The irony of Jon Stewart’s last night is that it comes on a night that he would have loved to have covered on his show: The Republican Primary Debate (Fox, 9 p.m.) the first of the pileup of candidates that should provide comic fodder for weeks to come — or at least until the next debate.
Fox News was heavily criticized for allowing only 10 of the 17 declared candidates, and it said they chose based on poll ratings which meant that it features Donald Trump, of all people, at the top, followed by Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich. The questioners are the stars of Fox News – Megyn Kelly, Chris Wallace and Bret Baier — who are nonetheless expected to be tough on them.
The seven who didn’t make the cut are invited to a 5 p.m. debate. They are: Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki and Jim Gilmore. Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum moderate that event, which amounts to the kids table.
A 14th season starts for “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) with Zac Posen, Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia returning to judge and Tim Gunn back mentoring behind the scenes. Model Hannah Davis is guest judge on the 90-minute premiere.
A new also season starts for “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” (CMT, 11 p.m.).
The new “From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni” (Discovery Family, 9 p.m.) follows the unusual work of a Connecticut man who rescues dogs, trains some of them for Broadway stardom, and then adopts dozens of them on his Connecticut farm. I interviewed the star last week at the summer press tour.
The power couple Clay and Shelli look to be shattered tonight when one goes home. Both are up for eviction on “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
“Dates” (The CW, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), the interesting little imported British drama, ends its short season.
Betty Grissom is mad her husband died on “Astronaut Wives Club” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
First time correctional officers in a New Mexico superman prison are chronicled on the new series “Behind Bars: Rookie Year” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
A pair of women discuss past failed relationships and the person they married on the new series “3 Bad Dates, 1 Soulmate” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
A “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike, 10 p.m.) worth watching is the one tonight between the stars of “Broad City,” Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.
Noah Cappe eats chicken-fried bacon on “Carnival Eats” (Cooking Channel, 10 p.m.).
Belgians still like the Heathens, they learn on “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” (FX, 10 p.m.).
Michael Caine is the star today on Turner Classic Movies, with a wild variety of things including “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” (6 a.m.), “Hell in Korea” (8:15 a.m.), “Billion Dollar Brain” (9:45 a.m.), “Pulp” (11:45 a.m.), “The Wilby Conspiracy” (1:30 p.m.), “The Man Who Would Be King” (3:30 p.m.), “Deathtrap” (5:45 p.m.), “Hannah and Her Sisters” (8 p.m.), “The Ipcress File” (10 p.m.), “Get Carter” (midnight), “The Romantic Englishwoman” (2 a.m.) and “The Swarm” (4 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Kansas City at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Boston at Yankees (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Miles Teller, Rick Springfield. The View: D.L. Hughley, Ashley Monroe. The Talk: Rick Springfield, Tyler Posey, Richard Blais. Ellen DeGeneres: Jamie Foxx, Britney Spears (rerun). Wendy Williams: Nick Jonas, Nadia G., Zoe Ruderman (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Patricia Arquette, Bethany Mota, Christina Perri (rerun). Queen Latifah: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, T.I., Alison Sweeney (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Fallon: Salma Hayek, Tim Gunn, Christopher Cross. Jimmy Kimmel: Jon Hamm, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Elias, Sheila E. (rerun). Seth Meyers: Ice-T, Coco, Lucy Hale, Andy Daly. James Corden: Joel McHale, Rosemarie DeWitt, Gary Barlow. Carson Daly: Katheryn Winnick, Tijuana Panthers, Dan Ahdoot (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Robert Duvall (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Christina Applegate, Nat Faxon, Tom Papa.