We’ve become accustomed to substandard Canadian series filling summertime network time slots at a time when programmers have seemingly all gone to the beach. But here’s one from England. It’s tough at first to tell the continental roots of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (The CW, 8 p.m.) because of the larger than life Americans at the center of the series, in which the pinstriped magicians invite all amateur magicians to come forward and show their best tricks. If they can be fooled and can’t guess how each trick was done, they’re given a ticket to perform in Vegas.
Despite those American elements, it’s all shot in the UK, with that nation’s ubiquitous Jonathan Ross hosting, each contestant from some English town (or in one case, Paris), and the audience all accented as well. It also has a cheesy show biz trappings of an imported variety show with goosed applause and laughter. Still, Jillette Penn knows how to make things entertaining, though his succumbing to this level of showbiz undermines his approach on another Viacom series, Showtime’s “Penn & Teller: B.S.”
The personality of director Robert Rodriguez is stamped all over his pulpy new network El Rey, but on the new “El Rey Network Presents: The Director’s Chair” (El Rey, 9 p.m.), he’s also on screen in his little cap and a raft of questions for fellow directors on their processes. First up is Guillermo del Toro, lately praised for his vivid interpretation of his own “The Strain,” but who also directed “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Hellboy.”
More misleadingly titled than its animal mating series “Sex in the Wild” (PBS, 10 p.m.), tonight featuring kangaroos, is public television’s “My Wild Affair” (PBS, 8 p.m.) which is about bonds between humans and animals, and not sexual ones. Tonight it’s an orphaned black rhinoceros raised in the suburbs before being returned to the wild.
More kangaroo action can be found on “Stranger Than Nature” (Nat Geo Wild, 9 p.m.). But it probably can’t compete with the story of 23 million feral pigs wreaking havoc in Australia on “The Invaders” (Nat Geo Wild, 10 p.m.).
The actress Lee Grant returns at 87 to co-host a night of four of her movies on Turner Classic Movies, “Detective Story” (8 p.m.), “The Landlord” (10 p.m.), “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell” (midnight) and “Marty” (4:15 a.m.).
The second episode of Questlove’s “Soundclash” (VH1, 9 p.m.) features Ed Sheeran, Sia and Grouplove, with Diplo hosting.
The Top 14 dance and Christina Applegate is guest judge on “So You Think You Can Dance” (Syfy, 9 p.m.).
Jesse Tyler Ferguson looks into his roots on a new “Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC, 9 .m.), which competes directly with his own show, “Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Louis Gossett Jr. plays Halle Berry’s estranged father on the latest chapter of “Extant” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
When a man is killed by his own horse on “Motive” (ABC, 10 p.m.) everybody wonders: What was that nag’s motive? (Maybe all the whipping).
The power of veto competition is held on “Big Brother” (CBS, 8 p.m.), possibly affecting the fate of the two nominated for eviction, Jocasta and Victoria (who have already effectively been evicted from the producers’ interest).
A pub crawl in Brooklyn? I’m all in on “Best Bars in America” (Esquire, 10 p.m.).
Five acts advance on the first live results show of “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.). It’s preceded by a cut-down of Tuesday’s episode showing the 12 who competed, making you think: Why did I spend two hours watching this last night?
Not too late to get involved in “The Divide” (WeTV, 9 p.m.), one of the summer’s strongest dramas.
A couple looks for space in their 220 square foot trailer for a recording studio and quilting room on “Tiny House Nation” (FYI, 10 p.m.).
I’m not going to ask any questions about a spin-off show called “Naked and Afraid Pop-Up Edition” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) and just assume the worst.
Dax Shepard, meanwhile, himself pops up on a new episode of “The Soup” (E!, 10 p.m.).
Shark week isn’t until next month, but already we have “Shark Hunters” (NBC Sports, 9 p.m.) beginning its second season, and shark experts off the coast of South Africa on “Die Trying” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.). It plays opposite the premiere of “Fish Fellas” (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.), which I suppose is about fishermen.
Jesse McCartney guest stars on “Young and Hungry” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.).
Baseball today includes Arizona at Cincinnati (MLB, 12:30 p.m.), Pittsburgh at San Francisco (MLB, 3:45 p.m.) and Angels at Baltimore (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Heidi Klum, Chris Pratt. The View: Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, Aubrey Plaza, Lauren Sanchez. The Talk: LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian, Diana Madison, Aaron Sanchez. Ellen DeGeneres: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love (rerun). Wendy Williams: Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Zoe Saldana, Jay Carney, Crash. Jimmy Fallon: Heidi Klum, Mike Birbiglia, Temples. Jimmy Kimmel: rosario Dawson, Eric McCormack, Self. Seth Meyers: Chris Pratt, Laverne Cox, Big Data and Joywave. Craig Ferguson: Dana Carvey, Brit Marling. Carson Daly: John Slattery, Night Terrors of 1927, Cristela Alonzo (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Robin Roberts. Jon Stewart: Maggie Gyllenhaal. Stephen Colbert: James Franco. Arsenio Hall: Prince (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Norm MacDonald, Mackenzie Davis, Veruca Salt (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Kelsey Grammer, Michael Yo, Josh Wolf, Jo Koy.