It’s really a Tuesday night show, but it makes its premiere tonight for some reason, so let’s talk about “Forever” (ABC, 10 p.m.), a new drama that confronts directly the problem of shows that threaten but do not kill the main character so as to keep the series going. The charming Ioan Gruffudd plays yet another crime-solving medical examiner who doesn’t care when he’s killed since he also happens to be immortal, re-emerging each week naked in a body of water. It’s a way to keep his practice going and for the network, a way to keep the show going though it seems like more than a stretch.
The most popular singing competition, “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) with a slightly rejumbled judges table, which is important on the show since it’s the judges who have made the show since the start. In addition to mainstays Blake Shelton and a newly-blonde Adam Levine (in promo photos anyway) are two big names: Pharrell Williams (and his hat!) as well as Gwen Stefani, who has rejumbled her face enough to make her look both generically glamorous and virtually unrecognizable. They’ll open the show with a group performance and then they’ll take their spinning seats.
There’s a new hairstyle in place, too, for “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.) in yet another new night. What’s worse than the new pixie do for Penny (does nobody remember the “Felicity” curse?) is the actress’ extended name, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. The three leads are usually funny, but are they $1 million an episode funny? (It’s their new per salary episode for each). Each gets $2 million tonight since there are two new episodes.
“The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.) kind of got lost in Emmy recognition as one of broadcast TV’s better dramas, but James Spader is still having fun in his role as a maniacal ex-federal agent. Mary Louise Parker is joining the cast for the second season.
Another success from last season, “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 9 p.m.) may be more anticipated because its first season seemed so short, with 13 episodes. The season starts with Ichabod buried alive and Abbie trapped in purgatory while the horsemen of war run rampant on the town.
As new shows and new seasons crowd the schedule, two summer seasons try to make an impression with their finales: “Under the Dome” (CBS, 10 p.m.) and “Dallas” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
Some worried that public television’s excellent documentary series on “The Roosevelts” last week would be obscured by the new fall TV season. That didn’t happen, but it will tonight when a fine profile of the flamboyant former New York mayor, “Koch” makes its premiere on “POV” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
She famously tripped on her Olympic hurdles competition in 2008 and moved on to bobsled. Now Lolo Jones, 32, has fumbled her appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.), the first to be voted off the show this season and certainly the earliest for any Olympian to ever go and maybe the earliest anybody that young has been eliminated. Tonight is “my jam Monday” with remaining 12 contestants doing the cha cha, foxtrot or jive.
Mariska Hargitay is invited “Inside the Actors Studio” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
Its new season doesn’t start until next week, but on cable there is an old two hour episode of “Castle” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
Monday Night Football has Chicago at Jets (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Brigitte Bardot night on Turner Classic Movies brings five of her films, “And God Created Woman” (8 p.m.), “Une Parisienne” (9:45 p.m.), “Plucking the Daisy” (11:30 p.m.), “The Night Heaven Fell” (1:30 a.m.) and “Contempt” (2:15 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Pittsburgh at Atlanta (MLB, 7 p.m.) and San Francisco at Dodgers (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: James Spader, Jim Caviezel, Mary Lambert. The View: Judd Hirsch, Lara Spencer. The Talk: Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Big Boy, Elyes Gabel, Robert Patrick, Katharine McPhee, Dean Norris. Ellen DeGeneres: Lauren Graham, Ben McKenzie. Wendy Williams: Craig Ferguson, Delaina Dixon. Meredith Vieira: Josh Groban.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Mark Harmon, Jack Hanna. Jimmy Fallon: Sofia Vergara, Megan Boone, the Black Keys. Jimmy Kimmel: Courteney Cox, Jason Aldean. Seth Meyers: Martha Stewart, Ana Gasteyer. Craig Ferguson: Bill Hader, Scott Bakula. Carson Daly: Jim Jeffries, Porter Robinson, Ned Benson. Tavis Smiley: Nicholas Kristof. Jon Stewart: Jenny Nordberg. Stephen Colbert: Tweedy. Conan O’Brien: Zooey Deschanel, Breckin Meyer, Beck.