Because it’s the biggest scripted thing on cable “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 6:30 p.m.) has inevitably led to copycats, including its own spin-off. Unfortunately, “Fear The Walking Dead” (AMC, 10 p.m.) still doesn’t explain what started the zombie apocalypse. And it’s one of those oddly-timed prequels that, like “Bates Motel,” seems to have taken place in an even more contemporary time, with its reliance on smartphones and such.
Set in Los Angeles instead of the East Coast, Kim Dickens stars as a mother trying to keep an eye on her grown kids. That one is a heroin addict makes his initial reports of zombie behavior doubted. News of the uprising will take over soon enough, but for now things build very slowly (so yes, there’s less gore factor for now).
Unnecessary except as an experiment of how the executive producers might have proceeded in the first place, it may stave off anticipation for fans awaiting the return of the mother show. And it gives work to Chris Hardwick, back to herald the new show by hosting a two hour “Talking Dead” (E!, 8 p.m.).
Elsewhere, “Ballers” (HBO, 10 p.m.) reaches its first season finale even as “Vicious” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) begins its second season with Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi.
Reliving New Orleans comes again in the news special “Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm” (ABC, 10 p.m.) and “Only New Orleans” (Al Jazeera America, 10 p.m.), which focuses on its music and culture.
Preseason Sunday Night Football has St. Louis at Tennessee (Fox, 8 p.m.). Earlier, it’s Green Bay at Pittsburgh (NFL, 1 p.m.).
Another great thing about “Show Me a Hero” (HBO, 8 p.m.), the powerhouse miniseries presenting its middle two episodes, is all the Springsteen they use on the soundtrack.
Children with terminal diseases tell their stories on an edition of “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.).
The two hours of “Bachelor in Paradise” (ABC, 8 p.m.), followed by two more hours Monday, can make a viewer get kind of sick of paradise. At least it’s not a rerun, Like “American Ninja Warrior” (NBC, 9 p.m.) and two hours of “Hollywood Game Night” (NBC, 8 and 9 p.m.) preceding it.
“I Am Cait” (E!, 8 p.m.) goes to New York City’s Pride celebration.
Debbie Reynolds is star all day on Turner Classic Movies with “Mr. Imperium” (6 a.m.), “Give a Girl a Break” (7:30 a.m.), “The Affairs of Dobie Gillis” (9 a.m.), “The Gazebo” (10:30 a.m.), “The Mating Game” (2:15 p.m.), “How Sweet It Is” (4 p.m.), “Hit the Deck” (6 p.m.), “Singin’ in the Rain” (8 p.m.), “Divorce, American Style” (10 p.m.), “The Catered Affair” (midnight), “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (2 a.m.) and “The Singing Nun” (4:15 a.m.).
Sunday night baseball has San Francisco at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 8 p.m.). Earlier, it’s Los Angeles at Houston (TBS, 2 p.m.).
WNBA action includes Chicago at Washington (NBA, 4 p.m.) and Minnesota at Phoenix (NBA, 6 p.m.).
Golf has the final rounds of the Wyndham Championship (CBS, 3 p.m.) and the U.S. Amateur (Fox, 3 p.m.).
In the Little League World Series, it’s Venezuela vs. Uganda (ESPN, 11 s.m.), Texas vs. California (ABC, 3 p.m.), Mexico vs. Japan (ESPN, 5 p.m.) and South Carolina vs. Pennsylvania (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Martin O’Malley. CBS: Ted Cruz, Chris Christie. NBC: Carly Fiorina, Gov. Jerry Brown. CNN: Ben Carson, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, Jim Webb. Fox News: Mike Huckabee.