After feeling a little proprietary about the whole strangers-locked-in-a-fake-house with cameras thing when “Glass House” started, the 14th season of the original “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.) begins, with a dozen hopefuls to be joined by four past players.
Among the new comers is Russell Hantz’ brother and a Playboy model. I saw a spoiler post that named the returning players and none of their names rang a bell (but these people generally don’t leave a lasting impression).
No doubt the show will be trying harder this season because of the competition, but they’ve already gotten them beat with three times as much primetime broadcast time and an additional 21 hours a week of raw feed in Big Brother After Dark (Showtime, 1 a.m.), which begins even later this year.
The new season of “The Real L Word” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) finds the show changing again, shedding some women (Claire, Francine and Sajdah) and picking up others (two in L.A. and three others in Brooklyn). But some characters return as well, chief of whom is the tattooed effects makeup artist Whitney, Romi and married couple Cori and Kacy.
The series is accompanied this time by something new, “Polyamory: Married & Dating” (Showtime, 11 p.m.) about some populous marriages.
Another really great episode of “Louie” (FX, 10:30 p.m.), about the difficulties of finding and keeping male friendship, set in Miami.
Crimes among the rich are explored “Behind the Mansion Walls” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
How dumb is summer? “Wipeout” (ABC, 9 p.m.) is on twice a week.
Developing a pretty good imitation of the crazy accent of the people on “American Colony: Meet the Hutterites” (National Geographic, 8 and 9 p.m.).
Hadn’t realized that the network is preceding two episodes of the new “Anger Management” (FX, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) with an hour of reruns of Charlie Sheen’s old show, “Two and a Half Men” (FX, 8 and 8:30 p.m.).
Robert Osborne chooses the films tonight on Turner Clasic Movies: “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (8 p.m.), “Stormy Weather” (9:45 p.m.), “Oscar Wilde” (11:15 p.m.), “My Reputation” (1 a.m.), “Autumn Leaves” (2:45 a.m.) and “This Modern Age” (4:45 a.m.), which was released in 1931.
Your nightly James Bond fix: “Live and Let Die” (Encore, 8 p.m.) with a theme song by Wings.
Stage 11 of the Tour de France (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) travels from Albertville to Les Sybelles.
In WNBA action, it’s Los Angeles at Indiana (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Anne Hathaway, John Leguizamo, Seth Meyers. The View: Bryan Cranston, Mario Cantone. Ellen DeGeneres: Wanda Sykes, Bon Iver (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Anne Hathaway, Moody McCarthy, Loudon Wainwright III. Jay Leno: Denis Leary, Olivia Munn, Kenny Chesney. Jimmy Kimmel: Fred Willard, Grace Poter & the Nocturnals. Jimmy Fallon: Queen Latifah, Noah Wyle, Cloud Nothings. Craig Ferguson: Kelly MacDonald, Kevin McKidd, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Paul Ingrassia, Mira Sorvino. Carson Daly: Rich Eisen, Alison Klayman, the Horrors (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Dana Carvey, Mayim Bialik, Donovan (rerun).