Few things are quite as entertaining these days as a Republican Presidential Debate (MSNBC, 8 p.m.). And this one from the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., will feature eight candidates (including Michele Bachmann, right). It was big enough, apparently, to force President Obama to move his speech on jobs to Thursday.
The big event Thursday, of course, is the start of the NFL season (which Obama has promised not to pre-empt). The start of football means the start of the 35th season of “Inside the NFL” (Showtime, 9 p.m.). It follows the look at the heroics of a former player and the Army’s cover up of the circumstances of his death in “The Tillman Story” (Showtime, 7:25 p.m.).
Also: The final four are unveiled on “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
It’s Freddie’s birthday on “The Hour” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
The construction of One World Trade Center and the National September 11 Memorial is the focus on “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m.).
Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at health hazards faced by 9/11 rescue workers in the special “Terror in the Dust” (CNN, 11 p.m.).
One of the more unusual stretches to get in on the 9/11 10th anniversary wagon comes on Animal Planet with “Saved” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) concentrated on 9/11 stories of humans and animals bonding. Seems odd, coming in between a couple of episodes of “Confessions: Animal Hoarding” (Animal Planet, 8 and 10 p.m.). The late episode, a new one is about a woman with dead cats in her freezer.
The assignment is a dessert spread for a fancy Lisa Vanderpump party on “Top Chef: Just Desserts” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
It’s the men’s and women’s quarterfinals in the U.S. Open (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
This doesn’t happen often, Martin Scorsese’s two great mob movies, “Goodfellas” (AMC, 8 p.m.) and “Casino” (Encore, 8 p.m.) play opposite one another. Switch back and forth and get Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci’s characters all mixed up from the 1990 film to the 1995 one.
Another great movie from the 90s vies for your attention: “Fargo” (Cinemax, 8:15 p.m.).
Porsche and Kalia fight for their lives in a power of veto competition on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.). Maybe there will be another competition to bring back Tori Spelling.
In other reality shows, I’m anxious to check out “Ton of Cash” (VH1, 9 p.m.).
Keep forgetting that Ryan Reynolds was in the 2002 dud “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” (Showtime 2, 9 p.m.) – with Tara Reed and Tim Matheson.
It’s a local Rhode Island stop on “Ghost Hunters” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) – Seaview Terrace, the Newport cottage where “Dark Shadows” shot its exteriors.
On his new talk show “Master Debaters with Jay Mohr” (Fuel TV, 10:30 p.m.) the topics will presumably include cars and self abuse.
Daytime Talk
Regis and Kelly: Matt Damon, La La & Carmelo Anthony. The View: Kim, Kourtney & Khloe Kardashian, “dust Lady” Marcy Borders. The Talk: Nick Cannon. Ellen DeGeneres: Allison Janney (rerun). Wendy Williams: Susan Lucci, Johnny Iuzzini (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, Sarah Jessica Parker. Jay Leno: Kristin Chenoweth, Chris Colfer. Jimmy Kimmel: Elijah Wood, AWOLNATION. Jimmy Fallon: Marion Cotillard, Nick Swardson, Anthrax . Craig Ferguson: James Marsden, Wolfgang Puck. Tavis Smiley: Bob Herbert, Glen Campbell. Carson Daly: Amanda Palmer, Kat Corbett, Matt & Kim, Screaming Females (rerun). Jon Stewart: Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Stephen Colbert: Robin B. Wright. Conan O’Brien: Don Johnson, Busy Philipps, Band of Horses. Chelsea Handler: Dave Grohl, Bobby Lee, Jen Kirkman, Josh Wolf.