Always good to see Steve Zahn, but more as Davis on “Treme” than in his new role, as Clark Edwards in “Mind Games” (ABC, 10 p.m.), who with his brother Ross (Christian Slater, in yet another stab at TV) run a firm in which — they have to explain it several times — they help influence a client’s decision. Using cleverness and fakery to solve situations weekly is along the lines of “Psych” and “Perception” (TNT, 10p.m.) which is back to resume its season tonight. In “Mind Games,” Zahn mostly tries to get these stories done through sheer exuberance, which just seems more irritating on network TV for some reason. I can’t quite see this catching on.
Two other new series — ho-hum family comedies that got their start (and reviews) over the weekend during the Olympics, settle into their regular time slots: “About a Boy” (NBC, 9 p.m.), where Will drags the kid to a Lil’ Wayne pool party and “Growing Up Fisher” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.), where mom goes to an Arcade Fire show with her daughter. Compared to these, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) does look Golden Globe worthy.
A timely report on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m.,check local listings0 looks at the scandals that caused Benedict XVI to be the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. According to Anthony Thomas’ 90 minute film those scandals includes the sex abuse crisis as well as money laundering and corruption at the Vatican bank and a release of internal documents that revealed power struggles, blackmail and cronyism. Just this week Pope Francis announced a single authority to handle all business, administrative and personnel management at the Holy See as a result of the financial scandals — the most concrete step toward reform since he became pope.
Seems a natural to have a series about arm wrestling teams. I guess it just took a while to find these hulking guys in the fringes for a series following five teams, “Game of Arms” (AMC, 10 p.m.), which may have the ability to attract the MMA crowd without being quite so brutal.
Linda Cardinale, hardly recognizable from her turn on “Mad Men,” returns to “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.) as Jess’ bad girl sister.
In the first new “Glee” (Fox, 8 p.m.) in quite a spell, Santana is hired to be understudy to Rachel for “Funny Girl” on Broadway while Artie and Tina compete for valedictorian back at high school.
The second season of “Diggers” (National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.) they dig up a 1983 time capsule from the Aspen Music Festival to find its contents: a Moody Blues 8-track tape, Rubick’s Cube, six pack of beer and the mouse from Steve Jobs/ first mass marketed computer, Lisa.
“The Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) reunion comes to an end.
Raylan is after a grifter on a new “Justified” (FX, 10 p.m.).
To salute Ralph Waite, the TV patriarch who died earlier this month at 85, here are a couple of classic episodes of “The Waltons” (Hallmark, 8 and 9 p.m.).
The nominees for the 1947 Oscar for best black and white cinematography (when such things were still segregated) were “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Great Expectations” (TCM, 10 p.m.) and “Green Dolphin Street” (TCM, 12:15 a.m.).
In men’s college hoops, it’s Florida at Vanderbilt (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Kansas State at Texas Tech (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Virginia Tech at Duke (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Zavier tat St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Dayton at Saint Joseph’s (CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.), Indiana at Wisconsin (ESPN, 9 p.m.), Wichita State at Bradley (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Utah State at New Mexico (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.), Seton Hall at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.), Missouri at Georgia (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and San Jose State at San Diego State (CBS Sports, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Chandra Wilson, Roma Downey. The View: Vice President Joe Biden, Kaley Cuoco. The Talk: Angie Harmon, Kevin Frazier, Jet Tila. Ellen DeGeneres: Minnie Driver. Wendy Williams: Mayim Bialik, Mary Mary.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Ted Ligety, Kat Dennings, Lo-Fang. Jimmy Fallon: Paul Rudd, Shaquille O’Neal, Hannibal Buress. Jimmy Kimmel: Joel McHale, Ansel Elgort, Benmont Tench. Seth Meyers: Kanye West, Russell Wilson, Robyn Doolittle. Craig Ferguson: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire. Carson Daly: Sir Sly, Fulchiron. Tavis Smiley: Harry Lennix. Jon Stewart: Michio Kaku. Stephen Colbert: St. Vincent. Arsenio Hall: Scott Bakula, Wood & Steve Harris, K. Michelle. Conan O’Brien: Michelle Dockery, D.J. Qualls, Schoolboy Q. Chelsea Handler: Sarah Paulson, John Caparulo, Morgan Murphy, April Richardson. Pete Holmes: Ronda Rousey, T.J. Miller.