Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (8pm, ABC) - First Lady Michelle Obama appears in this Season 9 premiere, which features the residence for homeless female veterans in Fayetteville. The Steps-N-Stages Jubiliee house was founded by Navy veteran Barbara Marshall, and was renovated with the help of armed forces members and the Godfrey Group of Durham. Photos from the construction.
Amazing Race 19 (8pm, CBS) - The 19th season begins with 11 two-team members, including former "Survivor" winners Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca. The show introduces a new "hazard" penalty this season.
The Simpsons (8pm, Fox) - The Season 23 premiere has Homer involved in a terrorist plot and features Kiefer Sutherland as a security guard. Meanwhile, Marge dreams of being on "Top Chef," so Tom Colicchio lends his voice.
Cleveland Show (8:30pm, Fox) - In the Season 3 premiere, Cleveland is upset when Peter (Seth McFarlane) comes to town and doesn't look him up, she goes camping with Ric Flair.
Boardwalk Empire (9pm, HBO) - Lots of trouble all around for Nucky Thompson in tonight's second season premiere. Nucky (Steve Buscemi) must try to play peacemaker after Chalky has a dangerous run-in with the KKK, and must also try to dodge the feds, who are still after him. Meanwhile, Al Capone looks to expand the illegal booze business in and around Chicago, and Agent Nelson Van Alden's wife comes for a visit.
The Good Wife (9pm, CBS) - Season 3 opens with Alicia defending a Muslim student accused of murdering a Jewish classmate. Look for the animosity between Alicia and Peter to heat up this season. And based on this new poster, look for the romance between Alicia and Will to heat up as well.
Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - The eighth and final season begins with the ladies and Carlos trying to dispose of the body of Gaby's evil stepfather after Carlos killed him to protect Gaby.
Family Guy (9pm, Fox) - The Griffins are broke as Season 11 opens, but Peter has a plan to turn that around: the purchase of 200,000 lottery tickets.
American Dad (9:30pm, Fox) - In the seventh season premiere, Stan buys a singing hot tub. Cee-Lo Green provides his own voice and that of the hot tub.
Pan Am (10pm, ABC) - A new series following the adventures of stewardesses and pilots during the glamorous 1960s "Jet Age." The show is pretty to look at, but not much happens in the first episode. Still, I'm hopeful enough to watch at least once more (read my short review). Christina Ricci stars.
CSI: Miami (10pm, CBS) - The tenth season begins with Horatio bleeding from a gunshot wound and Natalia battling to free herself from the trunk of a submerged car, as the other CSIs try to capture an escaped murderer before he kills again.
Breaking Bad (10pm, AMC) - This isn't a premiere, but it's worth mentioning because it's the best thing on TV tonight (or any night). And we're getting close to the season winding down. Tonight, Walt makes moves to protect his secret and to protect Gus. Meanwhile, Skyler is further stymied in her attempt to help Ted with his financial problem.
Also tonight, a new season of "60 Minutes" (CBS, 7pm) begins, "Drop Dead Diva" (Lifetime, 9pm) season finale, and the second season of "The Great Food Truck Race" (Food, 9pm) ends.
Emmy Awards (8pm, Fox) - Jane Lynch hosts the 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Presenters include Will Arnett, Zooey Deschanel, Ashton Kutcher, Julianna Margulies, Amy Poehler, and Sofia Vergara. HBO leads the nominations with 104 and its miniseries "Mildred Pierce" leads all with 21 nominations, followed by AMC's "Mad Men" with 19. Former Raleigh residents Michael C. Hall and Evan Rachel Wood are nominated. I'll be watching tonight and doing some
9/11: 10 Years Later (9pm, CBS) - A 2011 update of Jules and Gedeon Naudet's 2002 documentary featuring footage of the FDNY's rescue efforts at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Included are new interviews with firefighters who commented in the original documentary and footage of the rebuilding of the site. Robert De Niro hosts.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (10pm, HBO) - In the Season 8 finale, Larry clashes with his New York neighbor Michael J. Fox, Jeff makes a sacrifice for Susie, and Larry is flagged for giving an improper birthday gift.
Aerial America (8pm, Smithsonian) - Tonight's focus is North Carolina and features an aerial tour of the Outer Banks, the mountains, inland forests, and cities.
MTV Video Music Awards (9pm, MTV and VH1) - Tony Bennett will introduce a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse during tonight's show. The tribute includes footage of Bennett's duet of "Body and Soul" with Winehouse. Other performers scheduled for the show are Lady Gaga, Adele, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Pitbull.
George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview (10pm, National Geographic Channel) - Former President George W. Bush shares candid details about his personal experiences on 9/11 and recalls the hours and days following the attacks. Includes never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive materials directly from the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
Drop Dead Diva (9pm, Lifetime) - Jane represents a former sorority house mother who lost her entire savings at a local casino and wants to prove that the casino is responsible for the loss.
True Blood (9pm, HBO) - Sookie and Eric side with the king when Bill and Marnie prepare for an epic confrontation.
Masterpiece Mystery: Zen (9pm, UNC-TV) - Zen investigates the death of a disgraced aristocrat who either jumped off a bridge or was pushed -- possibly because of his plan to reveal the existence of a shadowy organization called the Cabal -- while balancing the demands of his superiors.
Masterpiece Mystery: Zen (9pm, UNC-TV) - Suave police detective Aurelio Zen (Rufus Sewell, left) reinvestigates a closed murder case. His boss insists he confirm the original outcome while a justice official orders him, for political reasons, to reach another conclusion. Meanwhile, a psychopathic killer has targeted him for daring to send him to jail years earlier.
Breaking Bad (10pm, AMC) - In the Season 4 opener, Walt and Jesse's lives hang in the balance as Gus takes some expensive steps to guarantee that he continues to be supplied with a pure product. Meanwhile, Marie tries to put on a happy face to deal with depressed Hank. Here's
Over the course of three previous seasons of AMC's phenomenal "Breaking Bad," viewers have watched Walter White shift from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher and family man into a ruthless, murdering criminal.