A couple of actors start new reality careers on cable today with new shows.
“Surviving Evil” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) is a true crime story about surviving attackers hosted by Charisma Carpenter, the former “Buffy” alum who had her own incident on the beach when she was 22.
And McDreamy himself of “Grey’s Anatomy” puts on a helmet and follows the path forged by Paul Newman in the new series “Patrick Dempsey: Racing LeMans” (Velocity, 10 p.m.), in which the actor prepares for France’s famous race.
Part of the impact of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Linoln Memorial in 1963 was because it was broadcast live. Likewise, today’s 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, 11 a.m.) with speeches from Presidents Obama, Clinton and Carter, marking that occasion, wlll also be broadcast live.
So much happened on last week’s episode of “The Bridge” (FX, 10 p.m.), you might think the whole case has been solved. (Hint: It ain’t over yet).
UFO sightings! Unexplained species! Can we have science look into such phenomena? It happens on the new series “The Unexplained Files” (Science, 9 p.m.), which, like the other Discovery networks, seems to be nudging toward tall tales in hopes of big ratings.
Whether there’s a need for such a show, opposite “Paranormal Witness” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) may be one of the inquiries that could come up in “Joe Rogan Questions Everything” (Syfy, 10 p.m.).
Elissa is head of household and Aaryn and McRae are up for eviction as the veto competition is held on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.). But the biggest star of the episode will be the return of Zing-Bot.
They’re starting to circle around the local paper dealer, Jack Marshall, as the prime suspect on “Broadchurch” (BBC America, 10 p.m.). But that may only because he’s played by David Bradley, who presided over the murderous Red Wedding on “Game of Thrones.”
Likewise, Mindy Kahling will make a more amusing than usual “Top Chef Masters” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) when she turns up as guest judge on a show where the kiddie act Yo Gabba Gabba also appear. “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.), meanwhile, is two hours, and features as guest judges the sons of the regulars, stepping in.
They plumb ran out of stories of “Evil Twins” to exploit, so here’s an expansion of that original true crime genre, in the new “Evil Kin” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.), the first tale of which involves siblings (but not twins).
Boy band of the minute One Direction performs on the results show of “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.) in which six acts from last night’s semi-finals gets cut. And I’ll bet one of them will be thinking as they go out the door: “At least I’m better than One Direction.”
Item I neglected to pick up at Wal-Mart yesterday: Towels and pillows that depict the bearded dudes on “Duck Dynasty” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
Kids are back in college, so why not give them some tips among the drama on the new “Tough Love: Co-Ed” (VH1, 10 p.m.).
King of a “Dance Moms” for cheerleaders, a new season starts for “Cheer Perfection” (TLC, 9:30 p.m.). It gets a considerable boost from a couple of new episodes of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (TLC, 8:30 and 9 p.m.).
Anthony Anderson returns to the sitcom “The Soul Man” (TV Land, 11 p.m.).
Hey isn’t it about time for the finale of “Camp” (NBC, 10 p.m.). Camping season is just about over.
I’ve lost any enthusiasm for a reality show that celebrates goofuses and their AK-47s, even if they consider themselves “Top Shot All-Stars” (History, 10 p.m.). Sorry the only history this seems to bring up is Newtown.
The network behind the “Fashion Police” take a standard magazine feature and turn it into a special: “Who Wore It Better?” (E!, 8 p.m.).
Even with no foam finger and a whole lot less tongue, we’ll never look at it the same again: “Hannah Montana: The Movie” (Disney, 9 p.m.).
Shirley Jones, who just released a racy autobiography, is star on Turner Classic Movies today with 10 of her movies, “April Love” (6 a.m.), “A Ticklish Affair” (8 a.m.), “The Secret of My Success” (10 a.m.), “Pepe” (noon), “Elmer Gantry” (3 p.m.), “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (5:45 p.m.), “The Music Man” (8 p.m.),“Carousel” (11 p.m.), “The Cheyenne Social Club” (1:30 a.m.) and “The Happy Ending” (3:30 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Mariah Carey, Kerry Washington. The View: Sweet Brown, Lennon & Maisy Stella, Billy Eichner, Tom Dickson, Chuck Nice, Rachel Campos-Duffy (rerun). The Talk: Melissa Joan Hart, Joey Lawrence, Dr. Wendy Walsh, Cameron Mathison (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Mark Wahlberg, Sean Combs, Casey Wilson, Bonnie Raitt (rerun). Wendy Williams: Magic Johnson, Vinny Guadagnino, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, DJ Pauly Delvecchio (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, Hayden Panettiere, In the Valley Below. Jay Leno: Matt LeBlanc, Natasha Leggero, Sky Blu. Jimmy Kimmel: Selena Gomez, Ben Stein, Palma Violets (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Tyra Banks, Simon Pegg, Dominique Ansel (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Betty White, Sarah Paulson (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dr. Clayborne Carson, Martin Luther King III, Rev. Bernice King. Conan O’Brien: Alexander Skarsgard, George R.R. Martin, Houndmouth (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Jeff Wild, Sarah Tiana, Matt Braunger.