Glenn Howerton is the second star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to try and bring a similarly disruptive kind of comedy to broadcast TV. He stars in the new “A.P. Bio” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.) about a malevolent former Ivy League philosophy teacher who resents teaching high school and makes his students do his bidding on getting revenge on the colleague who took his job. Like “Vice Principals” and “Bad Teacher,” the poor public servant schtick has been done before and even the involvement of “SNL” writer Mike O’Brien and Patton Oswalt as a principal don’t help as much as it should. Tonight’s is a one-episode “preview” to get you through to the actual premiere after the Olympics.
The run up to the Super Bowl comes in a number of different forms. The one most relevant to the game itself is the film “The Two Bills,” recounting the long relationship between New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his onetime mentor Bill Parcells of the New York Giants and other teams. Their relationship has been stressed in sports stories on ESPN for decades, as seen in clips of past forced interactions. And while the film on “30 for 30” (ESPN, 9 p.m.) tries too hard to press both their funding and their undying love, the men handle the situation as gracefully as can be. And there’s a lot of footage of past games that we were supposed to have memorized.
Yes the goofy Puppy Bowl is fun Super Bowl counter programming. But there’s no need to ramp up the hype with three pre-bowl specials, “Cute as Fluff” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.), “Countdown to Puppy Bowl” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) an “Puppy Bowl: Training Camp Confidential” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
Let’s try some other sport: How about darts? Televised tournaments are a hit all around the globe, we are told, and now here’s the stateside premiere of “Thursday Night Darts: Premier League 2018” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
“The Good Place” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) ends its 13-episode second season.
A new episode of “Impractical Jokers” (truTV, 10 p.m.) kicks off its seventh season, amid what seem like round-the-clock reruns of earlier episodes.
“Swamp People” (History, 9 p.m.) returns for a ninth season.
Olivia has a weekend with Fitz in Vermont on an episode of “Scandal” (ABC, 9 p.m.) that Kerry Washington directed.
On “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.), Amy gets on Will Wheaton’s “Professor Proton” instead of Sheldon.
Flu season hits the town of “Young Sheldon” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Bailey is having problems running the hospital on “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
“S.W.A.T.” (CBS, 10 p.m.) looks for a militia group weaponizing cyanide.
Casey and Severide argue about procedure on “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Oliver’s battle with Cayden James continues on “Arrow” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
A couple of witches go after the brothers on “Supernatural” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
Laurel’s dad comes to town on “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
“Will & Grace” (NBC, 9 p.m.) begin selling their new line of bedding on TV.
Christy’s car dies on “Mom” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
The crazy neighbors invite Greg and Jen to a party on “Life in Pieces” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
The singing challenges on “The Four” (Fox, 8 p.m.) continue in week five.
There’s an almost timely Groundhog Day episode on “Superstore” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
On “Top Chef” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), the contestants host the ultimate tailgate party in Denver.
“Mysteries at the Museum” (Travel, 9 p.m.) goes to visit Al Capone’s jail cell in Philadelphia.
There’s lip synching on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” (VH1, 8 p.m.).
Superheroes emerge on “Project Runway All Stars” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
Information about another cold case homicide comes forth on “Killing Fields” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies begins its 31 Days of Oscars event today. This year it organizes winning and nominated films by category starting with original song. So: “Gold Diggers of 1935” (6 a.m.), “An Affair to Remember” (8 a.m.), “Lady Be Good” (10 a.m.), “The Strip” (noon), “Robin and the 7 Hoods” (1:45 p.m.), “High Society” (4 p.m.) and “Neptune’s Daughter” (6 p.m.). By prime time, it’s all winners: “Swing Time” (8 p.m.), “The Harvey Girls” (10 p.m.), “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” (midnight), “Days of Wine and Roses” (2 a.m.) and “Born Free” (4:15 a.m.).
NBA action includes Houston at San Antonio (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Oklahoma at Denver (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Los Angeles at Nashville (NBC Sports, 8:30 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Fairleigh Dickinson at St. Francis (CBS Sports, 6 p.m.), Creighton at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 6:30 p.m.), Wichita State at Temple (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Gardner-Webb at Radford (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), SMU at Tulsa (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), Northwestern at Wisconsin (Fox Sports 1, 8:30 p.m.), LIU Brooklyn at Sacred Heart (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Western Kentucky at UTEP (CBS Sports, 10 p.m.), San Francisco at Saint Mary’s (ESPNU, 11 p.m.) and Oregon State at Stanford (Fox Sports 1, 11 p.m.).
Women’s games include Connecticut at South Carolina (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Rita Ora. The View: Amber Tamblyn. The Talk: Anna Faris, Jaymes Vaughan. Harry Connick: Katie Lowes, Chef J.J. Johnson. Steve Harvey: Jason Clarke, Tisha Campbell-Martin. Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Obama. Wendy Williams: The cast of “Step Up: High Water.” The Real: Wanda Sykes, Guy Branum.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Michael Shannon, Meghan McCain, John Mellencamp. Jimmy Kimmel: Lupita Nyong’o, Billy Eichner, Ty Segel, Rick Springfield. Jimmy Fallon: Sam Smith, Cecily Strong, Dan White. Seth Meyers: Rachel Maddow, Dylan McDermott, Rita Ora, Nikki Glaspie. James Corden: Jamie Dornan, Pete Holmes, Rich Brian. Carson Daly: Sonequa Martin-Green, Amy Shark, Jade Tailor. Trevor Noah: Rose McGowan. Jordan Klepper: Talib Kweli. Conan O’Brien: Dr. Phil McGraw, the Soul Flyers, Albert Hammond Jr.