They cast “The Real World” (MTV, 10 p.m.) like Americans assemble Congress: full of people who want to fight and won’t back down. Unlike Congress, they also have a tendency to hook up with one another when they aren’t fighting or drinking. That they’re in Portland seems to mean little except to say that it won’t be nearly as amusing as “Portlandia.”
The eight attractive strangers are all in their early 20s, many of them too young now to have been born when the first season of this worn out concept first aired in 1992. What we soon learned about a show purporting to show “what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real” is that it usually involves drunken behavior and prompts from the producers.
There was a meteorite/fireball streaking across the skies on the East Coast last Friday, but nowhere as big as the 7.000-ton asteroid that plummeted into Russia last month. The fact that its descent was caught by hundreds of digital dashboard cameras provided a lot of material for a new “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) that tries to track down where it crashed.
It comes between two other episodes of “Nova,” one at 8 about wolves in Idaho, and another at 10 about the periodic table of elements.
The 100th episode of “Psych” (USA, 10 p.m.) is a homage to “Clue” — not the board game, but the 1985 film inspired by the board game. Hence there are guest star appearances from the original cast, Christopher Lloyd, Lesley Ann Warren and Martin Mull. Also, viewers can determine the ending by “solving the crime” online via Twitter. Several endings were shot.
Big night for bow fanciers: A new “Arrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.) followed by the Russell Crowe “Robin Hood” (ION, 9 p.m.).
Must be strange for John Wells to have a new episode of his “Southland” (TNT, 10 p.m.) play opposite a replay of his other big cable show, “Shameless” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
Also strange: The fictional cop show “Southland” follows the reality cop show “Boson’s Finest” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
What could beat last week’s theme on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.), the Beatles? How about another set of music from the same era: Motown. On another front, it’s weird to think that the elimination of Paul Jolley last week now guarantees that the winner won’t be a white guy, for the first time in five years.
Mark Hamill and George Takei guest star on the first season finale of “The Neighbors” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
Mitch advises Lily on bullying on a new “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
The reshuffling of tribes last week on “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m.) didn’t change alliances; everybody’s still true to their old configurations. Seems like all the youngest, strongest players are on one side though.
“Whitney” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) ends its second season with back to back episodes.
Jase uses a metal detector to find the wedding ring he lost while hunting on “Duck Dynasty” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
On “Nashville” (ABC, 10 p.m.), Rayna is asked about her personal life on Katie Couric’s talk show.
Lauren Cohen, who plays Maggie on “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.) also turns up on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 9 p.m.) as a sports reporter who was attacked by her cameraman.
President Obama talks to Lori Montenegro about immigration reform to “Noticiero Telemundo” (Telemundo, 6:30 p.m.). But will he speak in Spanish?
“Blade Runner: The Untold Story” (TLC, 10 p.m.) is about the Oscar Pastorius case, not the Harrison Ford.
Whole lot of race car movies tonight on Turner Classic Movies: “Le Mans” (8 p.m.), “The Crowd Roars” (10 p.m.), “The Fast and the Furious” (11:30 p.m.), “Thunder Road” (1 a.m.), “Smokey and the Bandit” (3 a.m.) and “Speed” (4:45 a.m.).
NBA action includes Miami at Chicago (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Brooklyn at Portland (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Montreal at Boston (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.).
In the NIT, it’s Iowa at Virginia (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Brigham Young at Southern Miss (ESPNU, 8 p.m.) and Providence at Baylor (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Dwayne Johnson, Florida Georgia Line, Vanessa Williams. The View: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Jewel. The Talk: Morgan Freeman, Paul Bartolotta, Wayne Brady. Ellen DeGeneres: Adam Levine, Jennifer Hudson, Maroon 5 (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Donald Trump, Gary Gulmn, Wavves. Jay Leno: Kristin Chenoweth, Justin Willman, Josh Groban. Jimmy Kimmel: Bruce Willis, Zendaya Coleman, Divine Fits. Jimmy Fallon: Kathie Lee Gifford, James Purefoy, Dido. Craig Ferguson: Don Rickles, Radha Mitchell. Carson Daly: Andy Dick, Faye, The Men. Tavis Smiley: Thandie Newton. Jon Stewart: Eva Mendes. Stephen Colbert: Carl Edgar Blake II. Conan O’Brien: Seth Green, Charles Phoenix, the Milk Carton Kids. Chelsea Handler: Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts (rerun).