The networks’ fall TV season by and large begins next week, but The CW tries to get some attention once more by starting a bit early. They begin with a sort of soft opening: A special in which a pop star and fashion icon converse – “Gaga by Gaultier” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
It’s followed by a plug for the network’s new season: “The CW 2011 Fall Preview Special” (The CW, 9:15 p.m.), hosted by Maggie Q of “Nikita” and Kristoffer Polaha of the new “Ringer.”
The daytime season by and large begins today with new entry “Anderson” (check local listings), helmed by already pretty busy Anderson Cooper, chatting up guests and his audience. First up: the family of Amy Winehouse.
Natalie Morales and Andy Cohen host the 60th “Miss Universe Pageant” (NBC, 9 p.m.), from Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bebel Gilberto an Claudia Leitte entertain. Among the esteemed judges: Helio Castroneves, Vivica A. Fox and Connie Chung.
The CNN/Tea Party Republican Debate (CNN, 8 p.m.) from the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, has all the trappings to be the entertainment we expect, unless moderator Wolf Blitzer has decided it’s already boiled down to a two man race between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.
On the three-hour finale of “Bachelor Pad” (ABC, 8 p.m.), the four remaining couples – Vienna and Kasey, Michelle and Graham, Ella and Kirk and Holly and Michael – have to master a Cirque du Soleil routine, then judges Trista Sutter, Jason Mesnick and Ali Fedotowsky eliminate a couple. Then tney go straight to the finale in the final hour.
“Kate Plus 8” (TLC, 8 p.m.) comes to an end after seven years and the loss of the husband, Jon. The remaining family looks back at what they’ve done.
“HGTV’s Design Star” (HGTV, 9 p.m.), down to two Chicagoans, Karl Sponholtz and Meg Caswell, gets a sixth season winner. It’s down to five chefs, meanwhile, on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Also back with a new season today in daytime programming: “Ellen” (check local listings).
And on cable, there is an attempt to wake up the student populace with the new game show “The Substitute” (MTV, 4:30 p.m.), in which host Jon Gabrus invades a random classroom and divides the class to answer trivia questions, with cash and extra credit offered to winners.
“The Closer” (TNT, 9 p.m.) comes to an end for its summer episodes; the series won’t wrap until the next batch of episodes. There will be a pause in the season as well from “Rizzoli and Isles” (TNT, 10 p.m.) after tonight’s episode.
Spend a couple hours with that low-low German accent in the overview “Kissinger” (National Geographic, 8 p.m.), drawn from 25 hours of interviews with the former Secretary of State.
A second season starts in Detroit and Connecticut for “Extreme Couponing” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
A sixth season starts for “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” (Food, 10 p.m.) with Guy Fieri, Michael Symon, Alton Brown and Bobby Flay discussing fried chicken, hot dogs and apple pie.
Former “Caprica” stars Alessandra Torresanti and Sasha Roiz show up on a new episode of “Warehouse 13” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
It’s Marilyn Monroe night on Turner Classic Movies with “Don’t Bother to Knock” (8 p.m.), “Niagara” (9:30 p.m.), “The Prince and the Showgirl” (11:30 p.m.) and “The Misfits” (1:30 a.m.).
In Monday Night Football (ESPN, 8 p.m.), it’s Patriots at Dolphins.
Daytime Talk
Regis and Kelly: Greg Kinnear, Paul Wesley. The View: Army Major Michael Erwin, Dr. Phil McGraw, Victoria Justice. The Talk: Lorraine Bracco, Chris Kataan, Molly Shannon. Ellen DeGeneres: Ashton Kutcher. Wendy Williams: Kate Gosselin.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Paul Rudd, Bill Burr, Dennis Chambers (rerun). Jay Leno: Christina Applegate, Paul “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio, Glen Campbell. Jimmy Kimmel: Nathon Fillion, Save Salmoni, Sia. Jimmy Fallon: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alexander Skarsgard, the Zombies. Craig Ferguson: Lauren Graham, Chris Young. Tavis Smiley: Jessye Norman. Carson Daly: Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, Adam Blackstone, the Kills (rerun). Jon Stewart: Admiral Mike Mullen. Stephen Colbert: Diane Sawyer. Conan O’Brien: Howie Mandel, Floyd Mayweather, Alexander. Chelsea Handler: Roy Handler, Michael Broussard & Chuy Bravo, Brad Wollack, Loni Love, T.J. Miller.