As networks trot out their new shows for the fall this week, a question emerges: Would any of their shows be any funnier if presented at a 22 degree angle. Fox, whose domineering sister network Fox News knows all about slant, is trying just that with its new series starting tonight, “Riot” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
While the show is nothing like a riot, you may want to put on your own riot gear to protest this sad, listless, cheaply-made time-filler. The entirety of its premise is putting on improv sketches that instead of relying on actual cleverness or humor, count on getting laughs from the fact that actors have to contend with this huge hill on their stage and they keep slipping and sliding on it. A tilted “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” gets old fast, and this one is an hour long. And its promise of celebrities brings only Steve Carrell, who doesn’t particularly help. (He is a producer so he has to take part).
If Fox is struggling because it is decreasing the time it has devoted to singing shows like “American Idol,” it will have to spend more time trying to figure out what to replace it with.
Finales abound on the networks tonight from “Glee” (Fox, 8 p.m.), ending its eighth season on its way to 9 and 10, to “The Originals” (The CW, 8 pm.), the spinoff that’s also been picked up for another season.
At least two new shows introduced this week are connected to comic book superheroes, as TV executives fervently hope what’s popular on the big screen will somehow trickle down to home screens. So far that hasn’t helped the much hyped “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC, 8 p.m.), but it got a pickup for a second season as well, as it ends its first season tonight.
Also ending seasons tonight are ratings leader “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.), reaching the end of season 11; “The Goldbergs” (ABC, 9 p.m.), the comedy that has survived its first season and was renewed for a second, “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 10 p.m.) ending its second season and “Person of Interest” (CBS, 10 p.m.), ending its second.
While all of those will be back in the fall, tonight is the last ever new episode for “Trophy Wife” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) one of the few new comedies of the new season actually worth watching.
On public television a new series looks at the difficulties of soldiers returning from the recent wars, focusing on a handful of families. “Coming Back with Wes Moore” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) is a three part series.
As Glenn Greenwald’s new book is being released, “Frontline” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings, looks at the history of the NSA’s massive surveillance program. If you don’t watch, they’ll know.
Angie Everhart and Gina Neely switch places on “Celebrity Wife Swap” (ABC, 10 p.m.), and there are food issues.
The nearly completely forgotten actress Anna Sten, once touted as the new Garbo, is featured tonight on Turner Classic Movies in “Nana” (8 p.m.), “We Live Again” (9:45 p.m.) and “They Came to Blow Up America” (11:15 p.m.). Much later, a couple of classic documentaries: “Grey Gardens” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “Salesman” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
NBA playoffs include Washington at Indiana (TNT, 7 p.m.) and Clippers at Oklahoma City (TNT, 9:30 p.m.). In the Stanley Cups, it’s Rangers at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) and Chicago at Minnesota (CNBC, 9 p.m.).
Baseball includes Mets at Yankees (MLB Network, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Matt Bomer, Willie Randolph, Jessica Meuse. The Talk: Dolly Parton, Michael Lomonaco. Ellen DeGeneres: Maya Rudolph, Sean Hayes, Kym Douglas. Wendy Williams: Ereka Vetrini, Dr. Mike Dow.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jim Parsons, Julie Chen, Hozier. Jimmy Fallon: Dolly Parton, Taylor Kitsch. Jimmy Kimmel: Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Future Islands (rerun). Seth Meyers: Will Forte, Michael Symon. Craig Ferguson: Billy Gardell, Lennon Parham, James Galea. Carson Daly: John Slattery, Cristela Alonzo. Tavis Smiley: Jonathan M. Katz, Connie Britton. Jon Stewart: Ron Susking. Stephen Colbert: The Black Keys. Arsenio Hall: Carl Reiner, Oveous Maximus, Jermaine Dupri. Conan O’Brien: Lisa Kudrow, George R.R. Martin, Wild Cub. Chelsea Handler: Sandra Oh, Ben Gleib, Loni Love, Moshe Kasher. Pete Holmes: Kumail Nanjiani.