I can only imagine the people lining up with a swab of their own DNA to see how much it’s worth, or whatever they do on “Genealogy Roadshow” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), a new series obviously meant to build on the success of “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings).
Actually, it’s less like daytime’s raucous “The Test” and more like “Who Do You Think You Are?” Its first episode traces the descendants of Davy Crockett, who may be sad to learn they must now start wearing coonskin caps.
Two interesting behavioral documentaries air tonight. One, “Best Kept Secret” on “POV” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) follows a teacher who helps autistic students adjust to life after graduation from a public school for special needs in Newark, N.J. In “First Cousin Once Removed” (HBO, 9 p.m.) poet and translator Edwin Honig battles Alzheimer’s in a film made by his cousin, Alan Berliner.
The final season of “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) begins with a one hour episode, the wedding of Robin and Barney and another look at the mother, plaed by Cristin Milioti.
Beckett gives her reply to Castle’s proposal on the sixth season premiere of “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Another week, another new network: This one based on the magazine that preceded GQ and Playboy as a men’s upscale guide. The Esquire Network takes the place of the old Style network, and concentrates on more refined male with sophisticated taste than usually appears on cable, where they are more likely to get drunk and beat people up. The TV operation comes on a special anniversary for the magazine as well, celebrated in “Esquire’s 80th” (Esquire, 9 p.m.).
The revolving chairs are oiled and the original cast is reassembled, as “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) begins its new season with its first Emmy under its belt. A slimmed down Christina Aguilera and a same-sized Cee-Lo Green rejoin Adam Levine and Blake Shelton to hear an array of auditioners who seem to stroll in the studio alone on the only singing competition without lines.
This year’s cast of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is in general more skilled than those in the 16 seasons preceding it. Amber Riley of “Glee” clocked the first straight 9s in a first week dance in show history; for the others, 7s and 8s were quite common. Low man on the totem pole is Bill Nye the Science Guy, but since he’s one of the most popular people in the cast, it’s not a sure thing that he’ll get the axe in tonight’s first elimination.
Washington Irving is spinning in his grave, if indeed the dead are animated as they are in the new “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
The brash “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 9 p.m.) charges onto its third season with a rock star dying after eating one of their cupcakes (I usually just choke on the jokes).
Late night network TV brings out the big guns for the start of the TV season as well. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC, 11:35 p.m.) clears out Hollywood Boulevard for a performance by Paul McCartney; he’ll do it again Tuesday for Justin Timberlake, who is the guest tonight on “The Tonight Show” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.). “Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.), meanwhile, has a President, Bill Clinton, who earlier appears on PBS NewsHour (PBS, 7 p.m., check local listings).
The dresses of the Emmys are critiqued, often brutally, by the “Fashion Police” (E!, 9 p.m.).
Puma leaves the shop in the season premiere of “Black Ink Crew” (VH1, 9:30 p.m.).
Not every network begins their new season tonight. “Hart of Dixie” (THe CW, 8 p.m.) doesn’t start its third season until Oct. 7.
It’s Oakland at Denver (ESPN, 8:25 p.m.) on Monday Night Football.
The history of film continues on Turner Classic Movies with “The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The 1930s – The Great American Movie Genres and the Brilliance of European Film” (10 p.m.), surrounded by examples from the era, “Love Me Tonight” (8 p.m.), “The Public Enemy” (11:15 p.m.), as well as “Frankenstein” (12:45 a.m.), “Gold Diggers of 1933” (2 a.m.), “Twentieth Century” (3:45 a.m.) and “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” (5:30 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Scarlett Johansson, James Spader, Lawrence Zarian. The View: Ellen Pompeo, Wendi McClendon-Covey, Jodi Benson, Harry Connick Jr. The Talk: Allison Janney, Anna Faris, Gesine Bullock-Prado. Ellen DeGeneres: Jim Carrey, Christina Bianco, Nick Cannon, Ellie Kemper. Wendy Williams: Carson Kressley, Zachary Levi.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Bill Clinton, Tired Pony. Jay Leno: Justin Timberlake, Paula Patton. Jimmy Kimmel: Paul McCartney, Patrick Dempsey. Jimmy Fallon: Ricky Gervais, Michael Shannon, MGMT (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Taylor Schilling. Tavis Smiley: Andrew Bacevich. Jon Stewart: Jake Gyllenhaal (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Arne Duncan (rerun). W. Kamau Bell: Jeffrey Wright. Conan O’Brien: Cast of “Breaking Bad,” Los Cuates De Sinaloa. Chelsea Handler: Drake, Jo Koy, Heather McDonald, Matt Braunger.