1) “The Nevers” (shown here) debut, 9 p.m., HBO. Victorian-era society seems far removed from fantasy horror. Still, 19th-century England gave us Frankenstein and Hyde and Jack the Ripper and more. And now it’s the backdrop for a cosmic event, leaving many people (women, mostly) as “the touched.” An orphanage patron (Olivia Williams) shelters them, a brothel owner (James Norton) pursues them and a cop (Ben Chaplin) feels torn.
2) “Shameless” finale, 9 p.m., Showtime. Far from the elegance of old London, here are the shamefully inelegant Gallaghers of Chicago, with Frank as the wayward patriarch. After 11 seasons, Showtime says, he comes to terms with his mortality. Also, Lip settles for a new job, Carl finds a new role in the police force, Ian and Mickey shop for furniture and Kev and V look for a buyer for their bar.
3) “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” 9 p.m., NBC. Sure, it’s useful for Zoey to have her gift – imagining that she hears people’s thoughts via pop songs. But what happens if it gets mixed up – wrong songs from wrong people? That mix-up sends her in a wild spion, toward a revelation. Some people will never buy this show’s concept, but try; this is one of the best episodes of an oddly delightful show. Besides, when was the last time you saw Mary Steenburgen sing both parts of a Broadway duet?
4) “The People v. The Klan,” 9 and 10 p.m. ET, CNN. At the core is the story of an individual confronting evil. In 1981, Beulah Mae Donald’s teen son was lynched in Mobile, Ala.; she waged an unrelenting fight against the Ku Klux Klan. If it were told in an hour, this might have been compelling; but it’s stretched over four hours on two Sundays, with the early portions very difficult to watch.
5) ALSO: It’s a busy night everywhere. At 8 p.m., ABC’s “American Idol” has its first live show. At 9, AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” returns, with nine more episodes this season. At 10 ET, Fox News has “The Unauthorized History of Taxes.” Also, PBS has well-crafted hours: In “My Grandparents’ War” (8 p.m.), Mark Rylance learns more about his grandfather, a gentle banker who became a POW; in “Atlantic Crossing” (9 p.m.), Princess Martha and her children attempt a wartime voyage to the U.S.