— Nothing irks me more than a series that can’t even live up to its title. “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) returns for a new season of showcasing dazzling acts. It features favorite performers from previous seasons as well as outstanding acts featured on “Got Talent” franchises from around the globe.
This is where I get cranky. If you introduce performances from other countries, it’s no longer “America’s Got Talent.” It might be entertaining, but it’s something else. Gee whiz, NBC, there’s only three words in the title. How can you mess that up?
Returning judges include Simon Cowell (from the U.K.), Heidi Klum (Germany), Alesha Dixon (U.K.) and Terry Crews, the only American. Hired to bring a more diverse face to the “AGT” panel, Gabrielle Union was recently fired for complaining about the show’s less-than-inclusive atmosphere.
— The cliche of the airline pilot as the handsome leading man gets a makeover, or rather a do-over, on the 24th season of “The Bachelor” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
Pilot Peter Weber will try to avoid turbulence as he navigates a field of 30 willing lovelies vying for his hand, or at least a long-stemmed rose. In keeping with the aeronautical theme, he chooses nine to take on a flight-training course. It’s all but certain that some egomaniac will try to hijack the festivities. This is Weber’s second bout at “The Bachelor” franchise rodeo. So he’s got some frequent flier points.
— “American Experience” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presents “McCarthy,” a two-hour look at Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his era, a time when legitimate fear of communism abroad and reports of spies in the government contributed to an atmosphere of fear.
The documentary makes much of McCarthy’s capable use of the media of his day to keep his name and his crusade in the headlines, as well as his willingness to distort the truth and smear his perceived enemies.
Members of his own party recoiled at his tactics, but decided they could ride his popularity to power, as they did in 1950 and 1952.
But by 1954, many, including the president and the armed forces, had had enough and McCarthy was censured by the Senate, including members of his own party. He would die three years later.
An exhaustive survey history that seems longer than its hour and 52 minutes, “McCarthy” is interesting for what it does not mention. In many ways, McCarthy’s appeal resonates with today’s “culture wars.” His anti-communism was championed by religious conservatives, particularly the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Hardly Republicans, the Kennedy family maintained close ties to Joe McCarthy. His assault on tradition, contempt for facts and brazen cruelty appealed to voters who liked his disdain for experts and “eggheads” and the “foreign” culture of Washington.
McCarthy’s habit of name-calling, lying, attacks on unfriendly reporters, character assassination, and assault on the State Department are not unfamiliar to 21st-century Americans.
The timing of this “American Experience” is rather obvious. As we sit, another epochal Senate trial looms and each member faces an assessment of his or her conscience, backbone and political future.
While lazy “news” coverage harks back to Watergate and an intern’s blue dress, our current climate is far more similar to 1954 than that of 1974 or 1998.
— Acorn begins streaming the sixth season of the New Zealand detective series “The Brokenwood Mysteries.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Calamity at the rink on “9-1-1” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— Lola has doubts on “All Rise” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
— An old case hits home on “Prodigal Son” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).
— Jury selection puts a premium on privacy on “Bull” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
— A suburban couple (Doris Day and Richard Widmark) face endless obstacles when they try to adopt a baby in the 1958 romantic comedy “The Tunnel of Love” (4 p.m., TCM, TV-PG), directed by Gene Kelly. The film was Kelly’s last project with MGM.
SERIES NOTES
A host of problems on “The Neighborhood” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Heroes converge on “Supergirl” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) … Dottie needs help on “Bob Hearts Abishola” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “Crisis Aftermath” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) discusses a superhero crossover.
LATE NIGHT
Deon Cole appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Shaquille O’Neal, Jacqueline Novak and Lil Baby on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Sen. Elizabeth Warren, David Byrne, H.E.R. and Caitlin Kalafus visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … John Travolta, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
