Turns out I ate at one of the 16 restaurants battling it out on the new reality competition “Best New Restaurant” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) the other day. And I can tell you this: Union in Pasadena is pretty darn good.
Then again, I’m no Tom Colicchio, who takes into consideration service and speed as well as quality when pitting two restaurants against each other. Working with two other judges, the editor of BlackboardEats.com Maggie Nesmer and Wichcraft founder Jeffrey Zurofsky, they pass judgment tonight on two Italian joints — one in Beverly Hills and the other in Miami. In addition to judges, they have undercover diners with cameras to pick up on the action.
Meanwhile, finals are getting closer on “Top Chef” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) where they have to come up with creative bean dishes.
The food won’t be as spicy as “The Mistress” (Discovery Life, 10 p.m.) in which Sarah Symonds, who claims to be the former mistress of Gordon Ramsay, tries to convince other mistresses to change their ways.
“American Horror Story: Freak Show” (FX, 10 p.m.) packs up the tent with its season finale and a planned freak revolt. That’s always how these stories seem to end.
Abbi is advancing at her job at the gym and given the chance to train somebody on a new “Broad City” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.). It can’t end well.
Naomi Campbell guest stars on a new episode of “Empire” (Fox, 9 p.m.) that looks into how life might have been back in Philadelphia if Terrence Howard’s character hadn’t succeeded.
“Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) looks into the process of trying to right the giant Costa Concordia ship that ran around two years ago in Italy, killing 32, so they can salvage it.
Mariska Hargitay directs her second episode of “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC, 9 p.m.) in chien Danny Pino’s character quarrels with his estranged father played by Armand Assante.
Have you seen “Man Seeking Woman” (FXX, 10:30 p.m.)? It makes, along with a new “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FXX, 10 p.m.), the night’s strongest comedy hour.
There’s a problem trying to protect Starling City when “Arrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.) is away. The show is back from its winter break, as is “The 100” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Auditions continue on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Robert Osborne picks the flicks tonight on Turner Classic Movies. His choices: “A Place in the Sun” (8 p.m.), “All This, and Heaven Too” (10:16 p.m.), “The Man in the Iron Mask” (12:45 a.m.), “Words and Music” (2:45 a.m.) and “Hills of Home” (5 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes North Carolina at Wake Forest (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Houston at Cincinnati (ESPNews, 7 p.m.), Memphis at Tulsa (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Marquette at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and Creighton at Butler (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.).
NBA action includes Oklahoma City at Washington (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Golden State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Chicago at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.) and Los Angeles at San Jose (NBC Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
In tennis, there’s second round action in the Australian Open (ESPN2, 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jude Law, Allison Willias. The View: Stacy London, Natasha Bedingfield, Jen Kirkman. The Talk: Ella Henderson, Noah Levy, David Tutera. Ellen DeGeneres: Ewan McGregor, Becky G. Wendy Williams: Jennifer Lopez. Meredith Vieira: Matt Lauer, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Lauren Graham. Queen Latifah: Gladys Knight, Gloria Steinem (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jason Sudekis, Allison Janney, Damien Rice (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jennifer Aniston, Bill Gates, Mario batali. Jimmy Kimmel: Ewan McGregor, Lea Michele, Tess Henlry. Seth Meyers: Jennifer Lopez, Nick Kroll, Lupe Fiasco. Late Late Show: Adam Goldberg, Dave Koechner, Tig Notaro, Jim Gaffigan. Carson Daly: Conor McGregor, Shannon and the Clams, Fahim Anwar (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Benedict Cumberbatch. Jon Stewart: Anne Hathaway. Conan O’Brien: Evan Rachel Wood, Jason Ritter, Jonathan Groff.