‘Broad City,’ ‘South Park’ and Saturn’s rings
“Broad City” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central, TV-14) enters its fourth season with an episode titled “Sliding Doors,” an over-the-top fantasy about the first meeting of Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, set in the faroff past of 2011.
Originally a web series featuring two women who are nothing if not ridiculously frank about their sexuality and clueless assertiveness, “Broad City” is both bracingly new and very old-fashioned at the same time. Fearless physical comedians, Abbi and Ilana could really be considered an Abbott and Costello for millennials. And I mean that in all the best ways.
While no series in its fourth season can be considered new, “Broad City” brings a fresher female perspective to Comedy Central, a network that is highly unusual for being identified with two programs that may be older than their intended audiences. “South Park” (10 p.m., Comedy Central, TV-MA) enters its 21st season tonight.
In addition to Cartman and the gang, Comedy Central is most identified with “The Daily Show,” a nightly staple that’s been around even longer — since 1996 — and has had only three hosts in that time. There’s really no other network so linked with programming that’s been around since the Clinton era.
DIVE INTO SATURN
To put things in some cosmic perspective, both “South Park” and “The Daily Show” were around when the unmanned Cassini spacecraft was launched in 1997.
Cassini is the subject and “star” of the “Nova” special “Death Dive to Saturn” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG). Cassini has been exploring planets for the past two decades and entered Saturn’s orbit in 2004. The bulk of “Death Dive” is a survey of how much we have learned about the gaseous planet and its beautiful rings from the images and readings that Cassini has sent back over the past 13 years.
Unlike the Voyager probes that have been traveling for 40 years, Cassini is running out of fuel. Rather than allow the craft to merely fade away, NASA has arranged for a final set of dangerous maneuvers, exploring the particle-filled regions of Saturn’s rings one last time before finally entering the planet’s atmosphere and going out with a bang.
Cassini’s final, fateful plunge is scheduled for Friday. It may be an inanimate piece of machinery, but many will tearfully mourn its passing.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› Finalists emerge on “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) and “MasterChef” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Darius, Grace and Harris strive to reveal the truth about the president on “Salvation” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› On two episodes of “Wahlburgers” (A&E, TV-PG), vodka research (9 p.m.), a sporting superstore (9:30 p.m.).
› On two episodes of “Marlon” (NBC, TV-PG), Marlon acts his age (9 p.m.), a glance back (9:30 p.m.). The second episode is the season finale.
› Demons arrive on clouds of sand on “Midnight, Texas” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Cora’s memories become clearer on “The Sinner” (10 p.m., USA, TV-MA).
› Stuck inside on “Big Brother” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› Prom night on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Oliver’s woes mount on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-14).
› Summer musings on “Speechless” (8:30 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Quiet time on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Accidents will happen on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., CW, repeat, TV-14).
› Tiffani Thiessen guest-stars on “American Housewife” (9:30 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
› Morgan may have a lead on Mr. Scratch on “Criminal Minds” (10 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).