One of TV’s best series returns for a fourth season. Even at a time when westerns are growing slowly on the edges of cable Graham Yost’s “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.) stands out for its well-drawn, colorful characters, spouting terrific lines from right out of Elmore Leonard, who inspired the central character, Raylan Givens, played with such assurance by Timothy Olyphant.
Walter Goggins’ character Boyd Crowder was killed in the original Leonard short story where the story originated, but it’s a boon to the series that he continues as Givens’ foe. The season begins promisingly, with some mystery found in Givens’ jailed father’s old house, Patton Oswalt appearing as a local constable and an old war buddy joining Boyd.
The little told history of those who fought slavery in the earliest days is told at last in “The Abolitionists,” a three part series on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) that does a good job with re-enactments of names that are well known, from Frederick Douglass and John Brown to William Lloyd Garrison and Angelina Grimke.
It was a PBS documentary on Teach for America that inspired Michelle Rhee to tackle education in tough spots, so no wonder she let cameras follow her around during her headline-making but relatively short reign as superintendent of Washington D.C. schools. Her reign is followed on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings).
In another unusual case of a broadcast show moving to cable, “Cougar Town” (TBS, 10 p.m.) tries not to change a thing, tippiling its wine among friends and hardly noticing the exit from ABC. It appears amid a slew of old episodes of “Big Bang Theory” (TBS, 8, 9:30, 9, 9:30, 10:30 p.m.).
After virtually inventing the field of HD nature explorations in films like “Life” the people behind that co-production with the BBC is back to concentrate on one big continent. The seven-part “Africa” (Discovery, 8 p.m.), made over a seven year period, promises first looks at rare species and awe-inspiring looks at the diverse landscape. It begins tonight with a look at the Kalahara in Africa’s southwest corner.
After a decade of doing his late night show after midnight, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC, 11:35 p.m.) moves shoulder-to-shoulder with the big guys, Dave and Jay. He ought to hold his own by doing nothing more than changing his set. It’s a shame though, since, it will be tougher to catch both the monologues of Letterman and Kimmel back to back as before. And “NightLine” (ABC, 12:35 a.m.) moves further into the night.
Enough time has apparently passed to stage another elaborate season of “The Joe Schmo Show” (Spike, 10 p.m.), at once a broad satire on reality TV that is also a massive joke played on one person — a Pittsburgh guy who thinks he’s on a bounty hunter competition show. Lorenzo Lamas is one of the fake contestants, playing himself, but the mark almost recognizes another overly familiar actor amid his competition. The jokes are low at times but some can be awfully funny.
A return comes for two popular shows with lying at their core, “Pretty Little Liars” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.) and “The Lying Game” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).
“The Roast with Jeff Ross” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) returns for a new season with guests Lisa Lampanelli, Anthony Jeselnik and Bobby Lee. He can be over the top sometimes, but often the targets deserve it. Tonight, for example: the Westboro Baptist Church.
Lately, “Parenthood” (NBC, 10 p.m.) has been getting more viewers than “Vegas” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
We may be getting past the holidays: Just about everything on broadcast TV is new, except for a couple of reruns of “Modern Family” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “The Middle” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) that start the night on ABC.
Christopher Lloyd — and a classic DeLorean — guest star on a new “Raising Hope” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The prank show that serves as a revenge show for elders, “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) returns.
Men’s hoops include Alabama at Missouri (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN2, 7 p.m. and Ohio State at Purdue (ESPN, 9 p.m.).
The monthlong Tuesday night showcase to caper movies on Turner Classic Movies offers “Ocean’s Eleven” (8 p.m.), “Seven Thieves” (10:15 p.m.), “Bob le Flambeur” (12:15 a.m.), “Kaleidoscope” (2 a.m.) and “5 Against the House” (4 a.m.).
It is Elvis’ birthday though, so the day is given up to “Speedway” (6:15 a.m.), “Kissin’ Cousins” (8 a.m.), “Tickle Me” (9:45 a.m.), “Live a Little, Love a Little” (11:30 a.m.), “Viva Las Vegas” (1:15 p.m.), “Jailhouse Rock” (2:45 p.m.), “It Happened at the World’s Fair” (4:30 p.m.) and “Love Me Tender” (6:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jessica Chastain, Busy Phillips, Farnoosh Torabi. The View: Bradley Cooper, Jeffrey Ross. The Talk: Kathy Griffin, Susan Feniger. Ellen DeGeneres: Kaley Cuoco, Padma Lakshmi.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Brian Williams, Morrissey. Jay Leno: Emma Stone, Josh Gad, the Whigs. Jimmy Kimmel: Jennifer Aniston, No Doubt. Jimmy Fallon: Jeff Bridges, Marlon Wayans, Ian Frazier, Bat for Lashes. Craig Ferguson: Billy Connolly, Meghan Rath. Carson Daly: Brother Ali, Desaparaceidos (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Kyra Sedgwick (rerun). Jon Stewart: Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Stephen Colbert: Chris Kluwe. Conan O’Brien: Kaley Cuoco, Anthony Mackie, Gary Clark Jr. Chelsea Handler: Bradley Trevor Greive, Brody Stevens, Arden Myrin, Jo Koy.