It took me a while to warm to Danny McBride’s “Southbound and Down,” but he essentially has the same character in the new “Vice Principals” (HBO, 10:30 p.m.). (In fact, didn’t his baseball playing character have to go back to become vice principal in its second season?).
At any rate, he’s stuck in the job this time and doing a terrible job, acting like a jerk, which is generally the basis of the comedy. He’s also gunning for the principal’s job, but so is the other vice principal, a strangely effeminate rival played by Walter Goggins. Instead, a third choice is made, a black woman, which makes their attacks on her all the more off-putting. The two are so mean spirited, it’s tough to watch their vulgar and childish efforts to unseat her. You’ll wish that Bill Murray, the retiring principal, wasn’t leaving after five minutes, but he does.
You’ll also wish you had more time with HBO comedies “Silicon Valley” and “Veep” which were in the slots with this and the returning “Ballers” (HBO, 10 p.m.), the completely unfunny saga about a sports agent played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, where seeing NFL stars we’re supposed to recognize is meant to be enough of a thrill (“The League” handled the same area so much better).
Taken together, the quality of comedy drops a few levels on HBO with these dim bro efforts.
“Power” (Starz, 9 p.m.) returns for its third season, looking like it may be a more sturdy offering than, say, “Empire.” In the premiere Ghost looks to lose the drug trade as he opens new nightclubs and even looks to lose the nickname Ghost.
Not sure if slime is part of the protocol at the Kid’s Choice Sports 2016 (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.) at which the NFL’s Russell Wilson hosts and a roster of stars are celebrated, including Kobe Bryant, who gets the Legend award.
A sports star of the past is honored on the 75th anniversary of the end of Joe DiMaggio’s record 56-game hitting streak with the documentary “56: The Streak” (MLB, 8 p.m.).
Not seen much in the pilot, John Turturro’s character begins to get to interrogate Naz — and try to do something about his feet in the second episode of “The Night Of” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
“The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth” (Showtime, 8 p.m.) focuses on the vice presidential choices of the two presumptive nominees.
The new series “Hell Below” (Smithsonian, 9 p.m.) is actually about World War II submarine patrols
After “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” (HGTV, 8 p.m.) and “Mexico Life” (HGTV, 9:30 p.m.) and “Island Hunters” (HGTV, 10 p.m.) the latest shop-for-a-vacation-house series is called “Life’s a Beach” (Travel Channel, 11 p.m.).
The fifth season starts for “Basketball Wives L.A.” (VH1, 9 p.m.), probably with a fight. And one of them gets her own spinoff in “Shaunie’s Home Court” (VH1, 10:30 p.m.), starring Shaquille O’Neal’s ex.
Trump and his vice presidential pick make their first appearance together on “60 Minutes” (CBS, 7 p.m.).
On the season finale of “Ride with Norman Reedus” (AMC, 10 p.m.), the actor rides from Naples to Key West with Peter Fonda, who is not the luckiest riding partner a guy could have, as Dennis Hopper found out.
Game shows tonight have Joley Fisher vs. Tony Hawk and boxers against one another on “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC, 8 p.m.); Bellamy Young vs. Weird Al Yankovic and Tony Hale vs. Justin Long on “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC, 9 p.m.); and Cheryl Hines, Leslie Jones, Josh Charles, Leah Remini, Ike Barinholtz and Jack McBrayer on the “Match Game” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
The bassist goes missing on “Roadies” (Showtime, 10 p..m).
There’s a big battle to save the church on “Preacher” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
Melissa reunites with Teresa over Christmas on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (Bravo, 8 p.m.).
New head of household Paulie gets to nominate two for eviction on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Kim thinks Kanye is misunderstood on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (E!, 9 p.m.).
“My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” (TLC, 10 p.m.) returns for its fifth season.
There’s apparently a current “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) as well as 12 previous participants returning for a 40 day challenge on “Naked and Afraid XL: Uncensored All Stars” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Forest is the locale for the hungry animals on “The Hunt” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
Compare and contrast: “Return to Amish” (TLC, 9 p.m.) and “Escaping Polygamy” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies has a double feature about political conventions: “The Best Man” (8 p.m.) and “Medium Cool” (10 p.m.). What, no “Manchurian Candidate”? Later comes the silent “Souls for Sale” (TCM, 12:15 a.m.), which is not about politics, honest; Milcho Manchevski’s “Before the Rain” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and Grigori Chukhrai’s “Ballad of a Soldier” (TCM, 4 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Texas at Cubs (TBS, 2 p.m.) and Boston at Yankees (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
The NBA Summer League hits its quarterfinals with Minnesota vs. Phoenix (ESPN2, 6 p.m.) and Cleveland vs. Chicago (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
WNBA action includes Los Angeles at Atlanta (NBA, 3 p.m.) and Chicago at Seattle (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in the British Open (NBC, 7 a.m.), as well as the Marathon Classic (CBS, 4:30 p.m.).
In MLS action, it’s Seattle at Portland (Fox, 3 p.m.), New York City FC at Montreal (ESPN, 5 p.m.) and New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.).
The Tour de France (NBC Sports, 7 a.m.) hits the Alps in Stage 15, running from Bourg-en Bresse to Culoz.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Secretary of State John Kerry, Republican Chair Reince Priebus. CBS: Paul Manafort, Newt Gingrich, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams. NBC: Kerry, Priebus. CNN: Priebus, Kerry. Fox News: CIA Director John Brennan, Priebus, Manafort.