Playing a secret service agent in search of a couple of missing colleagues (one with whom he was having an affair) Matt Dillon finds himself in a bucolic, odd mountain town in Utah, where people are strange, he can’t seem to leave, and everybody’s cut off from the outside world.
Unlike “Under the Dome,” there’s no glass to keep him in; unlike “Twin Peaks,” there’s no good pie and coffee (or much irony). But the makers of “Wayward Pines” (Fox, 9 p.m.) sure had “Peaks” on the mind when they made this mysterious series, chock full of big names. Terrence Howard is the malevolent sheriff; Melissa Leo the sadistic nurse; Juliette Lewis, a sympathetic barkeep; Hope Davis the local teacher.
What exactly is going on they’re not going to tell you right away. But since it’s based on a series of novels, there is the assumption that there is a direction if not full resolution. M. Night Shyamalan seems to have only the slightest involvement despite all the ads, but there is some intrigue as they unfold the story. Not the worst way to bide your time until the official “Twin Peaks” reboot on Showtime.
A comedy that gains more confidence by the season, “Maron” (IFC, 10 p.m.) begins its third year with Marc Maron acquiring new friends old and new as he tries to adjust a career and a semi-stable relationship. Two consecutive episodes means that he’ll bump against cable’s other misanthrope, “Louie” (FX, 10:30 p.m.) in an episode in which Jane has friends over.
What happens when you bring your “Cash Cab” quiz questions to the party boat? It’s “Pontoon Payday” (CMT, 10 and 10:30 p.m.), which would be better if they threw people overboard who got everything wrong. Frank Nicotero hosts.
They try to diversify the staff on “The Comedians” (FX, 10 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of Melbourne” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) — Australia, not Florida — ends its second season.
A 1974 VW Thing is repaired on “Lost in Transmission” (History, 10 p.m.). Then they go to Gettysburg or something (it is the History channel after all).
It’s finales everywhere, from “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.) to “The Odd Couple” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.), “Scandal” (ABC, 9 p.m.), “The Blacklist” (NBC, 9 p.m.), “Reign” (The CW, 9 p.m.), “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.) and “American Crime” (ABC, 10 p.m.). All will be back for a new season.
“More disaster movies on Turner Classic Movies: “In Old Chicago” (8 p.m.), “Earthquake” (10 p.m.), “San Francisco” (12:15 a.m.), “The Hurricane” (2:15 a.m.) and “The Last Days of Pompeii” (4:15 a.m.).
NBA playoffs have Cleveland at Chicago (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Houston at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). Tonight is also the NBA Draft Combine (ESPN2, 3 p.m.).
Baseball includes Minnesota at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.) and San Francisco at Cincinnati (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Matt Dillon, Anna Camp, David Duchovny. The View: Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kat Graham, Raven-Symone. The Talk: Darren Criss, Lynda Carter, Deborah Norville, Chi-Lan Lieu, Beth Stern. Ellen DeGeneres: Jane Fonda, Hilary Duff. Wendy Williams: Tom Bergeron. Meredith Vieira: Garcelle Beauvais, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Anna Camp, Darius Rucker. Queen Latifah: Tim Snell (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: George Clooney, Tom Waits. Jimmy Fallon: Bill O’Reilly, Snoop Dogg. Jimmy Kimmel: Amy Schumer, Ludacris, Jose Gonzalez. Seth Meyers: Anna Kendrick, Thomas Middleditch, Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster. James Corden: One Direction. Carson Daly: Matthew Weiner, Young Rising Sons, Marcella Arguello. Tavis Smiley: Richard Martinez, Rev. Earl A. Smith. Jon Stewart: Rebel Wilson. Conan O’Brien: Olivia Munn, Dean Norris, Sleater-Kinney (rerun).