At first, the new sitcom “The Carmichael Show” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) seems appealing — with laconic comedian Jerrod Carmichael at the center of the show and a cast that includes David Alan Grier and Loretta Devine as his Bunker-like parents. The first episode is standard issue, about Carmichael and his girlfriend (Amber Stevens West) wondering whether to tell the parents about their living together.
But in building what they call a “topical comedy series,” by the second episode they’re making yucks over police killings of unarmed African-Americans. There’s protests, jokes about the Civil Rights era, and a bit about the sister-in-law being a looter. Too soon? Probably so. The important thing in addressing contemporary issues is tone, and this doesn’t quite have it yet. Though if it were funnier that might all have been forgiven.
A long-running small-town Easter pageant in Oklahoma is threatened when its Jesus retires. The replacement is a little overweight and turns out to be a Buddhist in an amusing documentary “Jesus Town, USA” (Showtime, 7:30 pm.) that only seems like a Christopher Guest fake.
A finale is set for one of the summer’s unqualified hits, “Mr. Robot” (USA, 10 p.m.). The accompanying “Suits” (USA, 9 p.m.) also closes its fifth season.
For the new season of “Wheeler Dealers” (Velocity, 9 p.m.) car buffs Mike Brewer and Edd China move their shop from London to Los Angeles and scour the states for cars they can fix up. First off, they find a Pontiac GTO in Chicago.
The flood of documentaries continue with “Katrina 10 Years Later: Through Hell in High Water” (BET, 8 p.m.). I suppose they know the phrase is “hell and high water.”
The original “Ghost Hunters” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) is back for its 10th season, going down to Kentucky’s Wild Turkey Distillery for some different kind of spirits. There have been so many ghost hunting shows since then; one of them “Paranormal Witness” (Syfy, 10 p.m.) returns for its fourth season.
Wanda Sykes is guest mentor on “Last Comic Standing” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
The makeovers don’t go down well on “America’s Next Top Model” (The CW, 8 p.m.), which is what usually happens.
“Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.), which has been holding its own in summer ratings, has the power of veto competition.
Molly has a vision and a near-death experience on “Extant” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
Mo Rocca looks for “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” (Cooking, 8 p.m.). I think it’s on the second shelf.
There’s a tickle fight on “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.).
A deep fried root beer doesn’t seem to make much sense, but it’s one of the confections on “Carnival Cravings with Anthony Anderson” (Food, 10 p.m.).
Nicole’s leg-waxer has hurt her enough on a new “Candidly Nicole” (VH1, 11 p.m.).
Kellie Williams and CeCe Peniston switch places on “Celebrity Wife Swap” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
“Thrill Factor” (Travel, 8 p.m.) hosts Kari Bryon and Tory Belleci jump off a casino roof in Vegas and ride a ride at Six Flags.
One of the problems with a Lakota murder in South Dakota on “Swamp Murders” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) is there are no swamps up there.
On “The Jim Gaffigan Show” (TV Land, 10 p.m.), Jim goes on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” but his wife insists a priest accompany him. Macaulay Culkin and Questlove also star.
Curtis Stone finds surf and turf in Key West on “Beach Eats USA” (Food, 10:30 p.m.).
The final six on “MasterChef” (Fox, 8 p.m.) take over a restaurant — not Hell’s Kitchen we presume.
Greta Garbo is all alone as star on Turner Classic Movies today, with “The Temptress” (6 a.m.), “Flesh and the Devil” (8 a.m.), “Romance” (10 p.m.), “Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise” (11:30 a.m.), “Mata Hari” (1 p.m.), “The Painted Veil” (2:30 p.m.), “Conquest” (4 p.m.), “Ninotchka” (6 p.m.), “A Woman of Affairs” (8 p.m.), “Wild Orchids” (9:45 p.m.), “Grand Hotel” (11:45 p.m.), “Camille” (1:45 a.m.) and “The Kiss” (4:45 a.m.). There is also a cdocuentary on her life, “The Divine Grata Garbo” (4:45 a.m.).
Baseball includes Houston at Yankees (MLB, 1 p.m.) and Angels at Detroit (MLB, 7 p.m.).
In the Little League World Series, it’s Latin America vs. Japan (ESPN, 4 p.m.) and Texas vs. Pennsylvania (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
The WNBA has Los Angeles at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Ricky Martin, Kim Kardashian, Rick Schwartz. The View: Mindy Kaling, Gretchen Carlson (rerun). The Talk: Rick Springfield, Tyler Posey, Richard Blais (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Diane Keaton, Hailee Steinfeld (Rerun). Wendy Williams: Chloe Grace Moretz, Wolfgang Puck (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Jessie Pavelka, Jennie Garth, Fredrik Eklund (rerun). Queen Latifah: Chandra Wilson, Molly Sims, Les Twins (rerun).
Late Talk
Jimmy Kimmel: Miley Cyrus, Ali Wentworth, Andy Grammer. Jimmy Fallon: Vin Diesel, Carl Reiner, Kobe Bryant, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson (rerun). Seth Meyers: Christine Baranski, Colin Jost, Michael Kosta, Brad Wilk (rerun). James Corden: Adam Pally, Jeffrey Tambor, Nicole Richie, Laura Marling (rerun). Carson Daly: Tony Hale, Caribou, Krystyna Hutchinson, Corinne Fisher (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Bobby Caldwell (rerun). Jon Stewart: Judith Miller (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Jeffrey Tambor, Al Madrigal, Ashley Monroe.