Why didn’t anyone think of this before: A new science fiction series created at the same time as an elaborate online game that has its own concurrent worlds, which may affect action on the series.
As it is, “Defiance” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) took five years to get together. It involves an Earth 30 years hence, after aliens have invaded and are now coexisting with Earthlings and its ravaged landscape, particularly a St. Louis setting where the Gateway Arch has been damaged as well. Most of the action of the actual game, meanwhile, has to do with the West Coast. Julie Benz, Graham Greene and Mia Kirshner are among those who were enlisted into the ambitious sounding series whose only goal may be to be as cool as an online game.
The rise and fall of Wonder Woman and the dearth of female heroes in comics is the subject of the engaging film,”Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines” on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings). Lynda Carter and Gloria Steinem are given credit for reviving the Amazonian superhero in the film by director Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and producer Kelcey Edwards, but the definition of female empowerment extends into the riot grrl movement as well.
The great miniseries “Top of the Lake” (Sundance, 9 p.m.) reaches its conclusion, with every indication that Tui is alive and ony avoiding people in her old life. And when it’s all over, Elisabeth Moss has to leave the heady mountianous panorama of New Zealand and go back to being a ad exec in the canyons of Manhattan.
A finale also comes for the second season of the revived “Dallas” (TNT, 9 p.m.), whose sad task has been to bid farewell to longtime series star Larry Hagman.
The blind auditions are over on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), the judges have their 12 member teams and the battle rounds begin, with judges aided by some recording artists to act as as additional advisors, from Sheryl Crow to Pharrell Williams.
The second cable awards show in as many days, The sixth Logo NewNowNextAwards 2013″ (Logo, 10 p.m.) honors new stars, new reality shows and new hairdos. Fergie (the singer, not the royal) will be honored with the Always Next, Forever Now Award; Kylie Minogue gets the Dance Floor Hero award. But it may be most worth watching for the performance by Tegan and Sara (Ke$ha also performs). Alisha Tyler hosts.
In the new series “Burger Land” (Travel, 10 p.m.) George Motz goes to downs with unique hamburgers, including New Haven. First, though, he’s off to Los Angeles, where he samples the fare at the Apple Pan, Marty’s, Charlie’s Coffee Shop and the Pie ‘n’ Burger in Pasadena.
After being voted out of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) last week, days after fainting during rehearsal Lisa Vanderpump has to settle for being on her two remaining prime time TV shows
Rockerick’s role is questioned on a new episode of “The Following” (Fox, 10 p.m.).
Kyle MacLachlan guest stars on “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS, 8 p.m.); Jimmy Buffett pops up on “Hawaii Five-0” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Oh crap, look what’s back: “Oh, Sit!” (The CW, 8 p.m.), the extreme musical chairs competition.
In the new series “Scam City” (Science, 10 p.m.), Conor Woodman poses as a tourist in a number of cities to look into the ways con men prey on them.
In Massachusetts, it’s Patriot’s Day. But on Comedy Central, it’s Presidents Day with reruns of recent shows with Jimmy Carter on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.) and Bill Clinton on “The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.).
And of Presidents’ wives, among all the women who have been profiled on the series “First Ladies: Influence & Image” (CSPAN, 9 p.m.), Jane Pierce, wife of Franklin Pierce, may have had one of the most difficult times.
Guns are the talk of Congress this week, and on Turner Classic Movies tonight with movies that had gun models as titles: “Winchester ’73” (8 p.m.), “Colt .45” (9:45 p.m.) and “Springfield Rifle” (11:15 p.m.) followed by “The Gun That Won the West” (1 a.m.), “The Fastest Gun Alive” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Quick Gun” (4 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Mark Wahlberg, Emilia Clarke, Lazaro Arbos, Randy Jackson. The View: Elizabeth Mitchell, Brooke Shields. The Talk: Valerie Harper, Michael Bolton, Anna David (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Hilary Duff, D.K. Hughley and Cheryl Burke, Jake Bugg.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Steve Carell, Emilia Clarke, Josh Ritter (rerun). Jay Leno: Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Cuban Jose James (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Jennifer Hudson, bob Saget, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Jimmy Fallon: Justin Timberlake, Timothy Olyphant, Dee Snider (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Rob Lowe. Tavis Smiley: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Chris Columbus. Jon Stewart: Jimmy Carter (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Bill Clinton (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Chelsea Handler, James Lesure, Bengt Washburn. Chelsea Handler: will.i.am, Michael Yo, Jen Kirkman, Ross Mathews.