From a spinoff of “Arrow” comes yet another superhero in a TV landscape that’s become filled with them. “The Flash” (The CW, 8 p.m.) adapts the comic book about the super speedy guy in a red suit with details of working on a particle accelerator that’s hit with lightning.
Unlike the dour outlook of most superhero fare these days, this looks absolutely sunny. It helps that Greg Berlanti and his associates are behind this, and there’s a swell cast from Grant Gustin in the tile role to such familiar faces as Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Jesse L. Martin. As with most such shows, they throw about half their season’s special effects budget into the the pilot.
But how crowded is this field becoming? It’s not even the only superhero series on prime time tonight, with “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
“The Flash” comes alongside the 10th season start for “Supernatural” (The CW, 9 p.m.) in which Sam is still looking for the missing Dean.
The case of a Texas man, Cameron Todd Willingham, executed for the arson deaths of his children, that was first explored four years ago on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), gets an update, raising new questions about the case.\
The point shaving scandal at Boston College in the 1978-79 season, accomplished with the help of mobster Henry Hill , is covered in a new documentary on “30 for 30” (ESPN, 9 p.m.). “Playing for the Mob” includes an interview with Hill before his death.
“Makers” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) follows its recent show biz track with a look at women in Hollywood, from Jane Fonda, Glenn Close and Shonda Rhimes to Lena Dunham, Zoe Saldana and a Disney writer, Linda Woolverton.
In the new “Best in Bridal” (FYI, 9 p.m.) Dave’s all-male bridal salon competes directly with a shop run by his ex-best friend for the title of “best in bridal.”
It runs alongside new episodes of “B.O.R.N. to Style” (FYI, 10:00 p.m.) about the Harlem based boutique and its bold style.
Ken Burns has been investigating the history of other people, including most recently the Roosevelts, on that epic series. Now he looks into his own past on “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” (PBS, 8 p.m.). Also on the show tonight are Anna Deavere Smith and the host of “Anderson Cooper 360” (CNN, 9 p.m.).
After seeing the pilots a number of times, I guess I’m curious to see what the second episode holds in the new comedies “Selfie” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “Manhattan Love Story” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), though I will probably still prefer “New Girl” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “The Mindy Project” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
The day after the Supreme Court let stand lower court rulings allowing same-sex marriage in five states, here’s a “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.) looks at gay teens and efforts to battle bullying in school, in advance of Saturday’s National Coming Out Day.
In the self-explanatory “Resort Rescue” (Travel Channel, 10 p.m.) Shane Green aids resort hotels beginning with one in Perry, Ga. It’s followed by the fifth season start of “Hotel Impossible” (Travel, 9 p.m.) which finds Anthony Melchiorri in a NASCAR hotel Daytona Beach.
A bus crash leads to problems on “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Ducky goes to London on “NCIS” (CBS, 8).
A spotlight on Peter Finch on Turner Classic Movies of course includes “Network” (9:45 p.m.) but also “In the Cool of the Day” (8 p.m.), “Far from the Madding Crowd” (midnight), “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” (3:15 a.m.) and “The Trials of Oscar Wilde” (5:15 a.m.).
The hour-long “Family Guy” (Fox, 8 p.m.) crossover episodes with “The Simpsons” is rerun. It’s terrible.
A couple of division series reach their game four: Dodgers at St. Louis (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.) and Washington at San Francisco (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Nathan Lane, Martina McBride, La Roux. The View: Sarah Paulson, Nicolle Wallace, Will Chase, Betsey Johnson. The Talk: Mario Lopez, Thea Andrews, Richard Blais, Barbara & Dana Davis, Dania Ramirez. Ellen DeGeneres: Josh Duhamel, Michael Pena, Lucy Hale. Meredith Vieira: Mario Lopez, Nik Wallenda. Queen Latifah: Michael Weatherly, Miles Teller.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Robert Downey Jr., Sarah Paulson, Lizzo. Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Stewart, Artie Lange, Jason Aldean, Nas. Jimmy Kimmel: Billy Crudup, Massimo Bottura, Weezer. Seth Meyers: Jeffrey Tambor, Retta, Impractical Jokers. Craig Ferguson: David Arquette, Inbar Lavi (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Pauline Malefane. Jon Stewart: Bill O’Reilly. Stephen Colbert: Leon Wieseltier. Conan O’Brien: Cast of “Orange is the New Black,” Nikki Lane (rerun).