It hardly seems necessary to formally remake “The Odd Couple” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.). Though it went off the air 40 years ago, the reruns of the original Jack Klugman-Tony Randall sitcom hold up well. And in addition to the stage play and movie (equally memorable with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) there are variations of the theme from the just now ending “Two and a Half Men” to throwoffs like the failed Kelsey Grammar/Martin Lawrence “Partners.”
The new “Couple” features Matthew Perry, who has struggled to find his sitcom niche since the end of “Friends,” in the Oscar Madison role, but who benefits from sharing the comedy with the always good Thomas Lennon of “Reno 911” as the fastidious Felix Unger. The more they hone the pilot to the sitcom original the more dated the whole concept becomes. It shouldn’t be a big deal that divorced men share an apartment together. A number of familiar faces populate the series including Wendell Pierce and Lauren Graham, but there’s not a lot of big comedy cooing on in the center. Perry looks agitated too, as if he knows it isn’t working, too.
In its third season premiere, “The Vikings” (History, 10 p.m.) proves itself a likable enough “Game of Thrones” substitute for now. But with its fashionable haircuts, tattoos, and especially women fighting arm in arm with men, hardly believable let alone worthy of the History channel moniker. Take it for light entertainment, though, and it’s OK, as it starts with Ragnar and Lagertha meeting up with a new King who talks them into fighting a battle for them. They don’t mind if they do. (Next week’s episode, though, bogs down considerably in the aftermath).
There are a number of British quiz shows whose point is more entertainment than mere quizzing, and one of them gets an import. Stephen Fry hosts “QI” (BBC America, 8 p.m.), in which celebrities answer questions, with extra points given to replies that are “quite interesting,” hence the title. To start, they talk of topics that begin with the letter “J.”
You know that since the series is named “The Slap” (NBC, 8 p.m.), the incident of striking a child is not going to quickly go away. So the police are called on Zachary Quinto’s character, while Peter Sarsgaard tries to temper things by having him apologize to the aggrieved parents, played by Thomas Sadoski and Melissa George.
The magazine trope comes to TV in “Who Wore It Better?” (E!, 8:30 p.m.), another show in which the fashion choices of celebrities are the subject of scrutiny by a couple of people who are not celebrities and have whose own taste could be up for discussion, Catt Sadler and Orly Shani.
Stuart is reopening his comic book store on “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) and having been on the set I can say it’s quite a beautiful little shop — and all of the comics are real (set dressers bought out an old shop).
Cicely Tyson guest stars as Viola Davis’ mother on “How to Get Away from Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Doug decides he’s a male feminist on “Portlandia” (IFC, 10 p.m.).
Olivia is being auctioned off on “Scandal” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ survey of Oscar winners moves through the mid 60s with “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (8 p.m.), “The Sand Pebbles” (9:45 p.m.), “A Man for All Seasons” (1:15 a.m.), “A Hard Day’s Night” (3:30 a.m.) and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (5 a.m.).
The NBA is finally back to work after its All-Star Break with Dallas at Oklahoma City (TNT, 8 p.m.) and San Antonio at Clippers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Columbus at Pittsburgh (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes Saint Joseph’s at Dayton (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Purdue at Indiana (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Temple at SMU (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), UCF at Tulane (ESPNews, 7 p.m.), Louisiana Tech at Charlotte (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Rutgers at Iowa (ESPUN, 8 p.m.), Mississippi at Mississippi State (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Connecticut at Memphis (ESPN, 9 p.m.), St. Francis at Central Connecticut State University (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and San Diego at BYU (ESPNU, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Matthew Perry, Mae WHitman. The View: Larry Wilmore, Hall & Oates, Padma Lakshmi. The Talk: Matthew Perry, Thomas Lennon, Terrence Jenkins. Ellen DeGeneres: Kerry Washington, Noah Ritter. Wendy Williams: Evan Ross. Meredith Vieira: Wayne Brady, couples from “Married at First Sight.” Queen Latifah: Kevin Nealon, Jon Secada.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Don Cheadle, Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson, Mikky Ekko. Jimmy Fallon: Martin Short, Ruth Wilson, Walk the Moon. Jimmy Kimmel: Kelly Ripa, Joshua Malina, Gorgon City with Jennifer Hudson. Seth Meyers: Mae Whitman, Carolina Herrera. Late Late Show: Ray Romano, Busy Philipps, Tom Papa, Lauren Graham. Carson Daly: Mike Epps, Hundred Waters, Irvine Welsh. Jon Stewart: Patricia Arquette (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Cast of “Hot Tub Time Machine 2,” Ronda Rousey, Hanni El Khatib.