Just as there may be an explosion of food and goodies around the house on holiday week, there are a lot of new food shows starting tonight as well.
The latest installment of “Lidia Celebrates America” (PBS, 9 p.m.) may be the most fitting. In it, chef Lidia Bastianich examines customs and food that surround special moments, from a Greek Orthodox baptism for triplets and a Navajo house blessing to a sweet 16th party and country music debut in Nashville and graduation for a Brazilian-American culinary student.
The cuisine of food trucks is the subject of the series “Eat St.” (Cooking Channel, 8 p.m.). A new episode, about a Vietnamese fusion truck in Dallas and eggs Benedict place in Calgary kick off a night of past episodes.
A five part competition on “Chopped All-Stars” (Food, 6 p.m.) culminates with a $50,000 winner at the end of the 10 p.m. episode.
And food is part of “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” (TLC, 10 p.m.) set in Ireland, if only in the food fights. Likely to be bridesmaids: “Gypsy Sisters” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
There is no shortage of its own documentaries on “Downton Abbey,” most of them taking place on PBS itself; but here’s a two hour look at the castle that inspired the series on “20/20” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
College football bowl games start to accumulate, with Pittsburgh vs. Bowling Green (ESPN, 6 p.m.) at the Little Caesars Bowl and Utah State vs. Northern Illinois (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.) in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Some creative reruns tonight on network TV, from a pair of episodes about “Glee” (Fox, 8 and 9 p.m.); the first reviving “Grease,”the second taking off from the holiday favorite “Love, Actually”; three episodes of “The Millers” (CBS, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m.). and a Thursday “Shark Tank” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
It’s a “Pitch Perfect” reunion when guest star Anna Camp joins cast members Skylar Astin and Alexis Knapp on a new episode of the comedy “Battle Ground” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
The fifth season finale of “River Monsters” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) returns to Scotland for the quest for the Loch Ness monster.
The class war is stoked some more in the excesses of “Buying for Billionaires” (E!, 9 p.m.), the people who make the clients of “The Millionaire Matchmaker” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) seem strictly middle class.
The employees of Wild West Guns try to figure how to spend their holiday bonuses on “Wild West Alaska” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
The original 1947 version of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (TCM, 8 p.m.) with Danny Kaye in the role now played by Ben Stiller kicks off a night of similar fantasy fare including “Billy Liar” (TCM, 10 p.m.), “Pennies from Heaven” (TCM, midnight), “Juliet of the Spirits” (2 a.m.) and “The Projectionist” (TCM, 4:30 a.m.).
NBA action includes Memphis at Houston (TNT, 8 p.m.) and L.A. Clippers at Portland (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
All reruns: Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Lawrence, Adam Levine, Hilaria Baldwin. The View: Jason Patric, Dylan Ratigan, Dan Abrams. The Talk: Valerie Bertinelli, MKTO. Ellen DeGeneres: Melissa McCarthy, Pentatonix. Wendy Williams: Ruben Studdard, cast of “A Night with Janis Joplin.”
Late Talk
Reruns all: David Letterman: Howard Stern, Adrienne Iapalucci. Jay Leno: Bette Midler, Michael Buble. Jimmy Kimmel: Carey Mulligan, Scott Foley, Jeff Campbell. Jimmy Fallon: Emma Thompson, James Marsden, Kelly Clarkson. Craig Ferguson: Drew Carey, Pamela Silva. Carson Daly: Bandaloop, Soko, Rebecca Sugar. Tavis Smiley: Jessica Lange. Arsenio Hall: George Lopez, Key & Peele, Rosie Perez, Yo Gotti. Conan O’Brien: Charlie Day, Rob McElhanney, Glenn Howerton, Melissa Rauch, Deer Tick. Chelsea Handler: Evangeline Lilly, Jeff Wild, Loni Love, Ryan Stout.