Anna Paquin (“The Piano,” “True Blood”) returns to episodic TV in “Flack” (10 p.m., Pop, TV-14). Set in the world of celebrity excess, “Flack” presents a frantic publicity procedural.
Paquin plays Robyn, a stylish, brilliant and resourceful publicist adept at rescuing her clients from the brink of self-imposed disaster. The single-camera action is brisk and the crises always seem fraught because the stakes are so, well, tabloidy in nature.
Unlike a hospital or police procedural where life or justice hangs in the balance, here the action involves getting a celebrity chef (Max Beesley) out of a very compromising situation and rushing him to pick up an award just in time.
Not unlike “The Love Boat,” there’s a parade of guest-starring personalities playing boldfaced names in need of Robyn’s special touch. As you can imagine, she’s so busy catering to her madcap clients that she can’t hold her own life together. In that way, she’s not unlike super-agent producer Princess Caroline (Amy Sedaris) on “Bojack Horseman.”
In addition to Beesley, look for Alan Davies, Katherine Kelly and Bradley Whitford as helpless, gaffe-prone disasters in need of baby-sitting.
The New Zealand-born Paquin serves as executive producer as well as star in this U.K. production.
— Speaking of celebrity executives, “The Oath,” produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, returns for a second eight-episode season on Sony’s Crackle streaming service. Set in the world of gangs and secret societies, “The Oath” explores just how far people will go to maintain the code of silence that protects each other and their organizations. As season two begins, the Ravens try to extricate themselves from their deal with the cartel.
Crackle can be downloaded and used on all smart TVs and devices like Apple TV and Roku. For that matter, the Pop network, home of “Flack” cited above, has the Pop Now app that allows you to stream episodes of its programs, including the Canadian-produced “Schitt’s Creek,” starring Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy. No subscription or prior cable account is required.
— Showtime launches “Desus & Mero” (11 p.m., TV-MA), a weekly talk show offering off-the-cuff commentary on politics, music, sports and pop culture. Hosts Desus Nice and The Kid Mero gained wide popularity with their podcast “Bodega Boys.” Their first special guest is fellow Bronx native Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Mad Hatter lends a helping hat on “Gotham” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— A massive overdose requires attention on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
— Maggie goes under the knife on “A Million Little Things” (9 p.m. ABC, TV-14).
— Annalise vows to solve Nate Sr.’s murder on “How to Get Away With Murder” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
A ne’er-do-well (Paul Newman) is hardened into a rebel by a stint in a chain gang in the 1967 drama “Cool Hand Luke” (12:30 a.m., TCM). A line from the film, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate,” became a catchphrase during a period of anti-authoritarian sentiment.
SERIES NOTES
D&D on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Dwayne Johnson presents “The Titan Games” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … The Elders offer advice on “Charmed” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … Skipped grades land Sheldon in the same class as Georgie on “Young Sheldon” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
Christy butts out on “Mom” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … A new hire raises eyebrows on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Space adventures on “The Orville” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Alaric postpones the talent show on “Legacies” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Secrets and lies on “Fam” (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Malcolm hopes Grace can play Cupid on “Will & Grace” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
Divided loyalties on “S.W.A.T.” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … A suspected pedophile’s story proves more complicated on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Mark Duplass is booked on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Steven Yeun and Corey Rodrigues appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r, TV-14).
Annette Bening, Ana Navarro and Ben Platt are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Ken Jeong, Kate Upton, and Anderson .Paak on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Viola Davis, Charles P. Pierce and Cypress Hill hit the couch on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).
James Spader, Glenda Jackson, Brad Leone and Jeff Friedl visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Kal Penn and Chris O’Dowd appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
