Kitchen battles between name chefs would seem to have been a settled science, but a new show created for a new network brings a hip new attitude to the proceedings.
“Knife Fight” (Esquire, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) may sound like one of those strange, middle of the night infomercials for swords, but season two “Top Chef” winner Ian Hall claims his battles are merely filmed versions of private battles he’s already held at his Los Angeles restaurant The Gorbals.
With an invited crowd cheering and drinking, two chefs go head to head to make a few dishes out using three unusual ingredients under the clock. Possibly because Drew Barrymore is a producer, the judges and crowd sees some young stars from Elijah Wood to Bijou Philips to Eric Wareheim (of “The Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job”). The biggest props go to guest judge and indie record exec Brett Gurewitz.
The show is well produced, cutting away to talk about the chefs or the food when necessary, but generally staying in the action. And it’s a lot of fun.
There’s a similar vibe to “Brew Dogs” (Esquire, 10 p.m.), which stars a coupe of British brew kings, James Watt and Martin Dickie, who visit the hotbeds of the American craft beer industry. Part travelogue, part instructive beer tasting, it’s got a pioneering spirit and youthful enthusiasm. It’s a good sign for the male-skewed network that it’s about taste and not beer pong games.
Another new food series that involves travel is “Bite This with Nadia G” (Cooking, 9:30 p.m.) in which Nadia Giosia and her crew hit the road to check local cuisine. First stop: Austin.
The middle two chapters of the series “Latino Americans” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) looks at contributions of Latin Americans during World War II and the influx of immigrants from Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic following the war.
They’re playing up the impending farewell of actress Cote de Pablo on “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.) with the start of the 11th season promoted with the phrase “Ziva’s Farewell Begins.” There’s an untimely start to the season, though, a week after the Navy Yards massacre — an explosion at a black tie affair in D.C.
On “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS, 9 p.m.), they’re still looking for stolen nuclear weapons and L.L. Cool J has been tortured.
Fresh from its latest Emmy win, “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” (Nickleodeon, 8 p.m.) examines levels of anxiety in children.
A boy recovering from a snake bite on “Snake Salvation” (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.) may want to rethink his religious practices.
Superfans of the comic book nerd/role playing variety vie for a job at Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo in the new “Fangasm” (Syfy, 10 p.m.). It follows the latest episode of “Face Off” (Syfy, 9 p.m.), in which characters are inspired by various art movements.
Las Vegas is the theme on “Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.)
“Whose Line is It, Anyway?” (The CW, 8 p.m.) ends its season.
Back from Mexico, Nick and Jess work on their relationship on “New Girl”(Fox, 9 p.m.) and some of her workplace issues at school
Back from Haiti, Mindy battles to get her old office back from James Franco on “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.)
A couple of dramas that survived their first seasons are back for their second. “Person of Interest” (CBS, 10 p.m.) moves to a new time slot and in honor of following both “NCIS” shows, its plot concerns searching for a naval officer in Fleet Week. On the premiere of “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.), arsonists keeps the firehouse on alert, and may force some firemen to remove their shirts.
It’s all about pot brownies on “Dads” (Fox, 8 p.m.). In “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.), Andy Samberg looks into a graffiti case that involves the deputy commissioner’s son.
The fourth episode of the film history “The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The 1930s – The Great American Movie Genres and the Brilliance of European Film” (2:45 a.m.) is illustrated with “Zero de Conduite” (8 p.m.), “L’Atalante” (9 p.m.), “Grand Illusion” (10:45 p.m.) and “Port of Shadows” (4 a.m.).
Oddly, there are two singers named Cher on late night shows tonight. Cher Lloyd is on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.) while just plain Cher, 67, is on “The Late Show on David Letterman” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Clark Gregg, Jason Derulo. The View: Richard Lewis, Malin Akerman, Randy Jackson. The Talk: Gloria Estefan, Jason Santos. Ellen DeGeneres: Jason Biggs, Carmen Electra. Wendy Williams: Andy Cohen, Dave Karger.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Cher, Lizzy Caplan. Jay Leno: Olivia Wilde, Adam Scott, Cher Lloyd. Jimmy Kimmel: Justin Timberlake. Jimmy Fallon: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant, the Avett Brothers. Craig Ferguson: Ray Romano, Carl Edwards. Carson Daly: Michael Fitzpatrick, Sarah Polley, A Silent Film (rerun). Tavis Smiley: J.J. Abrams. Jon Stewart: Richard Dawkins. Stephen Colbert: Metallica. W. Kamau Bell: Tim Wise. Conan O’Brien: Jane Lynch, Natasha Lyonne, Mike Lawrence. Chelsea Handler: Giovanni Ribisi, Brody Stevens, Jen Kirkman, Ben Gleib.