There won’t be as big an opening ceremony as there will be for the Olympics there in a couple of years, and most of it won’t be available on TV, but we can assume at least part of the festivities of the ceremonies at the Arena de Sao Paulo will be seen as part of the pre-show 2014 FIFA World Cup Match Day (ESPN, 3 p.m.).
The first of the 64 matches involving 32 countries in 12 stadiums will involve the host country: Brazil vs. Croatia (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.). Curb your vuvuzela.
The bigger sporting event in the U.S. tonight may be Game 4 of the NBA Finals with San Antonio at Miami (ABC, 9 p.m.). The Spurs lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. It’s preceded by another “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night” (ABC, 8 p.m.) with Ice Cube and Nate Robinson.
And a whole lot of TV time is about to be devoted to golf, with the start of the U.S. Open (ESPN, 9 a.m.; NBC, 3 p.m.; ESPN2, 5 p.m.; ESPN, 6 p.m.) from Pinehurst, N.C.
“Maron” (IFC, 10 p.m.) invites Caroline Rhea to the podcast and spends his time reminiscing about his ex.
Nick Offerman hasn’t been seen much Thursday nights since the season finale of “Parks and Recreation,” but he appears tonight on the absurdist “Comedy Bang! Bang” (IFC, 10:30 p.m.) alongside Kate McKinnon and Kyle Mooney.
Poppy Montgomery, Jeff Probst, Tiffani Thiessen, Tim Gunn, Leslie Bibb and David Alan Grier play “Hollywood Game Night” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
A blind taste test faces the eight remaining contestants on “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Part of the series “The Sixties” (CNN, 9 p.m.) have previously been shown as news anniversaries have required. That was the case with tonight’s episode about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, first seen during its 50th anniversary commemorations last November.
A whole lot continues to be made of the 20th anniversary of what they insist on calling “O.J.: The Trial of the Century” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.), the second two hour rehash in as many days.
A Salvador Dali painting is brought on for a price on “Pawn Stars” (History, 9 p.m.).
Two more new episodes show of “Undatable” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), which seems to be holding steady in the ratings.
“Our America with Lisa Ling” (OWN, 10 p.m.) looks at the rise in ADHD cases.
With Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer as mentors, I’d think the contestants on “Last Comic Standing” (NBC, 10 p.m.) would be intimidated.
How much can you do with back bacon on “Chopped Canada” (Food Network, 9 p.m.)?
Russian sex traffickers get in the mix on “Gang Related” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
“North Woods Law” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.) goes on a high speed ATV chase.
I’m predicting more drunkenness and boorish behavior on “Party Down South” (CMT, 10 p.m.).
The month-long Thursday night salute to Rock Hudson on Turner Classic Movies continues with his dramas “Magnificent Obsession” (8 p.m.), “All That Heaven Allows” (10 p.m.), “Giant” (11:45 p.m.), “Something of Value” (3:15 a.m.) and “A Farewell to Arms” (5:15 a.m.).
Baseball today includes Dodgers at Cincinnati (12:30 p.m.) and Cleveland at Boston (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Laurence Fishburn, Taylor Schilling, Martina McBride, Anderson Cooper. The View: Donald Trump, Jerry O’Connell. The Talk: Simon Helberg, Jocelyn Towne, Marcel Vigneron. Ellen DeGeneres: Justin Timberlake (rerun). Wendy Williams: Joe Levy, Andrea Canning, Luenell.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Regis Philbin, Paul Morrissey, First Aid Kit. Jimmy Fallon: Chris Rock, Kacey Musgraves. Jimmy Kimmel: Robert Pattinson, Pablo Schreiber, Nico & Vinz. Seth Meyers: Gerard Butler, Tony Shalhoub, Myg Kaplan. Craig Ferguson: Greg Proops. Tavis Smiley: Stephen Dubner & Steven Levitt, Jennifer Holliday. Jon Stewart: Christopher Walken. Stephen Colbert: JamesWebb. Arsenio Hall: Andrew Dice Clay, Wayne Brady, Amber Riley, Derek Hough (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Eric McCormack, Michael Lewis. Chelsea Handler: Rob Riggle, Moshe Kasher, Fortune Feimster, Bobby Lee. Pete Holmes: Gary Gulman, Martellus Bennett.