Mike Hughes on TV

1) “The Americas” return, 8 and 9 p.m. NBC. Next week, NBC starts filling Thursdays with big, British-American documentaries — the new “Surviving Earth” at 8 p.m. and reruns of the splendid “Americas” at 9. Filling those spots this week are “fun facts” variations of two hours: We visit the warmth of Mexico (shown here), then reach the frozen Arctic. Read more…

1) “Brilliant Minds,” 8 p.m., NBC. For its final six episodes, this wades into heavy turf. Sofia seems real to Dr. Wolf, but others feel he’s imagining her. Now he’s admitted himself into a psych institution, while his colleagues (shown here) handle a tough case at the hospital. Pivotal and emotional events follow. Read more…

1) “America’s Got Talent” season-opener, 8-10 p.m., NBC. A Nigerian-born engineer dances without music; a Chinese engineer (shown here) dances without humans; Canadians dance with dogs. There’s much more, including a Cuban-born rapper, a French comedian and also some Americans who, like the others, have talent. It’s an impressive (and sometimes emotional) start. Read more…

1) “Bring Me the Beauties” opener, 9 p.m., HBO. Hoyt Richards is a Princeton grad who was called the first male supermodel. He worked for elite brands (Versace, Lauren, Cartier, etc), made a fortune … and gave it to a cult. This three-parter starts on a busy documentary day: At 8 and 9, ABC reruns films on Richard Simmons and on Kennedy conspiracy theories. Read more…

1) “The Audacity” season-finale, 9-10:29 p.m., AMC, repeating at 11:06. At a tech showcase, Duncan (shown here) plans to unveil his data-mining scheme, PINATA (Privacy Is Not A Thing Anymore). At the same time, his wife and daughter have a big school event. There are pivotal moments here, especially after a school stunt goes bad. It adds up to a great (but incomplete) finish. Read more…

1) “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984, shown here) and its sequel (1987), 6 and 8:15 p.m., Sundance. On Sunday, Netflix will add this year’s ceremony, with the America Film Institute giving Eddie Murphy its Lifetime Achievement Award. First, here are two of his best films, skillfully mixing action, intensity and big, Murphy-style humor. Read more…