The problem with hit cable series, we will find this season, is that the biggest hits will be copied by many lesser shows. One of what will be many stabs at “Game of Thrones” intrigue is “The Bastard Executioner” (FX, 10 p.m.).
From Kurt Sutter, the creator of “Sons of Anarchy,” it’s tempting to see the 10-episode series as another violent macho saga with horses instead of motorcycles. He certainly keeps up his penchant for gratuitous gore while providing a job for his wife Katey Sagal as some sort of mystic. Lee Jones stars as a warrior in 14th century Wales who is persuaded to take the identity of an executioner. Stephen Moyer of “True Blood” also stars. There’s something stark about the production, though, that begs for the sheen of the HBO “Thrones.”
Variety shows that aren’t talent competitions have been missing from network TV for more than a decade. Broadcasters have put their toe in before (as with a fine show from Maya Rudolph), but haven’t really put their faith in it. That may change with “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC, 10 p.m.), which hopes to parlay the talents of the comic actor and frequent awards show host into a weekly entertainment. His first guest is Reese Witherspoon.
“The Mindy Project” (Hulu, streaming), abruptly cancelled from conventional broadcast TV last spring, may be just the thing to make people subscribe to Hulu this season. The series begins where it left off, with Chris Messina’s Danny taking a sudden trip to India to meet Mindy’s parents, and Mindy Kaling has a “what if” “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment where she wakes up as if she married a Bravo producer played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Without commercials, it’s more inviting, with more room for its witty writing. It makes a good companion to the streaming service’s other original comedies, “Difficult People” (Hulu, streaming) and “The Real Hotwives of Las Vegas” (Hulu, streaming).
The short run of the biography series “In Their Own Words” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) ends with a profile of Jim Henson. Hope they don’t make the Muppets reminisce.
It comes before the second half of the four hour “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) on Walt Disney. If you can’t DVR it, you could freeze it.
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) considers the War of 1812.
The first season finale also comes for “Zoo” (Oxygen, 8 p.m.) where there’s a chance the world animal crisis will not be entirely solved.
Meagan goes to back to Michigan on the season one finale of “It Takes a Sister” (Oxygen, 9:30 p.m.).
A power of veto competition is held on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Two more hours come for “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Double reruns come from “Fresh Off the Boat” (ABC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) and “The Flash” (The CW, 8 and 9 p.m.).
It’s almost over: Finalists perform one more time on “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 8 p.m.) before a winner is named Wednesday.
The mother of “Monica the Medium” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.) is worried about her daughter. Probably because she’s in college, and a medium and has a TV show.
“The Bad Girls Club” (Oxygen, 8 p.m.) holds a seance, to reach dead bad girls perhaps.
“Punk’d” (BET, 10:30 p.m.) pulls a fast one on Russell Simmons.
The “Five Came Back” series on Turner Classic Movies featuring World War II era work by various directors focuses on on John Ford. In between the features “The Long Voyage Home” (8 p.m.) and “Mister Roberts” (3:45 p.m.) are the shorts “The Battle of Midway” (10 p.m.), “How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines” (10:30 p.m.), “December 7” (11:45 p.m.) and “They Were Expendable” (1:15 a.m.). Plus there are a few more of Chuck Jones’ Private Snafu cartoons: “Gripes” (9:55 p.m.), “A Lecture on Camouflage” (10:25 p.m.), “Spies” (11:40 p.m.) and “Seaman Tarfu in the Navy” (1:10 a.m.).
Baseball tonight includes Cubs at Pittsburgh (MLB, 7 p.m.) and Houston at Texas (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Carol Burnett, Dylan O’Brien, Miss America Betty Cantrell. The View: David Oyelowo, Jewel. The Talk: Terry Crews, Nancy O’Dell. Ellen DeGeneres: Justin Bieber. Wendy Williams: Chassie Post, chloe Melas. Meredith Vieira: Mel B.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tim Cook, Run the Jewels with TV on the Radio. Jimmy Kimmel: John Stamos, Jake Tapper, Cold War Kids. Jimmy Fallon: Robert De Niro, Ariana Grande, Duran Duran. Seth Meyers: Josh Brolin, Gov. Martin O’Malley, Judd Winick, Abe Laboriel Jr. James Corden: Pauley Perrette, Alice Cooper. Carson Daly: Richard Rawlings, NOFX, Aya Cash. Tavis Smiley: George Pataki, Terence Blanchard and the E Collective. Conan OBrien: Paul Bettany, David Drew & Pam Howe, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.