Developing a lovable antihero is a little harder than it looks. And in the search for something to take the place of “House,” here’s “Rake” (Fox, 9 p.m.), starring Greg Kinnear as a shambling, dissolute lawyer who tries to redeem himself with a big case. There is a lot to overcome: gambling debts, urges to gamble more, drinking, women, abusing friends and taking advantage of their generosity.
That the prosecutor he faces as defense attorney is also the wife of the pal with whom he’s been staying is a little hard to swallow, as is the magnetic appeal the lawyer Keegan Deane seems to have on women. The show is adapted from Australian series, and doesn’t seem to have the full comic effect of Peter Tolan’s involvement, though there is a shaggy fish story in the pilot that is one of the saving graces.
Eventually the show may grow on you, but that’s also what the luckless lawyer is hoping.
[For a taste of Peter Tolan’s humor, check out his publicity diary].
Donald Glover, whose character Troy is one of the backbones of “Community” (NBC, 8 p.m.) leaves the show after tonight’s episode, and the rest struggle to put on a proper going away party for him.
Curtis Armstrong and Robert Carradine return to host the second season of the competition “King of the Nerds” (TBS, 10 p.m.).
Cooking may not be a way to a woman’s heart. Stefan Richter of “Top Chef” has to seek help from “The Millionaire Matchmaker” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
The latest reality show about boxers is called “The Fighters” (Discovery, 9 p.m.), originating from a gym in South Boston.
Katherine recalls the birth of her daughter in 1490 in the 100th episode of “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Leslie and Ben have different styles of selling when they go to farmers’ markets, they find on a new “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.).
There’s a network Olympics tie-in on “The Michael J.Fox Show” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Auditions go to Atlanta in the first one-hour episode of “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) this season.
The month-liong Thursday night salute to Joan Crawford continues with one of her most iconic films, “Mildred Pierce” (8 p.m.) and continues with “Humoresque” (10 p.m.), “Flamingo Road” (12:15 a.m.), “Damned Don’t Cry” (2 a.m.), “Possessed” (3:45 a.m.) and “it’s a Great Feeling” (5:45 a.m.).
NBA action includes Lakers at Heat (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Nuggets at Trail Blazers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Penguins at Islanders (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Aaron Eckhart, A Great Big World, Anderson Cooper. The View: Ralph Macchio, Jennifer Holiday, Mario Cantone. The Talk: LL Cool J, Elvis Duran. Ellen DeGeneres: Joel McHale, Ellie Kemper. Wendy Williams: Kevin Nealon.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Spike Jonze, No Age. Jay Leno: Rep. John Boehner, Matt LeBlanc, Dorian Holley. Jimmy Kimmel: Kim Kardashian, Sean Lowe & Catherine Giudici. Jimmy Fallon: Jonah Hill, Dick Cavett, Wylie Dufresne. Craig Ferguson: Martha Plimpton, Sarah Jarosz. Carson Daly: Hudson Valley Ballers, Steph Green, Sirah. Tavis Smiley: Jim Cramer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Jon Stewart: Anjan Sundaram. Stephen Colbert: Patricia Churchland. Arsenio Hall: Aaron Eckhart, Gabourey Sidibe, Biz Markie. Conan O’Brien: Wayne Gretsky, Ice Cube, Chris Fairbanks. Chelsea Handler: Timothy Olyphant, Michael Yo, Jamie Lee, Ross Mathews.