1) “Quantum Leap” season-opener, 8 p.m., NBC. Fresh from a strong first season, this leaped into its second one before the strikes betan. It also shifted tone. Now there’s no holographic know-it-all to tell Ben what happened in the time he’s visiting. And this hour adds humor, when he crash-lands with a chaotic crew. It’s a sharp start with excellent guest stars, including the stars of “Manifest” (Melissa Roxburgh,shown here) and “Midnight, Texas” (Francois Arnaud).
2) “Magnum P.I.” season-opener, 9 p.m., NBC. “Magnum” filmed two, 10-episode seasons, before the strikes. Now the second 10 hours begin. There’s the usual flash, fun and blue-sky Hawaii, plus a closing shoot-out. But there’s also a dead-serious story, with T.C. partially paralyzed after a gunfight. Christopher Thornton, a paraplegic actor, does great work as Shammy, nudging him along.
3) “The Spencer Sisters” debut, 9 p.m., CW. Foraging for shows from other countries is hit-and-miss , but CW has found a Canadian delight. After losing her job, home and romance, a cop reluctantly returns to her mother, a self-obsessed mystery writer. Soon, they form a detective duo. This sounds contrived, but it has terrific stars (Stacey Farber and Lea Thompson), a sharp script and a bright look.
4) “Sullivan’s Crossing,” 8 p.m., CW. This shares a lot with “Spencer Sisters.” Both are Canadian; both center on a young redhead, succeeding in the city until everything crumbles and she returns home. Still, they’re opposites. In “Crossing,” the city trouble is loud and overblown, straining credibility; the return is mellow. This is a beautiful place, filled with memories and regrets; gradually, the show builds toward what might become a solid drama.
5) “Nova: Ancient Earth” opener, 9 p.m., PBS. This history lesson goes way back – two billion years or so. We see our planet as a hell-ish landscape of rocks and explosions. Then come remarkable changes — a protective atmosphere above, oxygen bubbling up from below. This hour, starting a five-week series, intercuts gorgeous visuals and talking-head scientists who explain things neatly.