1) “America Outdoor” opener, 9 p.m., PBS. Something about Death Valley doesn’t seem inviting. Maybe it’s the name … or temperatures that can reach 134 degrees. But two million people visit each year, Baratunde Thurston (shown here) says, and a few stay. A former mining town of 4,000 now has a population of one. That guy arrived from Austin, Texas, four years ago with friends and stayed alone. He’s turning the general store into a museum; he also survived a snowstorm – really – that stranded him indoors for 4-5 days. It’s an appealing start to the series.
2) “The Great Muslim American Road Trip” opener, 10 p.m., PBS. Mona Haydar grew up in Flint, Mich., and became a rapper in Detroit, going viral with “Hijabi (Wrap My Hijab”).”.Now she takes her husband on a road trip to find pieces of her Muslim heritage. It’s an amiable journey that starts in Chicago and in Missouri.
3) “Titans” season-opener, 10 p.m., TNT. This teen-superhero tale straddled the streaming landscape, before reaching TNT and a broader audience. It did two seasons on the now-departed DC Universe and another on HBO Max. Now its second season resurfaces here: At the core is Dick Grayson. emerging on his own, after being Batman’s pal, Robin. After battling Trigon, he leads his colleagues — Raven, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl and such– to Titan Tower. Also, Esai Morales arrives as Slade Wilson – alternately known as Deathstroke.
4) Movies, cable. AMC takes us through movie history with the first four “Rocky” films at 10:30 a.m. (1976), 1 p.m. (1979), 3:30 (1982) and 6 p.m. (1985); it follows them with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in the terrific “The Fugitive” (1993) at 8. Also, TNT blends the two comic-book worlds: DC’s “Titans,” at 10 is surrounded by Marvel movies – “Fantastic Four” (2015) at 4:04 p.m. and the epic (but too prolonged) “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) at 6:05 and 11:03.
5) ALSO: Now that the holiday weekend is done, networks return to some new episodes. That includes games on ABC and “America’s Got Talent” – with Simon Cowell’s favorite “golden buzzer” moments – from 8-10 p.m. on NBC. It also includes “Tom Swift” (9 p.m. CW), with Isaac in trouble from both sides; he startles Zenzi and gets a warning from Rowan.