An amusing bit on the “Funny or Die” website has been parlayed into the newest series on Comedy Central.
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) has a series of comedians and writers overindulge in alcohol and then to retell chapters of American history, duly acted out by a costumed cast. The move to TV means the re-enactment cast includes in the first episode alone includes Jack Black, Stephen Merchant, Fred Willard, Dave Grohl and Bob Odenkirk, who plays Richard Nixon in two different segments, about Watergate and Elvis’ visit.
Derek Waters, the comic actor behind it all, somehow seems immune to the alcohol he shares with the participants and it’s funny when the actors have to mouth the slurred and half-remembered details. It could be just as funny if, say, elementary school kids retold the stories. But that’s not the Comedy Central way.
It leads into the new season of “The Jeselnik Offensive” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.). Amy Schumer and Jim Norton join him on the panel.
Bill Moyers returns to PBS with an absorbing episode of “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m.) that follows the progress of two middle class families in Milwaukee over the last 22 years in their struggles to keep afloat in an era of declining manufacturing and joblessness. Naturally, it’s heartbreaking and sobering but also a strong picture of resilience.
“Storage Wars: New York” (A&E, 9 and 9:30 p.m.), which became the network’s most popular new reality show when it debuted in January, returns for new episodes. Like the other such shows, it depends largely on its exaggerated personalities. Now they’ve got an even larger one in a loudmouth from the Brooklyn flea market called Big Steve.
The extent to which such shows are staged is seen in the first episode in which they re-create a zombie nightmare that Candy has.
“Property Envy” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) is a new talk show that features Stephen Collins, Mary McDonald, Brandie Malay and the star of the returning “Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis” (Bravo, 9 p.m.), the former house flipper.
Hal Holbrook narrates the reprised Ken Burns documentary “Lewis & Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery” (PBS, 8 p.m.).
Two hour reality show episodes dominate broadcast networks, with “Extreme Weight Loss” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and “America’s Got Talent” (NBC, 9 p.m.), still doing auditions. It all makes a one hour “Big Brother” (CBS, 9 p.m.) seem modest (except that it’s on three times a week).
TV gets slightly less dim with the season finale of “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.).
Paul Henreid is the star of the month on Turner Classic Movies. He’s the guy who lit two cigarettes and gave one to Bette Davis in “Now, Voyager” (8 p.m.). Also on tonight is “Deception” (10 p.m.), “Dead Ringer” (midnight), “The Madwoman of Chaillot” (2 a.m.) and “The Spanish Main” (4:15 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: David Spade, Bear Grylls, Justin Silver. The View: Jeff Daniels, Bernadette Peters, Chiquis Rivera. The Talk: Jane Seymour, Susan Feniger, Chi-Lan Lieu, Regis Philbin. Ellen DeGeneres: Kaley Cuoco, Padma Lakshmi (rerun). Wendy Williams: Bethenny Frankel.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Adam Sandler, Joseph Arthur. Jay Leno: Dane Cook, Nev Schulman, Matt Nathanson. Jimmy Kimmel: Kevin Bacon, Diane Kruger, the Bacon Brothers. Jimmy Fallon: David Spade, Kris Jenner, Mudhoney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Craig Ferguson: Morgan Freeman, Cathy Ladman. Tavis Smiley: Jimmy Connors. Conan O’Brien: Mary-Louise Parker, Breckin Meyer, Portugal, the Man. Chelsea Handler: Denise Richards, bobby Lee, Annie Lederman, Ryan Stout (rerun).