1) “The Ultimate Surfer” (shown here) debut, 10 p.m., ABC. From “Gidget” and “Beach Blanket Bingo” to “Blue Crush” and HBO’s just-ended “100 Foot Wave,” surfing has become a key part of our summer mythos. Now it adds a techno-twist: At his inland Surf Ranch, 30 miles south of Fresno, Kelly Slater (the 11-time world champion) has man-made waves. In this eight-parter (continuing Tuesday), surfers compete there. Jesse Palmer anchors, with Erin Coscarelli, Slater and surfing commentator Joe Turpel.
2) “Bob (Hearts) Aishola,” 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., CBS. For the second straight Monday, CBS isn’t planning to show “United States of Al” in its 9:30 slot. At a time of tragedy in Afghanistan, we need this good-hearted show about an Afghan immigrant. The good news is that this gives us double episodes of broadcast-TV’s best comedy. Both episodes involve the Americanization of Abishola’s son; the second one adds some goofy fun centering on a robot vacuum cleaner.
3) Football, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, with preview at 7. This pre-season game pits quarterbacks who were the first picks in the draft. Trevor Lawrence was the top pick this past season; the Jacksonville Jaguars won the honor by having a 1-15 season. Jameis Winston was the top pick in 2015; he promptly set team records for passing … but also for interceptions. Tampa Bay dropped him after five seasons; last year, he backed up the 20th and final season of New Orleans’ Drew Brees; now he’s fighting to be the starter.
4) “Republic of Sarah,” 9 p.m., CW. Yes, this is a youthful tale, with a young teacher (Sarah) suddenly leading a breakaway republic. But there’s also room for Megan Follows, 53, the brilliant actress who won her first awards as a teen-ager, in “Anne of Green Gables.” She plays Sarah’s alcoholic mother, a former state senator; tonight, she returns home early, just as Sarah’s romance is developing.
5) “The Outsiders” (1983), 8 p.m., Sundance. Adapting a popular teen-angst novel, Francis Coppola assembled an amazing group of young actors, many of then then unknown. There’s Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell and more, including Tom Cruise. People love or hate this passionate film, but we’re definitely the former.