Monday TV: PBS Unleashes ‘Market Warriors’

One of the greatest successes of public television was to adapt a British series into “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS, 8 and 10 p.m., check local listings), a winning combination of treasure hunt and history lesson, as it delved into personal stories of those who brought forth family heirlooms for professional appraisals.

The guess at monetary value was the capper of each story, but nobody thought anybody would ever turn the objects in for cash. Every similar show that followed, though, has concentrated on the money, as in “Garage Wars” and its variations or “America’s National Treasures,” which started its run earlier this month.

With “Market Warriors” (PBS 9 p.m., check local listings), public television tends to follow the crowd that’s been copying its own show, bringing a slight variation to “Roadshow” such that four appraisers, pictured above, spread out with equal amounts in antiquing towns and find out who gets the best finds. It’s not about the history, but the competition and ultimately, money. Not a good look for public TV, unless it’s pledge time. It’s the second summer series hosted by Fred Willard, who doesn’t seem to be best suited for such a job.

Before Emily Maynard makes her final choice Sunday between a couple of drips, the guys she sent home roseless return to talk about her on “The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Don’t expect them to be as catty or tearful as the women on similar shows for “The Bachelor.” More likely, their pride will be hurt by losing the competition. Do we need two hours of this though?

The wealth and variety of wild bird species smack dab in the middle of Manhattan is the subject of the documentary “Birders” The Central Park Effect” (HBO, 9 p.m.). Filmmaker Jeffrey Kimball is just as enthusiastic a birder as those he chronicles; otherwise how could he have come up with such great shots of the birds, who stop in Central Park because it’s such a rare oasis in the industrial Northeast while on trips north and south for warblers. (That’s “the Central Park effect”).

This means fewer shots of binocular-wielding birders as an odd group of itself. But we meet a lot of interesting people some of whom are famous, such as novelist Jonathan Franzen.

It’s accompanied by another nature documentary of sorts. “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” (HBO, 10 p.m.) is a simple and beautiful chronicle of the devastation of Japan’s worst earthquake and tsunami in March, 2011, when everything seemed to die or was swept away – except for the annual cherry blossom that persevered and gives survivors hope.

The long show business career of Carol Channing is narrated by he grand lady herself in the documentary “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” (Showtime, 6:30 p.m.).

And now there are documentaries about objects as well — especially if they’re tied into blockbuster movies affiliated with the network. Hence, “The Batmobile” (The CW, 8 p.m.). The trouble with it being a half hour special, is that, on a network that has zero 30 minute programs, they have to fill the hour with an instant repeat.

The good-natured sci-fi series “Eureka” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) comes to an end after five seasons.

A 12^th season starts for the Canadian incubator of young talent, “DeGrassi” (TeenNick, 10 p.m.).

Don’t mix up your “Green Lantern” (More Max, 7 p.m.) and your “Green Hornet” (Starz, 9 p.m.).

Here’s something for the special social networking episode of “The Bad Girls Club” (Oxygen, 9 pm.): #Fail.

One thing they won’t be talking about on “The Glass House” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is last week’s premiere of “Big Brother.”

They sneak in all kinds of things on broadcast TV during the dregs of summer. Example: “Fear Factor” (NBC, 8 p.m.), back to burn off an episode before a new “American Ninja Warrior” (NBC, 9 p.m.). The only other thing new on network TV are a couple episodes of “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and “MasterChef” (Fox, 9 p.m.).

Rosie O’Donnell concludes her run on “Web Therapy” (Showtime, 11 p.m.).

The trip to London concludes on “The Real Housewives of New York City” (Bravo, 9 p.m.). They didn’t want to stick around for Olympic traffic.

The Monday night adventure films on Turner Classic Movies begin with the 1942 “The Jungle Book” (8 p.m.) and “Tarzan, the Ape Man” (10 p.m.) and continues with “Captains Courageous” (midnight), “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (2 a.m.) and “The Thief of Bagdad” (345 a.m.).

The President and Vice President are to attend the Team USA basketball exhibition games tonight in D.C. — the women’s game of Brazil at U.S. (ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.) is followed by the men at 8 p.m.

In baseball, Angels at Tigers (ESPN, 7 p.m.) gets a national audience.

The Tour de France (NBC Sports, 8 a.m.) reaches State 15, which runs from Samatan to Pau.

Daytime Talk

Kelly Ripa: Kristin Davis, Josh Groban. The View: Morgan Freeman, Lorraine Bracco. The Talk: Peter Gallagher, Meghan McCain, Brett Hoebel. Ellen DeGeneres: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Bruno Mars (rerun)..

Late Talk

David Letterman: Michael Caine, Gallagher, Nas. Jay Leno: Charlie Sheen, Jay Mohr, Imagine Dragons. Jimmy Kimmel: Bryan Cranston, Larry King, Zac Brown Band. Jimmy Fallon: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Lorraine Bracco, Dave Arnold, Curren$y. Craig Ferguson: Julie Chen, Chris Messina. Tavis Smiley: Mark Emmert. Carson Daly: Matt Walsh, Flying Lotus, Band of Skulls (rerun). Jon Stewart: Louis C.K.. Stephen Colbert: Anne-Marie Slaughter. Conan O’Brien: Denis Leary, Steve Byrne, Christela Alonzo. Chelsea Handler: Jenny McCarthy, Chris Franjola, Lisa Kyong Thrash, Brad Wollack.