— The notion of time behind bars as a badge of honor, or at least a source of street credibility, has been around for some time, particularly in pop culture. Many country stars claim to be "outlaws," but Merle Haggard actually did time. When post-World War II audiences gravitated toward more rugged leading men, Robert Mitchum’s time in jail for a 1948 marijuana bust did not hurt his career.
It’s difficult to think of a more unlikely candidate for a prison transformation than Martha Stewart, who spent time in the hoosegow for financial irregularities. But from that has come "Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party" (10 p.m., VH1, TV-14), now in its third season.
A surprisingly engaging blend of cooking show and celebrity chatfest, the straitlaced doyen of domesticity plays the very straight (wo)man to Snoop Dogg, the stoner rapper with a rap sheet of his own.
This season’s "Potluck" action will unfold like a game show, pitting hosts and guests against each other in a "Party Challenge" to create culinary concoctions and "Instagrammable" feasts and "meme"-able moments. Whatever that means.
Look for celebrity guests, including Matthew McConaughey and Octavia Spencer, the Jonas Brothers, Michael Strahan, Tiffany Haddish, Fergie, Jimmy Kimmel, Regina Hall and others.
— A newly sober Jim (Hank Azaria) contends with a new face in the announcing booth as "Brockmire" (10 p.m., IFC, TV-MA) enters its third season. Amanda Peet ("The Romanoffs") co-stars in this extended character study for Azaria, set in the world of minor league baseball.
— Another comedy steeped in deeply unpleasant characters, "You’re the Worst" (10 p.m., FXX, TV-MA) ends its fifth and final season with a wedding.
— The reputation of basic cable as a thought-free zone and a place of superstitious nonsense gets a boost with the new series "In Search of Monsters" (9 p.m., Travel). First up: we follow "experts" in search of "Bigfoot."
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— The Braves host the Cubs in Major League Baseball (7 p.m., ESPN).
— Rhodes is distracted from an operation on "Chicago Med" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Hard feelings in Philadelphia on "Empire" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— A suspect emerges in Nolan’s murder on "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" (8 p.m., Freeform, TV-14).
— A super-busy city designer rushes home to help her ailing father, only to find love in the arms of a gorgeous gardening guy in the 2016 romance "Tulips in Spring" (8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— On two helpings of "Jane the Virgin" (CW, TV-PG), looking for answers (8 p.m., r), consumed with guilt (9 p.m.).
— Boden meets an old pal amid the cinders on "Chicago Fire" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— Money woes mount on "Star" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Gang war looms on "Chicago P.D." (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— You’ve come a long way, baby, on "Whiskey Cavalier" (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— "Secrets of the Dead" (10 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) explores an ancient Egyptian find.
— Challenged by an ancient being to conquer the world, the vampires become ensnared in local Staten Island politics on "What We Do in the Shadows" (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).
CULT CHOICE
Jet pilots (Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis) flirt in the 1986 thriller "Top Gun" (7:30 p.m., Pop, TV-PG). If they can remake "Red Dawn," I guess they can remake this. "Top Gun: Maverick" is scheduled for 2020.
SERIES NOTES
More outlasting than outwitting on "Survivor" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Adam throws subtlety to the winds on "The Goldbergs" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Leading the cheerleaders on "Schooled" (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Tim Tebow hosts "Million Dollar Mile" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Claire 2.0 on "Modern Family" (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Angie celebrates head-banger style on "Single Parents" (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Unexpected complications on "SEAL Team" (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
P.J. Morton appears on "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah" (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Nikki Glaser is booked on "Conan" (11 p.m., TBS) … John Lithgow, Stacey Abrams and Kevin Garrett appear on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Alec Baldwin and Kelly Clarkson on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Kevin Hart, Chvrches and Marshmello appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Rich Eisen, the Strumbellas and Aaron Comess visit "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson and Zachary Levi appear on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" (12:35 a.m., CBS).
