Summer is so full of bad programming, and a few of them come back tonight. “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.) has not only failed to find any substantial talent of note in nine seasons, it has down so with a production that is overly fussy and drops in pre-recorded music to up the energy (when music from those auditioning simply will not). Finally there are serious questions how well the returning judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Howard Stern and Mel B can recognize talent if they see it. There’s this, though: They’ve added a buzzer to denote exceptional talent.
Also back is the regrettable “Extreme Weight Loss” (ABC, 9 p.m.), starting with two 400-pound twins.
Gone since 2009, “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” (Fox, 8 p.m.), returns for a new season. Jeff Foxworthy is still there, but the rules seemed to have changed significantly.
President Obama came to office pledging to end wars, but the crisis in Syria and rise of ISIS tested that. A report on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) recalls last summer when he announced (as a surprise to his staff) a “red line” involving chemical weapons, and then decided to go to Congress for approval to respond, which let him off the hook.
If it’s an honest report, tonight’s” “CNN Special Report: Breaking News — 35 Years of CNN” (CNN, 9 p.m.) will show the decline of the 24-hour news network into one where reporting has been virtually replaced by panel discussions and prime time entertainment. And if the history of the network is defined by six events, two of them have to be about missing airplanes.
On the new “I Can Do That” (NBC, 10 p.m.), celebrities including Cheryl Burke, Joe Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger and Ciara try to see if they can do the kind of stunts done by Penn and Teller and the Harlem Globetrotters. Marlon Wayans hosts.
The second of five chapters of “Texas Rising” (History, 9 p.m.) occurs.
A new season of “Knife Fight” (Esquire, 10 p.m.) moves the chefs’ cooking competition from Los Angeles to New York.
The final five on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 9 p.m.) cook for a symphony performance.
On a new “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) she gets on board a mechanical bull.
If you want to see a handful of films about island prisons, tonight’s your night with “The Count of Monte Cristo” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “The Crimson Pirate” (TCM, 10 p.m.), “Papillion” (TCM, midnight), “Birdman of Alcatraz” (TCM, 2:45 a.m.) and “Devil’s Island” (TCM, 5:15 a.m.).
It’s Atlanta at Cleveland (TNT, 8:30 p.m.) in the NBA Playoffs and Rangers at Tampa Bay (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.) in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Baseball includes Nationals at Cubs (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Braves at Dodgers (ESPN, 10 p.m.).
Early round play continues in the French Open (ESPN2, 5 a.m.; Tennis Channel, 10 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kevin Dillon, Jennifer Arnold & Bill Klein, Clark Beckham. The View: John Legend, The Persuasions, Mario Cantone, Raven-Symone. The Talk: Marlo Wayans, Britt Robertson, Susan Feniger, Kelly Osbourne. Ellen DeGeneres: Josh Groban, Aydian Dowling. Wendy Williams: Brandy Norwood (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Flo Rida, Bevy Smith, Jenna Bush Hager, Louise Roe (rereun). Queen Latifah: Jennifer Hudson, Kellan Lutz, Tim Snell, the Madden Brothers (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Fallon: Michelle Obama, Matthew Morrison, Smashing Pumpkins (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Elizabeth Banks, Marc Maron, Earl Sweatshirt featuring BadBadNotGood (rerun). Seth Meyers: Chelsea Handler, John Slattery, Shakey Graves (rerun). James Corden: Sharon Osbourne, Rosario Dawson, Tony Hale (rerun). Carson Daly: Becki Newton, Hundred Waters, Jay Larson (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Marcus Miller. Conan O’Brien: Anna Kendrick, Gabrielle Union, Lee Ann Womack (rerun).