Danny McBride has been an expert at creating a blustery, quick-triggered jerk of a character for premium cable comedies, first in “Eastbound and Down” and then “Vice Principals.” Seems a natural thing that he’d become a morally-compromised Southern evangelical in a megachurch-running family. Hence, “The Righteous Gemstones” (HBO, 10 p.m.) in which he’s blackmailed for non-pastorly pursuits in the very first episode. Aside from brash comedy, there is more depth thanks to a cast that includes John Goodman as the father in charge and Adam Devine and Edi Paterson as siblings. McBride’s nemesis in “Vice Principals” Walton Goggins shows up soon enough too. Here’s a longer story I wrote about it for TV Worth Watching.
The decent Boston period yarn “City on a Hill” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) reaches its first season finale tonight; it’s been renewed for a second.
Primetime preseason football has Seattle at Minnesota (Fox, 8 p.m.). An earlier game has New Orleans at Chargers (CBS, 4 p.m.).
“Serengeti” (Discovery, 8 p.m.) feels anticipation for the annual great migration.
Get a peek at the upcoming “Downton Abbey” movie and get behind the scenes stories on “Downton Abbey Live!” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), the public television series that refuses to die.
Things start to heat up on “Succession” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
“The Weekly” (FX, 10 p.m.) looks into loopholes at the start of the opioid crisis.
We still don’t know the winner of the Head of Household competition on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.). Whoever it is has to nominate two people for eviction.
Grace and Nick graduate on the fifth season finale of “Good Witch” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo, 8 p.m.) head to the Cayman Islands.
Three remaining singers perform twice on “Sunday Best” (BET, 8 p.m.).
Tess and Jake take their relationship to the next level on the first of two episodes of “Sweetbitter” (Starz, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) — the last ones of the second season.
The special “Cola Wars” (History, 9 p.m.) looks back at the time when Pepsi duked it out with Coke.
A mission to the mall turns dangerous on “Fear the Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.).
Grantchester runs out of options on the first season finale of “The Rook” (Starz, 8 p.m.).
On the first of two new episodes of “Instinct” (CBS, 9 and 10 p.m.) the target is the Sleeping Beauty Killer. d
The actor who died at 57 10 years ago next month is recalled in the special “I Am Patrick Swayze” (TV Land, 9 p.m.).
Chloe worries about trouble at the baptism on “Unexpected” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
On “Preacher” (AMC, 10:10 p.m.), Tulip forges an unexpected alliance.
Ariel and Nathan build a pizza oven on “Raising Wild” (Discovery, 10:17 p.m.).
Likely meant as an addendum to the season two start of “Mindhunter” (Netflix, streaming) is the special “Ted Bundy: Mind of a Monster” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
Camryn Mannheim, Marissa-Jaret Ainokur and the Bella Twins are among the competitors on Celebrity Family Feud (ABC, 8 p.m.).
Hill Harper, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sara Haines and James Van Der Beek play “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
And playing “To Tell the Truth” (ABC, 10 p.m.) are Adam Pally, Mayim Bialik, Chris D’Elia and Nicole Byer.
Audrey Hepburn is star all day on Turner Classic Movies with “Robin and Marian” (6 a.m.), “Green Mansions” (8 a.m.), “The Nun’s Story” (9:45 a.m.), “The Children’s Hour” (12:30 p.m.), “Love in the Afternoon” (2:30 p.m.), “My Fair Lady” (5 p.m.), “Sabrina” (8 p.m.), “Funny Face” (10 p.m.), “Charade” (midnight), “Paris When It Sizzles” (2 a.m.) and “Wait Until Dark” (4 a.m.). What, no “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”?
Baseball includes Dodgers at Atlanta (TBS, 1 p.m.) and Cubs vs. Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
WNBA action has Indiana at Washington (NBA, 3 p.m.) and Las Vegas at Chicago (NBA, 6 p.m.).
Final rounds are played in the BMW Championship (Golf, noon; NBC, 2 p.m.) and the U.S. Amateur (Fox, 3:30 p.m.).
Little League World Series continues with Curacao vs. South Korea (ESPN, 9 a.m.), Virginia vs. Minnesota (ESPN, 11 a.m.), Japan vs. Mexico (ESPN, 1 p.m.) and Hawaii vs. New Jersey (ABC, 2 p.m.).
In the American Legion World Series, it’s Festus vs. Danville (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), Shrewsbury vs. Fargo (ESPNU, 4 p.m.) and Asheboro vs. Idaho Falls (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.).
ABC: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Stacey Abrams. CBS: Sen. Joe Minchin, Navarro, Andrew Yang. NBC: White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, former Rep. Mark Sanford. CNN: Navarro, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Fox News: Kudlow, Gov. Steve Bullock.