Michael Gambon usually enhances whatever production he’s in, as a side character, but he’s front and center and very convincing as a 78-year-old Winston Churchill, recovering from a 1953 stroke that was kept under wraps in the very well done “Churchill’s Secret” (PBS, 8 p.m.), filmed in part at Churchill’s own retreat and also starring Lindsay Duncan as lady Churchill, Romola Garai as his nurse. Based on Jonathan Smith’s novel “The Churchill Secret KBO,” it all includes a squadron of fighting siblings.
Only in the never-grow-up bro culture of comedy writing rooms does the idea of a He-Man style estranged dad (who is actually a cartoon) returning to connect with a human son seem like an idea fertile enough for a whole series. But here is “Son of Zorn” (Fox, 8 p.m.), with Jason Sudeikis providing the voice for the ever incorrect dad.
Technically the animation sort of fits with the live action, but the actors who include Cheryl Hines and Johnny Pemberton have a tougher time with the interplay. Today’s “sneak” is the first example of the new fall broadcast season and probably indicative of its middling quality.
Season four of “Masters of Sex” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) starts in 1968, and is set to move into the ‘70s.
After a month or so on hiatus “The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth” (Showtime, 8 p.m.) will struggle to show how much has happened since.
A second season begins for “Indian Summers” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) in the aftermath of an assassination attempt on the viceroy in the Indian Himalayas in 1935.
A two hour finale comes for the summer series “BrainDead” (CBS, 9 p.m.) in which the fictional Congress tries to do something about the invasive bugs about the same time the actual Congress does nothing about Zika-carrying mosquitos.
Sunday Night Football takes a bow with New England at Arizona (NBC, 8:30 p.m.). Earlier NFL action includes Buffalo at Baltimore (CBS, 1 p.m.), Green Bay at Jacksonville (Fox, 1 p.m.) and Giants at Dallas (Fox, 4 p.m.).
Among the documentaries that mark the occasion today is an updated “102 Minutes That Changed America: 15th Anniversary” (History, 8 p.m.), “America’s 9/11 Flag: Rise from the Ashes” (History, 10:30 p.m.) which finds the famed flag from Ground Zero thought lost for more than a decade, and the 2002 documentary by Jules and Gideon Naudet and James Hanlon, also updated, “9/11: Fifteen Years Later” (CNN, 8 p.m.), introduced by Denis Leary.
Just when you think you might have a respire from “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison, he’s back to host The 2017 Miss America Competition (ABC, 9 p.m.) live from Atlantic City with Sage Steele. Among the judges are gymnast Gabby Douglas and the singer Ciara.
“The Last Ship” (TNT, 9 p.m.) faces a season-ending challenge suitable for a finale, but a fifth season of the show has been ordered, so it won’t be the end.
There are some Kardashians you care even less about. Hence, “Rob & Chyna” (E!, 9 p.m.), maybe the fifth spinoff.
Tom Bruno, a firefighter who survived 9/11 is guest programmer tonight on Turner Classic Movies. His choices: “Casablanca” (8 p.m.) and “The Dirty Dozen” (10 p.m.). Later comes Buster Keaton in the silent “The Navigator” (TCM, midnight), and two Japanese films by Masaki Kobayashi, “Harakiri” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and “Samurai Rebellion” (TCM, 4:15 a.m.).
Baseball includes Baltimore at Detroit (TBS, 1 p.m.) and Cubs at Houston (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
The U.S. Open (ESPN, 4 p.m.) concludes with Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka.
Final rounds are played int he BMW Championship (Golf, noon; NBC, 2 p.m.).
Didn’t get enough during the Olympics? It’s UCLA vs. Princeton (ESPNU) in men’s water polo.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Rudy Giuliani. CBS: CIA Director John Brennan, Rep. Devin Nunes. NBC: Johnson. CNN: Johnson. Fox News: Johnson, Newt Gingrich, Rep. Xavier Becerra.