People who believe that the country needs to censor “dangerous” speech don’t seem to realize that allowing and protecting free speech is what makes America … America. That’s the gist of “Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech” (8 p.m., HBO).

Filmmaker Liz Garbus folds an affectionate profile of her father Martin Garbus, a longtime First Amendment lawyer, into a survey of vignettes about the history of free speech controversies and those who have been silenced for their disturbing opinions, unpopular views or for being part of a feared and scapegoated minority.

“Fire” recalls the controversy over Ward Churchill, demonized and fired from his teaching job after his remarks about 9/11 were considered too hurtful and extreme. We hear from a veteran New York City educator whose reputation was destroyed after she was named the principal of a New York City school for Arab immigrants. And there is a case of a San Diego high school student who wore a T-shirt that read “Homosexuality is Shameful.” He claimed he was expressing his religious beliefs. The school declared that his speech was disruptive and ordered him to leave his beliefs at the classroom door.

The film puts special emphasis on wartime crackdowns on free speech, most notably during the 2004 Republican Convention in New York City, when the police arrested nearly 2,000 peaceful protesters, arguing that they were protecting the city from potential “terrorism.” Voices here argue that the confusion of dissent and terror is the most dangerous thinking of all.

• There is no truth to the rumor that TLC is changing the name of “Jon & Kate Plus 8” to “Kate Minus Jon Plus 8 Divided by Two.” That show, featuring eight cute kids and two dreary adults, will go on hiatus until August. Until then, the folks at TLC hope you binge on “Cake Boss” (9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., TLC).

Tonight’s other highlights

• Conspiracies about freemasonry loom large on “Secrets of the Founding Fathers” (7 p.m., History).

• The team uncovers a possible international incident on “Lie to Me” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

• Party drugs can be deadly on “The Closer” (8 p.m., TNT).

• The big showdown on “Make it Break It” (8 p.m., ABC Family).

• A baby-napping points to larger dangers on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).

• “Hooked” (9 p.m., National Geographic) enters a new season of angling.

• Family photos on a social-networking site end up in surprising places on “Raising the Bar” (9 p.m., TNT).

• Plus-sized contestants hope to shed pounds to music on “Dance Your Ass Off” (9 p.m., Oxygen).

Cult choice

Much like Mel Gibson’s 2004 hit “The Passion,” Cecil B. DeMille’s silent 1927 epic “The King of Kings” (1:30 a.m., TCM) was both wildly popular and very controversial, and reflected the “culture war” of its era.

Late night

Jessica Biel, Zach Galifianakis and Steve Earle appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Conan O’Brien hosts Tom Hanks and Green Day on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Paris Hilton, Ken Jeong and Blink 182 appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC) … Ice-T, Elmo, Morgan Webb, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Michael Douglas; and Carrie Ann Inaba on “The Late, Late Show” (11:37 p.m., CBS).