The kind of thing Kevin Bacon is doing on “The Following” (which normally would be showing a rerun tonight), Kiefer Sutherland had been doing on “24” and now on “Touch” (Fox, 8 p.m.) — a softly-speaking former movie star who brings that intensity to the small screen.
The complex story about interconnectedness, numbers, and special needs son, which had Sutherland yelling “Jake! Jake!” scores of time each week has been retooled into a more stretched out story about more of these people with numeric obsessions and the corporation that wants to control them.
The addition of Maria Bello, as another parent looking for a touched child; Lukas Hass (yes, the kid from “E.T.” is also touched but, dressed in a hoodie, he’s turning the logarithms into advanced technology, Zuckerberg-style.
At the same time, there’s an intense dude trying to cut down these touched people, played by Said Taghmaoui. Tim Kring has had practice retooling a fantastical series that has lost its way (with “Heroes”), but this time seems on the right track to make it a better show, one that may help fill the hole left by the end of “Fringe” (Syfy, 10 p.m.), whose reruns now have moved to cable.
Jack Osbourne co-produced the new “Alpha Dogs” (Nat Geo Wild, 8 p.m.) about an Ohio group that train command dogs for the military, Secret Service and other law enforcement facilities. Osbourne got to know the guys from his days on the reality show “Armed and Famous.”
Julian Assange, Josh Barro, Martin Bashir, Lawrence Krauss and Tina Brown are the scheduled guests on “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
As recently as a month ago, network officials and the star, had no idea what “The Jenny McCarthy Show” (VH1, 10:30 p.m.) would be. But it sounds like it will be a mix of a talk show and an observation of topical events, with guests and the kind of sass the divisive blonde has been dishing out since she was slugging contestants on MTV’s “Singled Out.” It follows a new “Best Week Ever” (E!, 10 p.m.).
A recent Dr. Who, David Tennent was more recently the prince of Denmark in “Hamlet.” He examines the play in the first of two episodes of “Shakespeare Uncovered” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings). Jude Law and Ben Wishaw join him. The terrific series concludes at 10 with Trevor Nunn looking at Shakespeare’s last play, “The Tempest.” Helen Mirren, Julie Taymor and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams help him out.
Rose Byrne, Jim Gaffigan, Matt Lucas and Chloe Sevigny guest star on a new “Portlandia” (IFC, 10 p.m.) in which Portland Monthly concentrates its Man Issue on Caleb’s furniture making.
“Rock Center with Brian Williams” (NBC, 10 p.m.) moves to its new far-flung time slot, on a night when audiences are used to ignoring end of week network newsmagazines like “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.) and “20/20” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Julianne Hough and Nigel Barker join a new “Fashion Police” (E!, 10 p.m.), in which they may well handicap Grammys plans.
“Lincoln” was good. But how about “Wilson” (TCM, 8 p.m.)? The 1944 film starring Alexander Knox won five Oscars and kicks off a night of 20th Century Fox Adademy Award winners and nominees. The others aren’t so bad either: “The Grapes of Wrath” (TCM, 11 p.m.), “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” (1:30 a.m.) and “Captain from Castile” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
The week-long showcase of Elvis Presley impersonators on “Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.) closes with Ben Portsmouth.
Danny’s case takes him inside New York’s Hasidic community on a new “Blue Bloods” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Hudson, Madeline Stowe. The View: Michael Fazio, Cesar Millan. The Talk: LL Cool J, Lisa Ling. Ellen DeGeneres: Ewan McGregor.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Pauley Perrette, Jake Johannsen, Ben Portsmouth. Jay Leno: Seth MacFarlane, Jenna Elfman, Norah Jones. Jimmy Fallon: Jason Schwartzman, Keri Russell, Night Bed. Craig Ferguson: Alfred Molina, Ophira Eisenberg. Carson Daly: Kevin Smith, Metric (rerun). Tavis Smiley: David O. Russell. Chelsea Handler: Kristen Bell, Brody Stevens, Loni Love, Matt Braunger (rerun).