Proof that cable programming is more about imitation than imagination comes with “Alaska State Troopers” (9 p.m., National Geographic). This documentary-style series follows state police all over the vast 49th state.

The folks have a lot of ground to cover, and it’s a daunting task even by plane. In one instance, we learn that there are seven troopers to police an area the size of Rhode Island.

In another, the troopers need to transport an accident victim to the nearest hospital that’s three hours away — by helicopter.

“Alaska” has plenty of gorgeous location shots and local color. Apparently, moose murder is a very big deal. But too often, “Alaska” looks terribly similar to a certain Saturday-night series Fox has been airing since 1989.

It seems alcohol makes people act stupidly. Scene after scene of pixilated and inebriated people stumbling out of view or refusing breathalyzers gets monotonous whether it’s in Florida or Fairbanks. Only on this show, the troopers may be saving the embalmed perpetrators from freezing to death in 20-below temperatures.

For all of its Alaskan grandeur, this boils down to “Cops”-icles.

• “American Masters” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings) profiles folk singer and activist Joan Baez.

This also marks the 50th anniversary of her appearance at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, an event that cemented her reputation as the new star of the musical genre when she was only 18 years old.

Look for plenty of archival material, contemporary concert footage and recent interviews with fellow musicians David Crosby, Roger McGuinn and Bob Dylan.

• Jay’s ex-wife (Shelley Long) visits and hopes to make up for an awkward moment on “Modern Family” (8 p.m., ABC).

Easily the best new comedy of the season, “Family” would be so much better if it weren’t so visually boring. Everyone seems to live in a developer’s model house with a perfect kitchen and catalog-worthy furniture and decor.

The show gives its audience credit for sitting still for minimalist dialogue and documentary-style absurdity.

It should also have the confidence to depart from its Disneyfied vision of unwrinkled and unstained upper-middle-class perfection.

Tonight’s other highlights

• “Tell Them Anything You Want” (6 p.m., HBO) profiles children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

• Veronica can’t decide between Mike and Dr. Sands on “Mercy” (7 p.m. NBC).

• Sue sows dissension on “Glee” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Struggling boutiques get retail advice from “Mary Queen of Shops” (8 p.m., BBC America).

• DNA evidence changes assumptions about an old case on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

• “Art in the Twenty-First Century” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) explores those who work in fantasy, including Jeff Koons.

• Not even cosmetic surgery is immune to hard times as “Nip/Tuck” (9 p.m., FX) enters its sixth season.

Cult choice

East Germany’s secret police invade the most intimate secrets in the 2006 Oscar-winning drama “The Lives of Others” (6:40 p.m., Sundance).