Say hello to Esquire television, which takes over what used to be G4, with more programming tailored toward guys (but unlike the magazine nothing about tailoring at all).
Also missing from the Esquire legacy: literary pedigree, political insight and jokes by beautiful women (though I could see them adapting that).
The first of the new series on the network is “The Getaway” (Esquire, 10 p.m.) in which a different celebrity takes a trip each week. To start, it’s Joel McHale of “Community” and “The Soup” fame, right, going to Belfast, Northern Island to taste the whiskey. The show is produced by Anthony Bourdain, whose own new show has premiered on CNN.
Also on the network tonight is “Knife Fight” (Esquire, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) which is not an adaptation of the syndicated all night syndicated knife show, unfortunately, but what is described as an “extreme cooking show” from Ilan Hall, second season “Top Chef” winner.
Part of Martin Smith’s report on the shambles of retirement planning in this country on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) includes a look at his own meager funds, decimated by college and divorce. Unscrupulous financial planners and hidden fees for 401(k) plans are to blame, as well as companies that have raided pension plans. It’s an important and disheartening report.
In “Citizen Hearst” (Bio, 8 p.m.), what sounds like a biography of the newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst quickly becomes a thinly disguised, one-sided 125th anniversary corporate puff piece, insufferable in its self-promotion, in crowing about its magazine line and cable networks, where executives are so proud at turning networks like Arts & Entertainment and Lifetime into purveyors of bad reality TV. And guess what? They also own the network where this corporate P.R. runs. Save it for the company retreat, fellas.
On the new series “Backyard Oil” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) another set of lovable hillbillies become rich with that they used to call a bubbling crude. It follows a new episode of “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) and its pre-show, “Deadliest Catch: On Deck” (Discovery, 8 p.m.).
In advance of this year’s NFL draft comes this look at the one 30 years ago, when six quarterbacks were selected in the first round, with the most famous names hinted in the title, “Elway to Marino” (ESPN, 8 and 9:30 p.m.). Ken Rodgers’ film is the latest in the network’s “30 for 30” documentary series.
The old “Teen Titans” TV show, which started a three year run a decade ago and was based on an old comic book title from the 1980s in which Robin was a kingpin with a bunch of superhero pals, got a revival in the comic book “Teen Titans Go!” (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.) which itself is the reason for the new version featuring Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire. This time, the emphasis is on the funny stuff and the charactered have been severely shortened such that their heads are almost as big as their bodies.
Boxer Victor Ortiz got the lowest scores during Stevie Wonder night Monday on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 9 p.m.). Will he be going home tonight? Andy Dick has been averaging a slightly lower score all season.
The last of the battle rounds are conducted on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
The second new reality show this week based on a less than sharp celebrity (the first was E’s “What would Ryan Lochte Do?”) is “Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life” (MTV, 11 p.m.), which will probably be more crazy than beautiful.
Just five divers are left on “Splash” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Tonight, they get junior dive champs to help them.
America wasn’t ready for “Ready for Love” (NBC, 9 p.m.). The show was canceled after just two episodes, though it does run tonight if only to get a glimpse at the third bachelor, Ernesto.
The new “Girl Code” (MTV, 10:30 p.m.) is the female version of the humorous how-to “Guy Code” that’s on MTV2.
Tony and Ziva consider getting romantic on tonight’s “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Abby Lee Miller’s stint on a daytime show is chronicled on tonight’s “Dance Moms” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
For a farm to table challenge, remaining chefs on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 8 p.m.) go to meet the animals.
The two night salute to recent film preservation concludes on Turner Classic Movies, with restored versions of “Treasure Island” (8 p.m.), “The Invisible Man” (10 p.m.), “Lawrence of Arabia” (11:30 p.m.) and “Gunga Din” (3:30 a.m.).
Movies with numbers in the title tonight include “Ocean’s 13” (Esquire, 6:30 p.m.), “27 Dresses” (FX, 8 and 10:30 p.m.), “16 Wishes” (Disney, 8:30 p.m.) and “Kung Fu Panda 2” (HBO Family, 10 p.m.). Does “XXX: State of the Union” (Encore, 8 p.m.) count?
NBA playoff action includes Milwaukee at Miami (NBA, 7:30 p.m.), Boston at New York (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Golden State at Denver (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Boston at Philadelphia (NBC Sports, 7:30 p.m.) and Dallas at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kate Hudson, Christina Hendricks, Roger Goodell. The View: Tom Selleck, Jessica Pare. The Talk: Kurt Warner, trainer Angela Davis. Ellen DeGeneres: Diane Keaton, Bon Jovi.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Steve Martin, Jenna Fischer, Edie Brickell. Jay Leno: Carol Burnett, Stephen Amell, Plain White T’s. Jimmy Kimmel: Harrison Ford, Anthony Mackie, M83 (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Reese Witherspoon, Eli Manning, Phosphorescent, K-OS. Craig Ferguson: Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall. Carson Daly: Joey Bada$$, Wild Child, Maximum Hedrum, the Coup (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Mary Williams, Jane Fonda. Jon Stewart: Salman Rushdie. Stephen Colbert: Eric Schmidt. Conan O’Brien: Jennifer Lawrence, Nick Kroll, Randy Houser (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Nicole Richie, John Caparulo, Sarah Tiana, Dov Davidoff.