Every showbiz mom or dad who tries to foist stardom on their offspring should be legally required to watch “Behind the Music: New Edition” (10 p.m., VH1), a harrowing tale of too much, too fast, too young, etc.

The members of the prototype boy band came of age in Boston’s poorer quarters during the 1970s and turned to music as a refuge from filthy housing projects and crime-ridden streets. Band members interviewed here include Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, the ever-notorious Bobby Brown and his newer edition, Johnny Gill.

With its signature style and mesmerizing predictability, this “Behind” offers legendary tales of musical exploitation. Discovered by local producer Maurice Starr, the group released a hit single “Candy Girl,” clearly designed to remind listeners of the Jackson Five.

Starr introduced the lads to stardom, sold-out tours and life on the road. But money, or the lack of it, came between Starr and his proteges.

At the end of one wildly successful tour, the band was deposited back at its housing project. Later, each was paid a grand total of $1.87.

Nothing else on this “Behind” quite lives up the $1.87 story. Starr is replaced, and the guys, all in their mid-teens, succumb to the various temptations of the road. Much is made of Bobby Brown’s ego and misbehavior and his subsequent, tabloid-feeding marriage to Whitney Houston.

We’ve all seen movie salutes to celebrated actors, directors, producers and, occasionally, cinematographers. Tonight Turner Classic Movies offers a four-film salute to Stephen O. Frankfort, best known for his innovative design of film titles.

Frankfort rose to fame in advertising, creating the brain-hammering Excedrin Headache commercial and the addictive “Betcha Can’t Eat Just One” Lays Potato chip spot. He was lauded for his movie ads and trailers.

His chilling commercial for “Rosemary’s Baby” – featuring only a screaming infant in a carriage and the tagline “Pray for Rosemary’s Baby” – was considered just as creepy as the movie. Tonight’s Frankfort-fest includes “The Front” (5 p.m.); “Superman: The Movie” (7 p.m.); “Kramer vs. Kramer” (9:30 p.m.) and “To Kill a Mockingbird” (11:30 p.m.).

Other highlights

Players make allowances for secret alliances on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS).

A trip to Miami on “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox).

Reese Witherspoon stars in the 2002 comedy “Sweet Home Alabama” (8 p.m., ABC).

Wrestlers in training on “Blue Collar TV” (8 p.m., WB).

Alan Arkin guest-stars as Grace’s dad on “Will & Grace” (8:30 p.m., NBC).

A trip to Las Vegas on “The Ron White Show” (8:30 p.m., WB).

A mental patient’s murder on “C.S.I.” (9 p.m., CBS).

The final four fight over fashion on “The Apprentice” (9 p.m., NBC).

A makeover on an extreme budget “Mobile Home Disaster” (9 p.m., WB).

A small town girl’s disappearance seems very familiar on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).

An elderly patient (Red Buttons) thinks Dr. Carter killed his wife on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).

Scheduled on “Primetime” (10 p.m., ABC): Two inventions, chosen from hundreds submitted by viewers, are featured on a home shopping network.

“Stories of the Innocence Project: Fingered with a Print” (10 p.m., Court TV) recalls the story of Stephan Cowens, wrongly convicted of shooting a police officer and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Cult choice

With the demise of the studios, stars from Hollywood’s golden age flocked to grade-Z fare like the 1964 Southern gothic drama “Hush … Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (5 p.m., Fox Movie Channel) starring Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor and Agnes Moorehead.

Series notes

While it claims an audience of millions, nobody seems to be watching “Joey” (8 p.m., NBC) … Wrestling on “WWE Smackdown” (8 p.m., UPN) … On back-to-back episodes of “The Simple Life: Interns” (Fox), petulance (9 p.m.), and insolence (9:30 p.m.).