1) “Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist” season-opener, 8 p.m., NBC. The second season starts six weeks after Zoey’s dad died. Deep in mourning, she hasn’t returned to work and hasn’t seen either of the guys in her love life. She also hasn’t experienced her ongoing quirk – seeing people express their hidden emotions via pop songs. When Zoey (Jane Levy, show here) does return, there are big changes – including a new co-worker, played by the delightful Harvey Guillen of “What We Do in the Shadows.” It’s a great start.
2) “This Is Us” return, 9 p.m., NBC. TV’s best drama is back, now with a new plotline: Randall has always thought his birth mother died; now he gets word she may be alive. That’s followed at 10 p.m. by a so-so “Nurses” eposode. Alongside a promising romance, it has a weak story about an opera singer and an OK one about an accident victim who turns violent.
3) “The Lion King” (2019), 8-10:30 p.m., ABC. A quarter-century after triumphing with the animated film, Disney did a computer-animated remake. James Earl Jones and Donald Glover have the title roles, in a voice cast that includes Alfre Woodard, John Oliver, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Beyonce – who added a new song to the terrific score by Elton John and Tim Rice.
4) “Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. When “Hell’s Kitchen” starts its 19th season Thursday, Ramsay can growl and snarl again. First, however, we see him traveling with two friends via RV. They do a lot of eating, but also try dune buggies, spear fishing and a cattle roundup.
5) “American Portrait,” 9 p.m., PBS. Thousands of people sent videos of their lives; they’ve been edited into four hours, starting with a look at the American dream. We get lots of glimpses, but keep returning to three stories: A student dreams of medical school – something her mom was denied in Afghanistan. A young dad co-starts an air service, in a tiny town in Alaska. A substance counselor, 22, hopes her boyfriend can reform his troubled life. Some succeed, some fail, but all are worth rooting for.