It should never be considered an entertainment — it is a competition to run the country, for goodness sakes.
But because the first one got such high ratings, and Donald Trump is such a bizarre performance piece it demands TV time (if never a vote), the Second Republican Debate (CNN, 8 p.m.) from Simi Valley, Calif., can only be seen as a TV blockbuster first, and a matter of public policy second or third. The network certainly has been promoting it as if it were its Super Bowl.
Because of new Republican party rules, the CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have to be accompanied by a conservative, in this case radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Eleven get to be on the main stage,which means face time for Carly Fiorina among Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee Rand Paul, John Kasich and Chris Christie. But Rick Perry’s dropping out means a reasonable four for the kids’ table debate at 6: Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki and Lindsey Graham. (Jim Gilmore is out because his support slipped below 1 percent).
Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, gets her TV time by making her first late night appearance since becoming a declared Presidential candidate on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 11:35 p.m.). Hope she’s been practicing beer pong.
Rob Lowe has already parlayed his comedy side for not just DirecTV but for an actual fall comedy show, “The Grinder.” That won’t start for a week, but tonight, he stars in a second new comedy, “Moonbeam City” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.). In this animated fare, he plays a 1980s detective named Dazzle Novak. It’s there to accompany the season premiere of “South Park” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.), now marking its 19th year.
It’s just down to four on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.) and Steve has to nominate the next two to go.
Carnival season is ending and with it “Carnival Cravings with Anthony Anderson” (Food, 10 p.m.), visiting the Alameda County Fair in California.
Also, it’s getting chilly, so it’s the season’s last “Dating Naked: Playing for Keeps” (VH1, 9 p.m.).
Andre throws a Gilded Age-themed auction draft, and comparisons are made to slave auctions on a new episode of “The League” (FXX, 10 p.m.).
It’s Jean-Luc Godard night on Turner Classic Movies with five of his movies from the 1960s, “Breathless” (8 p.m.), “Pierrot le Fou” (10:15 p.m.), “Masculin-Feminin” (12:15 p.m.), “Alphaville” (2:15 a.m.) and “A Woman is a Woman” (4 a.m.).
Baseball includes Cubs at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Benico Del Toro, Gaby Diaz, Brett Eldredge. The View: Nicole Arbour. The Talk: Courtney Cox, Craig Ferguson. Ellen DeGeneres: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed Oxenbould, Shirley Clements. Wendy Williams: Eva Mendes. Meredith Vieira: Alyssa Milano.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Kevin Spacey, Carol Burnett, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp. Jimmy Kimmel: Tobey Maguire, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kip Moore. Jimmy Fallon: Hillary Clinton, Dakota Johnson, Fetty Wap. Seth Meyers: Elijah Wood, Horatio Sanz, Jess Glynne, Abe Laboriel Jr. , James Corden: Chris O’Donnell, Emily Mortimer. Carson Daly: Jake McDorman, Faith No More, Gerald “Slink” Johnson. Tavis Smiley: Dr. Richard Haass, Hussam Ayloush. Conan O’Brien: David Oyelowo, Asa Butterfield, JR JR.