Can you believe “The Real World” (MTV, 10 p.m.) is still around, starting its 31st season? Having run out of cities, they’re back yet again in Las Vegas but they’ve long since decided that just watching seven strangers interact (even as liquored up as possible) isn’t enough any more. So with a subtitle of “Go Big or Go Home,” they have roommates compete to stay. Sounds like “Survivor” without the heat stroke.
What returning show could be more unwelcome than that? How about “Gigolos” (Showtime, 11 p.m.).
On the second season finale for “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.) Annalise continues to try to do just that. It follows new episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.) and “Scandal” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
How can you hold actor Idris Elba in even higher esteem? Catch his musical salute to his father and Nelson Mandela in “Mandela, My Dad and Me” (Ovation, 7 p.m.).
The new “Cooks vs. Cons” (Food Network, 9 p.m.) does not, as we had hoped, pit chefs against convicts. Instead it’s just another pro chef vs. amateur contest, with judges Graham Elliot and Daphne Oz doing blind taste tests. It joins the flurry of other cooking competitions, which tonight alone includes “Chopped” (Food, 8 p.m.), ”Beat Bobby Flay” (Food, 10 p.m.) and “Recipe for Deception” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) as well as the 13th season finale of “Top Chef” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Brackets ready? The Madness begins in earnest as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins this afternoon with a flurry first round games across the country. First up are Duke vs. North Carolina-Wilmington (CBS, 12:15 p.m.), Texas Tech vs. Butler (truTV, 12:40 p.m.), Colorado vs. Connecticut (TNT, 1:30 p.m.), Iowa State vs. Iona (TBS, 2 p.m.), Baylor vs. Yale (CBS, 2:45 p.m.), Virginia vs. Hampton (truTV, 3:10 p.m.), Kansas vs. Austin Peay (TNT, 4 p.m.), Purdue vs. Arkansas Little Rock (TBS, 4:30 p.m.), Miami vs. Buffalo (TNT, 6:50 p.m.), Indiana vs. Chattanooga (CBS, 7:10 p.m.), North Carolina vs. Florida Gulf Coast (TBS, 7:20 p.m.), Utah vs. Fresno State (truTV, 7:27 p.m.), Arizona vs. Wichita State (TNT, 9:20 p.m.), Kentucky vs. Stony Brook (CBS, 9:40 p.m.), Southern California vs. Providence (TBS, 9:50 p.m.) and Seton Hall vs. Gonzaga (truTV, 9:47 p.m.).
It’s already down to the Top 5 on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The first season finale of “Colony” (USA, 10 p.m.) has L.A. in lockdown and the resistance kidnapping a high-value target.
On a new “Baskets” (FX, 10 p.m.), Chip follows a turtle round Paris and meets Penelope.
Nina doesn’t think she can keep up with the intellectuals Lance has befriended on “Portlandia” (IFC, 10 p.m.).
It seems like overkill to call an “enhanced” rerun of “My 600-Pound Life” (TLC, 8 p.m.) “supersized,” but that’s what the network does. Just as unnecessary: “Naked and Afraid Pop Up Edition” (Discovery, 10 p.m.).
An arranged marriage doesn’t work out on a new “Vikings” (History, 10 p.m.).
The volunteer prisoners try to adjust on “60 Days In” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
Contestants on “Project Runway All-Stars” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) go for baroque inspirations.
“Idiotsitter” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) reaches its first season finale, as Gina takes her GED.
The Thursday night festival of films condemned by the Catholic League of Decency back in the day continues with films from the 1960s, Luis Bunuel’s “Viridiana” (8 p.m.), Billy Wilder’s “Kiss Me, Stupid” (9:45 p.m.), Antonioni’s “Blow-Up” (midnight), “Never on Sunday” (2 a.m.) and “Reflections in a Golden Eye” (3:45 a.m.).
That means the St. Patrick’s fare runs during the day, with “The Irish In Us” (TCM, 8:45 a.m.), “Irene” (TCM, 10:15 a.m.), “Three Cheers for the Irish” (TCM, noon), “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady” (TCM, 1:45 p.m.), “Young Cassidy” (TCM, 3:30 p.m.) and “Finian’s Rainbow” (TCM, 5:30 p.m.).
Although there is that Irish music scene in “Titanic” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
Pro basketball tonight has Portland at San Antonio (NBA, 8:30 p.m.).
In hockey, it’s Rangers at Los Angeles (NHL, 10:30 p.m.).
Spring baseball has St. Louis at Detroit (MLB, 1 p.m.), Angels at Colorado (MLB, 4 p.m.), Arizona at Cubs (ESPN, 7 p.m.) and San Francisco at San Diego (MLB, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Garner, Zoe Kravitz. The View: Melissa Rauch. Ellen DeGeneres: Beth Behrs, Marcia Clark. Wendy Williams: Donnie Wahlberg, Jenny McCarthy. The Real: Eva Marcille. Meredith Vieira: Steve Harvey.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: William H. Macy, Melissa Rauch, Isaac Mizrahi. Jimmy Kimmel: Henry Cavill, Gabourey Sidibe, Flogging Molly. Jimmy Fallon: Clive Owen, Nia Vardalos, Jimmy Carr. Seth Meyers: Jennifer Garner, Thomas Middleditch, Melissa George, Matt Cameron. James Corden: Mac Fron, Anna Kendrick, Adam DeVine, Elton John (rerun). Carson Daly: Lucy Fry, Quilt, Thomas Morton (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Carl Reiner. Trevor Noah: Theo James. Larry Wilmore: Joanna Coles. Conan O’Brien: Ricky Gervais, Marsai Martin, Rory Scovel (rerun).