Week’s top-10 for Sept. 16: “Matlock” leads start of new shows

1) “Matlock” debut, 8 p.m. Sunday, CBS. This may be the best new show on any of the broadcast networks. In a tradition that goes from Miss Marple to Elsbeth, it gives us an older woman who’s underestimated until she solves the case. Then, however, it flips that cleverly. Kathy Bates (shown here) is perfect as a lawyer who bears the same surname as an old TV lawyer.

2) “High Potential” debut, 10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Here’s another overlooked woman. She’s a single mother of three, working as a cleaning lady. But she also has a genius IQ … and starts using it to help the police. Kaitlin Olson of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” stars, in the first new, non-cartoon show of the broadcast networks’ season.

3) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. In a change, the finale will be split over two Tuesdays. This week, the 10 finalists perform and viewers vote; next week, they learn who won. The line-up has the six survivors of the semi-finals, plus “golden buzzer” winners — singer Dee Dee Simon and aerialist, acrobatic and “air dance” groups.

4) “MasterChef” finale, 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. This started with home chefs from four generations. But in the last couple weeks, the remaining older chefs (ages 52, 62, 63 and 70) were ousted. Surviving are Kamay Lafalaise, 34; Michael Leonard, 27; and Becca Gibb, 24. They’ll prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert; then one of them will win $250,000.

5) “Dancing With the Stars” season-opener, 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. It’s the 33rd season, and the second one simulcast by with Disney+. The line-up has four athletes, four actors (including Tori Spelling), two “Bachelor” folks (Joey Graziadei and Jenn Tran) and three others, including Anna Sorokin (alias Anna Delvey), on parole after convictions for fraud.

6) “American Masters,” 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, PBS. Julia Alvarez was 10 when she fled with her family, after a failed overthrow of the Dominican Republic dictator. She went from prosperity and sunshine to tough times in New York; 30 years later, that became a novel that brought steep praise and family discord. Here’s a terrific profile of Alvarez, then and now.

7) “Golden Bachelorette” debut (ABC) and “Survivor” season-opener (CBS), 8-10 p.m. Wednesday. Reality shows are getting a head start; these will both cut back to 90 minutes in October. ABC’s “Golden Bachelor” spin-off has Joan Vasso (a widow, 61) meeting one suitor who’s 57 and 23 in their 60s; CBS’ “Survivor” has 18 strangers on the Fiji Islands.

8) “Young Sheldon,” 9 p.m. Thursday, CBS. As last week’s rerun ended, the family learned Sheldon’s father had died. Now the funeral is complex for a teen who is unfamiliar with emotions. This rerun (like next week’s series finale) is a skilled mix of humor and pain. It’s followed by CBS’ fall preview and an “Elsbeth” rerun, involving the death of a reality-show star.

9) “Rescue HI-Surf” debut, 8 p.m. Sunday, Fox. The scenery is gorgeous, the rescues are high-octane and the rest is … well, so-so. “HI-Surf” — which promptly moves to 9 p.m. Mondays – is an earnest look at fit folks who save lives. Afterward, switch to AMC at 9 for “Snowpiercer.” In the compelling series finale, people try to stop a scientist’s risky rocket scheme.

10) Streamers. Two side characters get their own short-run shows. It’s Agatha the witch (Wednesday, Disney+) and The Penguin (Thursday, Max). Also: The “Frasier” reboot starts its second season Thursday on Paramount+;
on Friday, Netflix’s “His Three Daughters” has Elisabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne as the troubled title characters.