After spending its days updating Wall Street on how much money its making, CNBC would fill up its prime time with documentaries, Jim Cramer and sometimes, reruns of “The Apprentice.”
Yes, CNBC president Mark Hoffman told reporters at the TV Critics Association earlier this year, “it wasn’t too long ago that CNBC’s primetime was the land of misfit toys. It really bore no connection whatsoever to the core brand, which was a daytime brand. But that’s all changed.”
And the change comes today, as the network starts to cater to the kind of people who watch stock market tickers every day — stories about wealth, wealth, wealth. It’s the Uncle Duck McScrooge network They take baths in their money and go out and fulfill their dreams, go out and buy the most unnecessary expensive things the Earth has to offer.
It starts with a replay of “Secret Lives of the Super Rich: Mega Homes” (CNBC, 8 p.m.), the special that spawned the sequel “Secret Lives of the Super Rich: Mega Homes 2” (CNBC, 8:30 p.m.).
Then comes the new “Treasure Detectives” (CNBC, 9 p.m.), in which Curtis Dowling, pictured above, not only assesses the value of art, antiques and collectibles, but first determines whether they are even real. Such as the man on the first episode who claims he has a 1908 Honus Wagner baseball card.
It’s paired with the new “The Car Chasers” (CNBC, 10 p.m.), in which two car flippers from Austin, Jeff Allen and Perry Barndt, go in look for classic cars, including in tonight’s premiere, a 1981 Ferrari. I want them to buy Jim Cramer’s old jalopy.
Elsewhere tonight, the payoff comes for “Joe Schmo: The Full Bounty” (Spike, 10 p.m.) as the season-long hoax is revealed.
The pleasure of “Celebrity Wife Swap” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is seeing the famous reduced to this low level. Tonight, Mark McGrath and Coolio trade women.
In an unusual Tuesday installment, the first of three episodes of “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) this week, the Top 10 women perform in Las Vegas for viewers votes for the first time.
“The Taste” (ABC, 9 p.m.) reaches its semi-finals.
But it’s the season finale for “White Collar” (USA, 10 p.m.), with Neal and Peter trying to exonerate Neal’s dad, played by Treat Williams.
Olympian Missy Franklin guest stars on “Pretty Little Liars” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.).
“Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan” (BBC America, 10 p.m.) goes to great lengths to bother the giant Malaysian honey bees.
Co-star Chris O’Donnell also directs the latest episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Legless Kevin Michael Connelly trains at the U.S. Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Ga. on a new “Armed & Ready” (Travel, 10 p.m.).
With 6.2 million viewers, Sunday’s premiere of “Vikings” (History, 10 p.m.) scored the best series start on cable this year.
The first reading for “Hit List” happens on “Smash” (NBC, 10 p.m.); perhaps it will be as big a success as “Bombshell.” Sean Hayes guest stars, with frilly cuffs.
“Dance Moms” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) take Abby speed-dating to see if it will soften her up.
It’s Halloween on “The New Normal” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.) and Bryan wants a Honey Boo Boo-themed holiday. Nicole Richie and George Takei make cameo appearances.
DiNozzo gets a tropical caper on “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
The “Doomsday Preppers” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) who live near Mount St. Helens may have a very good reason to be prepared.
“The Greatest” (VH1, 9 p.m.) begins a give part countdown of the “100 Sexiest Artists.” And coming in at No. 99, Georgia O’Keefe!
There’s an internal conflict in Naomi Campbell’s team on “The Face” (Oxygen, 9 p.m.), which plays opposite both “Face Off” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) and “The Man Who Lost His Face” (TLC, 9:10 p.m.). (Face it, you could also watch a taped episode of “Face the Nation”).
Robert Osborne chooses the titles tonight on Turner Classic Movies: “Good News” (8 p.m.), “The Hard Way” (10 p.m.) and “Limelight” (midnight) and two from the Marx Brothers, “A Day at the Races” (2:30 a.m.) and “A Night in Casablanca” (4:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Celtics at 76ers (TNT, 7 p.m.) and Lakers at Thunder (TNT, 9:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Flyers at Rangers (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
In men’s college hoops, it’s Arkansas at Missouri (ESPN, 7 p.m.), St. John’s at Notre Dame (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Virginia Tech at Duke (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Southern Mississippi at Marshall (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Ohio State at Indiana (ESPN, 9 p.m), Memphis at UTEP (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and Alabama at Mississippi (ESPNU, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tina Fey, Gillian Jacobs. The View: Martin Short, Dr. Lindsey Duncan. The Talk: Gilles Marini, Susan Feniger, Michael Yo. Ellen DeGeneres: Salma Hayek, Kellan Lutz, Luke Bryan.
Late Night
David Letterman: Kim & Kourtney Kardashian, Buddy Guy (rerun). Jay Leno: Jennifer Lawrence, Phil & Willie Robertson, Andy Grammer (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Zach Braff, Lauren Cohan, Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players featuring Rick Springfield, John Fogerty, Rick Nielsen, Lee Ving & Krist Novoselic. Jimmy Fallon: Channing Tatum, Megan Hilty, Tim Ferriss, Graham Parker (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Larry King, Abbie Cornish. Carson Daly: Nicholas Hoult, Curtis Peoples (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Matthew Fox. Jon Stewart: Sandra Day O’Connor. Stephen Colbert: James Franco. Conan O’Brien: Colin Farrell, Jenna Elfman, Frightened Rabbit. Chelsea Handler: Jillian Michaels, John Caparulo, Arden Myrin, James Davis, Ross Mathews.