Thursday night, that once must-see showcase of the networks’ best, looks to crumble this fall with the simple addition of Thursday Night Football on CBS. Local markets will do a lot of pre-empting tonight but the other preseason games are on the league’s own cable network, Jets at Philadelphia (NFL, 7 p.m.) and Seattle at Oakland (NFL, 10 p.m.).
And now, for the first time, there are a whole bunch of college games including Wake Forest at Louisiana-Monroe (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Boise State vs. Mississippi (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Tulane at Tulsa (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.) and Rutgers at Washington State (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.).
Every so often, the commercial breaks get so lengthy, they take over an entire hour. Such is the case with “The World’s Wildest Commercials” (ABC, 10 p.m.), counting down the 20th funniest from abroad, hosted by Chris Parnell.
Designers must make unusual wedding dresses on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) — weird enough anyway for guest judge Dita Von Teese to like.
Six contestants are left after two episodes of “The Quest” (ABC, 8 and 9 p.m.).
Two episodes of “Welcome to Sweden” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) represent the only new scripted shows on broadcast TV.
America should not reward the lame and vindictive “skit” put on by the Team America on “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.). Sadly, Donny or Nicole go home.
“Doomsday Preppers” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) is filled with wrong-headed families. The one tonight spends way too much on home security. In a similar vein, the mom and dad on “Extreme Guide to Parenting” (Bravo, 9:30 p.m.) are adamant their kids learn martial arts.
Thursday is a good night for comedy right now, but you have to look for them. The splendidly cast “Married” (FX, 10 p.m.) is well-matched with “You’re the Worst” (FX, 10:30 p.m.). Which means you’ll have to tape “Garfunkel and Oates” (IFC, 10 p.m.).
Arlene Dahl is star all day on Turner Classic Movies with “The Bride Goes Wild” (6 a.m.), “Watch the Birdie” (8 a.m.), “No Question Asked” (9:15 a.m.), “She Played with Fire” (10:45 a.m.), “My Wild Irish Rose” (12:30 p.m.), “The Black Book” (2:30 p.m.), “A Southern Yankee” (4:15 p.m.), “Scene of the Crime” (6 p.m.), “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (8 p.m.), “Wicked as They Come” (10:30 p.m.), “Three Little Words” (12:15 a.m.), “The Outriders” (2:15 a.m.) and “Kisses for My President” (4 a.m.).
Baseball tonight includes Yankees at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Oakland at Angels (MLB, 10 p.m.).
And early round play continues in the U.S. Open (Tennis, 11 a.m.; ESPN, 1 p.m.; ESPN2, 6 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Cameron Diaz, Steven Yuen. The View: Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Piper Kerman, Larry Smith, Jason Biggs & Sunny Hostin (rerun). The Talk: Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy, Lauren Tewes, Jill Whelan, Jack Jones, Curtis Stone (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Day & Shay (rerun). Wendy Williams: Mark Consuelos (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Mike Myers, Bonnie McFarlane, John Fulbright. Jimmy Fallon: Halle Berry, Chris Colfer, Florida Georgia Line (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Aaron Paul, Ed Sheeran. Seth Meyers: Clive Owen, Sarah Paulson, Chase Rice (rerun). Craig Ferguson: David Duchovny, Gloria Estefan (rerun). Carson Daly: Diego Luna, Deap Vally (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Joan Rivers (rerun). Jon Stewart: Todd Glass. Stephen Colbert: JR. Arsenio Hall: Bill Cosby, Jerrika Hinton (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz, Matt Walsh, Weird Al Yankovic (rerun).