Convention politics faces its most formidable competition with the start of NFL football season.
First comes the hoopla of “Football Night in America” (NBC, 7:30 p.m.) across state lines at a pre show concert from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in midtown Manhattan featuring Mariah Carey and No Doubt, hosted by Michelle Beadle.
Then comes the main event from East Rutherford, N.J.: the Cowboys at Giants (NBC, 8:30 p.m.).
For Bob Costas, it’s back to earth from his Olympics duties, leading a team that includes Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Hines Ward and Dan Patrick, covering a game that will pre-empt NBC network convention coverage.
Too bad, since tonight’s prime time final hour of the 2012 Democratic National Convention (CSPAN, PBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBS, 7 p.m.; ABC, CBS, 10 p.m.) features former President Bill Clinton, U.S. Senate candidate from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren and the formal states’ roll call vote.
Still, it’s likely to get a bigger rating in 18-36 age category than “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (TLC, 10 p.m.)? The Republicans couldn’t with the group at their convention last week (though its aggregate audience number was higher).
It comes as part of an all night marathon for Honey Boo Boo Child tonight, with eight hours of the first six episodes running starting at 7 p.m.
The Top 6 all dance on “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 8 p.m.) before two are eliminated and the Top four finalists are revealed.
Frank and Jenn conspired to get Britney voted off “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) last week, so head of household Ian got his revenge by nominating them both for eviction. The power of veto competition is tonight, so it might all change.
“Ghost Hunters” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) returns with a visit to an old jail in South Carolina. But with Grant Wilson having retired from the show, it’s all Jason Hawes and the team now.
The Cedric the Entertainer sitcom “The Soul Man” (TV Land, 10 p.m.) ends its first season.
Sugar Ray Leonard joins a boxing-themed episode of “Top Chef Masters” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies begins a 16-movie, month-long, Wednesday night salute to Lauren Bacall, beginning with her striking debut in “To Have and Have Not” (8 p.m.) followed by “The Big Sleep” (10 p.m.), “Dark Passage” (midnight) and “Key Largo” (2 a.m.). The evening is capped by two documentaries, “Bacall on Bogart” (4 a.m.) and “Bogart: The Untold Story” (4:30 a.m.).
The Paralympic Games (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) continue from London.
Play in the U.S. Open (ESPN2, noon and 7 p.m.) reaches quarterfinals.
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Meredith Vieira, Demi Lovato, Amare Stoudemire. The View: Kim Kardashian, Kristine Casey. The Talk: Tyler Perry, Harvey Weinstein, Anne Burrell, Paul Magers (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Big Time Rush, Sofia Vergara (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Emma Watson, Julie Chen, Michelle Obama, Matchbox Twenty. Jay Leno: Adam Levine, Magic Johnson, Grace Potter. Jimmy Kimmel: Bob Newhart, Kevin Hart, Miss Willie Brown. Jimmy Fallon: Ellen Barkin, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan. Craig Ferguson: Jeremy Irons, Monica Potter. Tavis Smiley: Robert Reich. Carson Daly: Dr. Drew Pinsky, Jonah Leher, Bombay Bicycle Club (rerun). Jon Stewart: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Stephen Colbert: Michael Grunwald. Conan O’Brien: Lauren Graham, Rob Delaney, Best Coast. Chelsea Handler: Sanya Richards-Ross, John Caparulo, Arden Mrin, Mo Mandel.