Once, it was an event that honored the old television season even as it ushered in the new. Now “The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards” (NBC, 8 p.m.) has been kicked back to before Labor Day. And instead of the usual Sunday night showcase, it’s been shoved over to a random Monday.
Still, Seth Meyers hosts for the first time and there seems a battle set up between some awfully good shows, from “True Detective” to “Fargo.” Billy Crystal will get all maudlin about Robin Williams and a sting is planned for Sarah Barielles. Three hours of awards will be hard enough (especially after Sunday’s exhausting MTV Video Music Awards). But what will really seem strange on a Monday night will be “Live from the Red Carpet: The 2014 Primetime Emmys” (E! 6 p.m.) (which will be kicking off on the West Coast, of course, at 3 p.m.). Bad as it will be the network version of the red carpet at 7:30 p.m. will seem even more amateurish.
One good thing that’s always held this time of year: The U.S. Open (Tennis Channel, 11 a.m.; ESPN, 1 and 6 p.m.) begins first round play in Flushing, N.Y.
Brad Pitt helped produce a new documentary about a Texas oil company’s efforts to begin drilling in Ghana though the experience of such interloping has not been a positive one in in nearby Nigeria. Rachel Boynton spent five years filming “Big Men” that makes its debut on “POV” (PBS, 10 pm., check local listings).
Andrew Zimmern recalls his ickiest intake on “Bizarre Foods” (Travel, 9 p.m.).
Introducing new singles each week to “Bachelor in Paradise” (ABC, 8 p.m.) is turning it into “Temptation Island.”
Gordon Ramsay tries to turn around an inn in Vermont on “Hotel Hell” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Think it’s cheap to film “Real Housewives” episodes? It’s even cheaper to shoot reunion specials, which is why they stretch on. Tonight is part one of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (Bravo 9 p.m.) reunion ordeal. There’s a reunion, too, on “Love & Hip Hop” (VH1, 8 p.m.).
It’s already the season finale of “Operation Change” (OWN, 10 p.m.) a do-good series we never quite got a handle on.
The seven remaining contestants on “MasterChef” (Fox, 7 p.m.) cook with apples.
The field of male and female models first introduced last week, is reduced to 14 on “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 9 p.m.), in which Tyra Banks is making up new language by the week.
News of a family death comes on “Dallas” (TNT, 9 p.m.).
Barbie is apprehended on “Under the Dome” (CBS, 10 p.m.). I suspect Ken.
Song and dance man Dick Powell rules on Turner Classic Movies with “Colleen” (6 a.m.), “Naughty But Nice” (7:45 a.m.), “Station West” (9:30 a.m.), “Flirtation Walk” (11:15 a.m.), “42nd Street” (1 p.m.), “Hard to Get” (2:45 p.m.), “The Pratfall” (4:15 p.m.), “The Singing Marine” (6 p.m.), “Christmas in July” (8 p.m.), “Murder My Sweet” (9:15 p.m.), “Dames” (11 p.m.), “The Bad and the Beautiful” (12:45 a.m.), “The Tall Target” (3 a.m.) and “Going Places” (4:30 a.m.).
Baseball includes Yankees at Royals (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Anna Paquin, Michael Hauke, Anderson Cooper. The View: LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian, Troy Dunn, Sara Haines (rerun). The Talk: Howie Mandel, Alejandra Schrader (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Seth Meyers, Busy Phillipps, Alison Sweeney (rerun). Wendy Williams: Joe Manganiello (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Michael Cera, Lyle Lovett. Jimmy Fallon: Julia Roberts, Andy Cohen, Ron Funches (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: John Stamos, Todd Glass, OK Go (rerun). Seth Meyers: Joan Rivers, Josh Meyers, Rixton (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Simon Helberg, LP (rerun). Carson Daly: Christopher Meloni, Liquor Store (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Jim Parsons, Auturo Sandoval (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Kathy Griffin, Lance Gross, George Wallace (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Grouplove (rerun).