Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, September 14. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Dancing With The Stars (ABC, 8 p.m.): Pour it a glass of champagne, because Dancing With The Stars turns 21 tonight! The 21st season kicks off with 13 new celebrities—and quasi-celebrities—including Gary Busey, Paula Deen, Nick Carter, Chaka Khan, Bindi Irwin, and Victor Espinoza. They’ll all dance their way into and out of America’s hearts as they go after the coveted mirror ball. Happy 21st year, Dancing With The Stars. We imagine it will be filled with booze and awkward dancing and poor decisions just like any good 21st birthday party.
Also noted
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8 p.m.): It’s the season finale of SYTYCD, and Oliver Sava will have the breakdown here at TV Club after the results are in.
Switched At Birth (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): Angelo’s birthday is nearing, but don’t break out the party hats just yet, because the family drama of Switched At Birth tends to heighten as birthdays approach. Meanwhile, Daphne tries to become a safety captain for her dorm, but if her track record has proven anything, she’ll give up this new hobby pretty quickly. Bay finds out that Regina’s moving, and the ever-crafty Kathryn and John try to break into the endorsement business to make some extra cash, which we like to think leads to clever new brand slogans like “it’s the number one handsoap used by families of switched-at-birth babies!”
Awkward (MTV, 9 p.m.): Jenna finds herself suddenly filling the position of a popular girl, but she’ll surely find a way to mess it up. Meanwhile, everyone is just falling out of their places in the social hierarchy of high school, as Matty suddenly becomes an outcast. Jake preoccupies himself by going after a new girl. And Aunty Ally throws a sex toy party in typical Aunty Ally fashion.
Faking It (MTV, 9:30 p.m.): Amy continues to question everything that’s going on in her life, but instead of who she’s dating, this time it’s about college and the inevitability of life after high school. Monday nights are all about teen drama!
Regular coverage
WWE Monday Night Raw (USA, 8 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
Not sure what you’re going to do when you retire? This latest Inventory gives you some ideas of how to spend your free time, courtesy of retirement adventures from film and television. But who has the brain space for planning for retirement when Peak TV is drawing nigh?! You can’t possible watch everything, so let TV Club tell you what to check out and what to skip with part one of our (nearly) comprehensive guide to fall television. Or you can spend your fall rewatching all of MTV’s The Challenge. We’re not here to judge.
What else is on?
#DanceBattle America (ABC, 10 p.m.): Apparently, the dancing doesn’t stop on ABC after the two-hour premiere of Dancing With The Stars tonight. The network also serves up a dancing special executive produced by Julianne Hough and Maria Menounos that features eight teams of dancers who go through hell week with top choreographers in order to compete in a one-off competition.
Significant Mother (The CW, 9:30 p.m.): At the behest of Lydia and Jimmy, Nate signs up for online dating and it goes horribly, because Nate always finds a way to mess things up.
Walt Disney: American Experience (PBS, 9 p.m.): Want to learn more about the life, legacy, and controversy of Walt Disney? Well, this new two-part special from PBS promises to delve into the first two at least.
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 8 p.m.): It’s the season seven finale of American Ninja Warrior, and we’re guessing it will be yet another finale of failures as contestants give their best shot at the final three stages of the Mount Midoriyama course in Las Vegas. No one ever wins, and so in a way, we all win? Maybe?
Friends With Kids (Lifetime, 6 p.m.): Kids might not be as fun as benefits, but if you’re looking to see Adam Scott in a role that is significantly less skin-crawly than his character in Sleeping With Other People, this is a solid choice.
Friends With Benefits (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): Lifetime apparently loves friends with things tonight!
Bad Teacher (FX, 8 p.m.): Or if you want a different Justin Timberlake movie, you can watch him dry hump Cameron Diaz. Diaz is the best part of this movie.
Monday Night Football: Eagles At Falcons (ESPN, 6:55 p.m.): Football came back.
In case you missed it
The Strain: Kyle Fowle didn’t hate last night’s episode of The Strain!