Of the lighter, fun dramas that proliferate on cable, “Burn Notice” (USA, 9 p.m.) was one of the best, with a decent premise — a CIA agent frozen out — a strong cast of Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless not to mentionBruce Campbell and the occasional Lucy Lawless or Tricia Helfer.
With the sunniness of tropical climes not seen this vividly since “Miami Vice,” it had a decent run after seven seasons, promising to end tonight with an emphatic climax. Never saw the show? They’re doing a marathon of it all day starting at 6 a.m.
It is also the season finale for “Graceland” (USA, 10 p.m.). But it will be back for another season. It’s the season finale as well for “Rookie Blue” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Allowing a handful of singers to perform in its premiere proves that “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.) may need the two full hours it gets tonight.
Now down to the final four and less than a week to play, newly crowned head of household Andy gets to choose nominees for eviction, which will also be held live tonight on “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.). The all-female jury will also greet the recently tossed Judd.
Amid the reruns, another one of those network peeks at their fall fare, in the “2013 CBS Fall Preview” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
A year at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts is seen through the freshmen, the seniors and their parents in the documentary “Fame High” (Showtime, 7 p.m.).
NBC seems to be bent on turning into the Game Show Network, with a peek into the ongoing “Million Second Quiz” (NBC, 8 p.m.) leading into two reruns of “Hollywood Game Night” (NBC, 9 and 10 p.m..
The second half of “The Presidents’ Gatekeepers” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) covers developments in the Clinton, Nixon and Obama administrations, touching on the Watergate and Lewinsky scandals, and the roles of the first ladies. Jimmy Carter and Barbara Bush are among the interviewees. Part one is repeated at 7 p.m.
It’s Stacy Keibler night, as George Clooney’s ex is both a guest judge on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) and presides over the season finale of “Supermarket Superstar” (Lifetime, 10:30 p.m.).
“Mysteries at the Museum” (Travel Channel, 9 p.m.) looks at the Newseum in D.C.,where the mystery might be the decline of newspapers in general.
Rosie O’Donnell pops up during a gag on “Impractical Jokers” (TruTV, 10 p.m.)
The month-long salute to Kim Novak on Turner Classic Movies continues with “Picnic” (8 p.m.), “Pal Joey” (10 p.m.), “The Eddy Duchin Story” (midnight) and “Jeanne Eagels” (2:15 a.m.).
College football has snuck into Thursday nights with TCU at Texas Tech (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.) and Tulane at Louisiana Tech (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ricky Gervais. The View: Orlando Bloom, Condola Rashad, Sheryl Crow, Dr. Phil McGraw. The Talk: Valerie Bertinelli, MKTO. Ellen DeGeneres: Ray Romano, Amber Riley, Jennifer Nettles. Wendy Williams: Trisha Yearwood (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Alec Baldwin, Toni Collette. Jay Leno: Hugh Jackman, Aisha Tyler, OneRepublic. Jimmy Kimmel: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dianna Agron, Weekend. Jimmy Fallon: Robert De Niro, Amy Sedaris, Alt-J, Peter Hook. Craig Ferguson: Adam Goldberg, Jennifer Carpenter. Carson Daly: Guillermo Diaz, Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes, the Stepkids (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dr. Mehmet Oz. Jon Stewart: Billy Crystal. Stephen Colbert: Philip Mudd. Conan O’Brien: Key & Peele, Wavves. Chelsea Handler: Tim Gunn, Moshe Kasher, Chris Farah, Chris Franjola.