The first season of “American Horror Story” began with twisted energy and some promise, but quickly devolved into impenetrable mess that was eventually defined, for Emmy purposes, as a mini-series.Well. It’s back again under the name “American Horror Story: Asylum” (FX, 10 p.m.) with a little trademark symbol by its logo, as if to differentiate it from the first, with which it has nothing in common except for the writers and a few holdover actors in completely different roles.
Chief among them is Jessica Lange, who plays a sadistic nun presiding over an insane asylum in 1964. But there is also Evan Peters, the kid who was the mass killer last season, playing a kid accused to be a mass killer this time (what does Ryan Murphy see in this kid?). Finally, there is Zachary Quinto, who plays a doctor who gets swirled up into the treatments he does not approve of, in the second episode, when there’s an exorcism.
Sarah Paulson is a reporter who gets inside for an interview and is not allowed to leave. Among the broader stereotypes is James Cromwell as a mad doctor intent on shock treatment and lobotomies, Chloe Sevigny as a nympho imprisoned in the asylum and Joseph Fiennes as a monsignor Lange lusts after. And there’s no getting away from this guy: Adam Levine of “The Voice” as an early victim.
It’s a mish mash of horror film cliches, some of which Murphy has already used, all stirred up, put on simmer and intended to go way over the top rather consistently. An off putting mess.
The new series “My Life is a Lifetime Movie” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) has a more clever title than what it turns out to be: docudrama re-enacting “true life stories” with comments from the original participants. In the premiere a teacher is wrongly accused of having sex with students and a woman wonders whether her husband is a Cuban spy.
It comes after a new special, “Remembering Whitney” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), recalling the life of singer Whitney Houston, in advance of an apparent reality show about the family, “The Houstons: On Our Own,” coming next week.
“Suburgatory” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) finally returns for a new season, immediately after a new “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
“Nashville” (ABC, 10 p.m.) did OK in its debut last week. More political intrigue is promised for tonight’s second episode.
But “Arrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.) rated higher than any premiere on The CW in three years. Tonight Kelly Hu pops up in a white wig, portraying China White. Elsewhere, Annie Potts guest stars on a new “Animal Practice” (NBC, 9 p.m.); Brooke Shields appears as a nightmare mom on “The Middle” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Kathryn Erbe is on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Cynthia Nixon dons a long wig to take a lead role in “World Without End” (Reelz, 8 p.m.), a Middle Ages miniseries that the follow’s up to Ken Follett’s “The Pillars of the Earth.”
The contestants are still singing at the exotic rented residences meant to represent judges’ homes on “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.), in a two hour episode that will be the only one this week due to baseball.
Modern forensic science is actually quite different than is presented on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS, 10 p.m.), according to a new report on “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
The premiere of “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.) fizzled in the ratings last week. It continues to smolder this week. “Bid to Destroy” (National Geographic, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), which debuted last week, is a series about a demolition company in New England.
Game 2 of the WNBA finals has Indiana at Minnesota (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
There are a couple more exhibition men’s NBA games: Cleveland at Philadelphia (NBA, 7:30 p.m.) and Utah at Los Angeles Clippers (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kaley Cuoco, Jason Aldean. Katie Couric: Bill O’Reilly. The View: Valerie Bertinelli, Jeremy Sisto. The Talk: Billy Gardell, Chi-Lan Lieu, Susan Barnett. Ellen DeGeneres: Matthew Fox, Ellie Goulding.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Stephen Colbert, Theresa Caputo, Martha Wash (rerun). Jay Leno: Liam Neeson, Lisa Lampanelli, the Gaslight Anthem (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Joel McHale, Joe Walsh. Jimmy Fallon: Emma Watson, Tony Banza, Michael Symon. Craig Ferguson: Kay Adams, Carson Kressley. Carson Daly: Nate Silver. Tavis Smiley: Peter Ubel. Jon Stewart: Nate Silver. Stephen Colbert: Tyler Perry. Conan O’Brien: Anthony Anderson, Alex Wagner, Ellie Goulding. Chelsea Handler: Miley Cyrus, John Caparulo, Fortune Feimster, Josh Wolf.