Never mind the cheating, scandals and arrogance. The NFL is still the biggest game in town (maybe because of all those things). So it’s fitting that the ball-deflating team with the self-inflating ego is hosting the first official game of the season. Pittsburgh at New England (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) is the inaugural Thursday night football game, but it’s listed as “Sunday Night Football” because it’s not on CBS.
And the other broadcast networks respond with mostly reruns.
It looked like the sun had set on the decent modern western “Longmire” (Netflix, streaming) after A&E canceled it last year. But more proof how online services are enhancing our viewing experiences, the third season was picked up by Netflix, which in its habit drops all the episodes of it today. Its quite solid cast of Australian Robert Taylor, Katee Sackoff and Lou Diamond Phillips has been enhanced further by Gerald McRaney. As the season begins, a death rattles the Wyoming county and an investigation begins. If the episodes aren’t better than ever, and they may be, they are certainly longer, and with no commercials.
With the cancellation of a summer show that really lasted longer than it should have, people finally get out from “Under the Dome” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Lots of formidable political types on talk shows today with Vice President Joe Biden on the third episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS, 11:30 p.m.) and Hillary Clinton on an early season show of “Ellen” (syndicated, 4 p.m., check local listings).
The former late night turned game show host gets a standup comedy special to demonstrate he’s still around: “Craig Ferguson: Just Being Honest” (Epix, 10 p.m.).
“Documentary Now!” (IFC, 10 p.m.) parodies one of the greats, Errol Morris’s “The Thin Blue Line.”
Weird Al Yankovic drops in on “Comedy Bang! Bang!” (IFC, 10:30 p.m.).
Sherman moves on Atlanta on the fourth of five parts of the remastered “The Civil War” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings.
They talk of death on “Married” (FX, 10:30 p.m.).
Gigi gets a label deal on “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” (FX, 10 p.m.).
They’re making lingerie on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
“Beauty and the Beast” (The CW, 8 p.m.) reaches its third season finale, as does the explosive game show “Boom!” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
The twins are up for eviction on “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.). After tonight you don’t have to worry about which is which.
A day in a coffin warrants a “Review” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.). I’m thinking: no stars.
The month-long Thursday night salute to Susan Hayward on Turner Classic Movies continues with “I Can Get It for You Wholesale” (8 p.m.), “David and Bathsheba” (9:45 p.m.), “The President’s Lady” (midnight), “With a Song in My Heart” (1:45 a.m.) and “The Lusty Men” (4 a.m.).
Baseball has Blue Jays at Yankees (MLB, 7 p.m.).
In college football, it’s Southern at Mississippi Valley State (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.) and Louisana Tech at Western Kentucky (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.).
The U.S. Open (ESPN, 7 p.m.) reaches the women’s semifinals.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Steven Tyler, Chrissy Teigen. The View: Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan. The Talk: Laverne Cox, Jessica St. Clair, Lennon Parham, Chi-Lan Lieu (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Hillary Clinton, Pink. Wendy Williams: Mary J. Blige (rerun). Meredith Vieira. Queen Latifah: Lisa Kudrow, Bobby Brown, Daniela Ruah (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Vice President Joe Biden, Travis Kalanick, Toby Keith. Jimmy Kimmel: Johnny Depp, Kathryn Hahn, MuteMath. Jimmy Fallon: Andy Samberg, Carrie Underwood. Seth Meyers: Neil Patrick Harris, New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Panic! at the Disco, Abe Laboriel Jr. James Corden: Jeremy Renner, Alison Brie. Carson Daly: Jon Heder, Michael Kosta. Tavis Smiley: Luther Campbell, Dana Delany. Conan O’Brien: Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Olivia Munn, Evan Peters (rerun).