When it premiered last year, John Singleton’s “American Crime” (ABC, 10 p.m.) was so different in approach, style and intent, touching subjects other networks shows never did, that it set itself apart from everything else on broadcast television. It’s back again for its second season with much of the same cast, but with a wholly different story.
This time it’s about a rape accusation at a private school, where Felicity Huffman is now the tart head of school, who wants to quickly deal with the scandal; Timothy Hutton is the basketball coach whose players are accused. Regina King is back as the mother of a player (married to Andre Benjamin). With the story broadening to touch on issues of not just race and sex but also the nature of urban education, it’s clear Singleton is intent on keeping our attention once more. Get on board.
“American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) has diminished so much in size and influence over 14 seasons that the start of its 15th and final season is less of an event than a dim memory of so many past parades of auditions. Once more Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. are back as the amiable, always positive judges — which is part of why the show has declined. Without the acrid truth of Simon Cowell, there are barely any negative or even losing auditions from the first couple of cities. Yes there are touching stories and one dumb audition by Kanye West. There’s also one thing that previous seasons didn’t have: the possibility of returning in the future to try again; in the final season, this is the last shot for this particular path to stardom. But overall there’s no reason for those who have left it to have cause to return.
Two other, quite different shows return for their final seasons as well. One is the comedy “Mike and Molly” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.), which will finally release Melissa McCarthy to do just movie work. The other is “Mythbusters” (Science, 9 p.m.), with the team haven seemingly debunked everything already. Now they look at themselves and how they make the show, perhaps debunking some last myths along the way.
The inventive and surreal “Man Seeking Woman” (FXX, 10:30 p.m.) returns for a second season of Jay Baruchel’s doomed look for love.
It accompanies an 11th season premiere for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FXX, 10 p.m.) that’s about devising a new, complicated game that’s a surprising misfire.
Hey, tonight is “The People’s Choice Awards” (CBS, 9 p.m.), hosted by Jane Lynch. And with “Grey’s Anatomy” leading all nominees in the TV division, for example, it shows that people are weird. Shawn Mendes and Jason Derulo perform; Ellen DeGeneres gets a special award.
Tyra Banks guest stars on a new “Blackish” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.).
A month-long, 32-film, Wednesday night salute to Fred McMurray on Turner Classic Movies begins with crime and comedy from the 1930s and 40s with “True Confession” (8 p.m.), “Murder, He Says” (9:30 p.m.), “Suddenly It’s Spring” (11:15 p.m.), “Alice Adams” (1 a.m.), “Too Many Husbands” (2:45 a.m.), “Swing High, Swing Low” (4:15 a.m.) and “Dive Bomber” (5:45 a.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Florida at Tennessee (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Duke at Wake Forest (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), South Florida at Central Florida (ESPNews, 7 p.m.), Seton Hall at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), Massachusetts at Dayton (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.), California at Oregon (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Texas Tech at Iowa State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Xavier at St. John’s (CBS Sports, 10 p.m.) and Stanford at Oregon State (ESPNU, 11 p.m.).
In women’s games, it’s Rhode Island at George Washington (NBC Sports, noon).
NBA action includes New York at Miami (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and Memphis at Oklahoma City (ESPN, 9:30 p.m.).
Hockey has Pittsburgh at Chicago (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Felicity Huffman, Damian Lewis, James Island. The View: Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton. The Talk: Taylor Kinney, Yesi Ortiz. Ellen DeGeneres: Ricky Gervais, Satires Ronan. Wendy Williams: Alyssa Milano, Milly Almodovar. The Real: Big Boy, Mel B. Meredith Vieira: Sherri Shepherd.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Jerry Seinfeld, Sen. Rand Paul, Andra Day. Jimmy Kimmel: Bill Maher, Brie Larson, the Internet. Jimmy Fallon: Billy Joel, J.K. Simmons. Seth Beyers: Christian Slater, Retta, Sam Hunt, Matt Forum. James Corden: Kurt Russell, Paul Dano. Carson Daly: Judah Friedlander, Heartless Bastards, John Florence (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Ringo Starr. Trevor Noah: David J. Peterson. Conan O’Brien: Ray Liotta, Amy Landecker, Grizfolk.