.m., CMT).
  • Assault and battery on the ball field on “JAG” (8 p.m., CBS).
  • Scheduled on “48 Hours Investigates” (9 p.m., CBS): gastric bypass fatalities.
  • Scheduled on “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC): interviews with Tatum O’Neal and Mark Wahlberg; John Stossel finds warning labels irksome.