The drama on “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.) moves from the final four, reeling from a surprise Wednesday eviction, to issues surrounding the host.
On the live Thursday night eviction show last week, Julie Chen signed off with a line akin to “I am Mrs. Norman Maine!” from “A Star is Born.” She signed off as “Julie Chen Moonves” for the first time, in a show of support for her once-powerful husband, Les Moonves, the CBS chief who was dismissed amid a flurry of accusations of harassment inappropriate conduct.
Earlier this week, Chen announced (in a taped segment on the “Big Brother” set) that she wouldn’t go forward on another CBS show she was at since its inception, “The Talk” (CBS, 2 pm.). It was never made clear whether she’d see the final weeks of “Big Brother” out. It’d be weird by now to have Jeff Probst or Phil Keoghan suddenly step in (though the latter was in L.A. Monday for the Emmys). What will happen? You know “expect the unexpected” and all that. Plus the final three will be determined.
It’s about the only thing going on in prime time, where everything else is a rerun even though the new fall season has supposedly started. A slow start indeed.
Rachel Griffiths returns to TV in an Australian crime thriller “Dead Lucky” (Sundance, streaming), playing a detective breaking in a trainee (Yoson An).
Lucia makes a sacrifice to save Gustavo on the second season finale of “Snowfall” (FX, 10 p.m.), which was just renewed for season three yesterday.
Jenni considers leaving early from “Jersey Shore Family Vacation” (MTV, 8 p.m.) and who can blame her?
A travel feature shot before this week’s North Carolina flooding is “Asheville by Design” (National Geographic, 6:30 p.m.).
Destiney calls a private detective to find her father on “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
A mother thinks demons are attacking on the first of two episodes of “A Haunting” (Travel, 8 p.m.). And how did this end up on the Travel channel?
It’s all about cakes on “Chopped” (Food, 8 p.m.).
There’s a hibachi challenge on “Bite Club” (Food, 9 p.m.).
A midwinter melt is no picnic for “Mountain Men” (History, 9 p.m.).
With contestants down to five, “The Grand Hustle” (BET, 10 p.m.) has to end sometime soon.
There’s a brawl in the ambulance during “Nightwatch Nation” (A&E, 10 p.m.).
In addition to his new series “Kidding” (Showtime, 10:30 p.m.), there’s a marathon of Jim Carrey comedies tonight with “Bruce Almighty” (Freeform, 5 p.m.), “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (Freeform, 7 p.m.) and its sequel, “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” (Freeform, 9 p.m.).
The Black Experience on Film series on Turner Classic Movies continues with “Claudine” (8 p.m.), “Sparkle” (10 p.m.), “Losing Ground” (midnight), “Cleopatra Jones” (1:45 a.m.) and “I Died a Thousand Times” (3:30 a.m.).
There’s a law that any game of Boston at Yankees (MLB, 7 p.m.) has to be nationally televised.
Preseason hockey has Washington at Montreal (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Chicago at Detroit (NHL, 7:30 p.m.) and San Jose at Anaheim (NHL, 10 p.m.).
Thursday Night Football has Jets at Cleveland (NFL, 8:20 p.m.).
College football has Tulsa at Temple (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Terrence Howard, Iain Armitage, Jake Shears. The View: Kelly Clarkson. The Talk: Danny DeVito, Carnie Wilson. Ellen DeGeneres: Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Colton Underwood, Death Cab for Cutie. Wendy Williams: Omar Epps. The Real: Issa Rae.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Tiffany Haddish, Iain Armitage. Jimmy Kimmel: Matt Kemp, Wiz Khalifa. Jimmy Fallon: Jack Black, Angela Bassett, Josh Groban. Seth Meyers: Kelly Clarkson, Freddie Highmore, Ken Burns, Sean Kinney. James Corden: Joan Collins, Johnny Galecki, Badflower. Carson Daly: Reid Scott, Mt. Joy, Linus Roache. Trevor Noah: Tracey Ullman. Conan O’Brien: Jeff Garmin, Boyd Holbrook, the Cooties.