Ned Stark lives again in “Legends” (TNT, 9 p.m.), a new undercover series starring Sean Bean. Famously beheaded in “Game of Thrones.” Bean has a gun to his head within two minutes playing undercover in a Virginia militia.
While it may seem at first a generic title, “legend” is actually the word for the covers that such agents adopt, from the novel by Robert Littell. Bean’s agent is so good he come times gets lost in his background, but an ongoing story is that his own personality may have been manufactured too.
Though it’s got Howard Gordon’s name on it, the drama takes some generic turns he never had to put in “Homeland” or “24” — dumbed down, cliched procedural devices like visual flashbacks, unaccountably willowy agents whose first assignment takes them to a strip club, messy divorce and parenting issues. And throughout, the identity issue is never as important as the terror cases they blithely shoot through each week. So far, Bean hasn’t died yet, though.
Speaking of overacting, the 80s stars recruited to do crime re-enactments in the new “Heartbreakers” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) are supposed to be over the top, turning true crime fare into campy miniseries winking. Not sure that will ever find an appropriate tone, but for now it’s employing Judd Nelson, Christopher Knight, Nicole Eggert, Jack Wagner, Kevin Sorbo and Tracey Gold.
The new three-part “Man vs. the Universe” (Science, 10 p.m.) looks at to various space explorations including, tonight, mining on the moon. But first maybe you should understand “How the Universe Works” (Science, 9 p.m.).
“Franklin and Bash” (TNT, 10 p.m.) returns for a fourth seasonQuentin Tarantino talked for so long on Robert Rodriguez’ directoral interview show “El Rey Network Presents: The Director’s Chair” (El Rey, 9 p.m.) tonight is only part one.
The music of Michael Jackson is the soundtrack for the eight remaining dancers on “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The second season of “Wahlburgers” (A&E, 10 p.m.), begins with a new cast ember, Donnie’s fiancé, Jenny McCarthy.
Artists have to make their models blend into the background on a new “Skin Wars” (GSN, 9 p.m.).
Its Shirley Chung vs. Brooke Williamson on the second week of “Top Chef Duels” (Bravo, 10 p.m.). Pink is a guest judge.
Molly finds more about why she was chosen for her mission on “Extant” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
The veracity of Shark Week’s offerings has been questioned more than usual this year and it’s likely to continue with titles like “Zombie Sharks” (Discovery, 9 p.m.) and “Spawn of Jaws: The Birth” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
Five acts advance on “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.) following a summary of last night’s show at 8.
Cary Grant is star all day on Turner Classic Movies with 13 films, “The Awful Truth” (6 a.m.), “Bringing Up Baby” (7:45 a.m.), “His Girl Friday” (9:30 a.m.), “My Favorite Wife” (11:15 a.m.), “The Philadelphia Story” (12:45 p.m.), “Arsenic and Old Lace” (2:45 p.m.), “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” (4:45 p.m.), “Every Girl Should Be Married” (6:30 p.m.), “Hot Saturday” (8 p.m.), “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” (9:30 p.m.), “Gunga Din” (11:15 p.m.), “Destination Tokyo” (1:30 a.m.) and “Room for One More” (4 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Channing Tatum, Jon “Bones” Jones, Elle Fanning. The View: Dane Cook, Chris Colfer, Phillip Phillips, Sunny Hostin (rerun). The Talk: Jesse Metcalfe, Betsy Brandt, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Kevin Hart (rerun). Wendy Williams: Nick Carter, Jordan Knight, Nicole Murphy (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Sylvester Stallone, Theo James, Ledisi (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Taylor Swift, Andrew Rannells, Ryan Adams. Jimmy Kimmel: Justin Theroux, Angie Harmon, 5 Seconds of Summer (rerun). Seth Meyers: Mickey Rourke, Matthew Weiner, Roger Bennett & Michael Davies. Craig Ferguson: Shailene Woodley, Dan Boulger, Wild Child (rerun). Carson Daly: Lee Pace, Liquor Store, John Green (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Renee Fleming (rerun). Jon Stewart: Aubrey Plaza (rerun). Stephen Colbert: Pat Buchanan, John W. Dean (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Glynn Turman, Mary Bartnicki, Josie Cavalluzzi, Teresa Dahlquist, Wiz Khalifa (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Martin Lawrence, Kumail Nanjiani, Jonah Ray, Ty Segall. Chelsea Handler: Aubrey Plaza, Gary Valentine, Claire Titelman, Ross Mathews.