1) “MasterChef” opener, 8 p.m., Fox. On Monday, Gordon Ramsay opened “Hell’s Kitchen,” which has professional chefs and lots of yelling. Now here’s his “MasterChef,” with home chefs, a feel-good mood and even some kitchen heroes: Emeril Lagasse (shown here with Ramsay and one of the contestants, a construction worker) is the guest judge tonight; Paula Deen and others are coming up. Tonight starts the try-out phase. It’s a bumpy road, because acceptances come one at a time, arbitrarily stopping at 15. Still, these are appealing chefs we’re soon rooting for.
2) “Crime Scene Kitchen,” 9 p.m., Fox. Last week, we met six duos, ranging from military veterans to high-end Las Vegas bakers. Now the other six arrive, scouring a kitchen for clues of what was baked, then trying to duplicate it. Curtis Stone is a judge here and will visit “MasterChef” next week.
3) “Life at the Waterhole” finale, 8 p.m., PBS. This has been a clever experiment – creating a water hole in Tanzania, with cameras and observers neatly hidden. Now we see the rainy season and get a final tabulation: Some 105 species gathered there, from tiny hoverflies to elephants that sometimes invade huts at nearby villages. (The villagers solve this by using condoms to make harmless firecrackers.) “Waterhole” spends too much time with humans, but still has splendid wildlife views.
4) “The Bold Type,” 10 p.m., Freeform. With just six episodes for its final season, this slickly filmed show is involving, but feels a bit rushed. In last week’s season-opener, Jane wrote an important expose … then learned one of her sources is iffy; now come the aftershocks. Also, there are big moments in Sutton’s marriage and Alex’s career. Stick around; it feels like a fast finish.
5) “A Million Little Things,” 10 p.m., ABC. A week from the two-hour season-finale, problems continue. Gary again manages to hold the group together, but finds that complicates his romance with Darcy. Also, Sophie wants Rome to deal with her late father’s struggles, and wonders how they might influence her own life.