1) “Nova” season-opener, 9 p.m., PBS. Asteroids (shown here) get a bad rap, what with bringing death, destruction and the end of dinosaurs. But this asks the flip side: Is it possible that they brought the elements that were needed to create life on Earth? Deep, detailed (and sometimes a bit dry), this starts a season that also re-examines the first mammals and civilizations.
2) “The Beauty,” 9-11:45 p.m,, FX. The first six minutes are sensational, with a lethal fashion model, a wild motorcycle ride and an implosion. Then this 10-parter settles into an odd brew: Brilliant dialog and sharp commentary (about the quest for beauty) entwine with sex, high-octane action and an excessive amount of gore.
3) “The Masked Singer,” 8 p.m., Fox. The start of the season has brought sharp contrasts. First to be eliminated were a baseball hero (David “Big Papa” Ortiz) and convicted felons (Todd and Julie Chrisley, given clemency by President Trump after a jury convicted them of bank fraud). Next was Tiffany Haddish, a gifted comedy actress.
4) “Star Search,” 9 p.m. ET, Netflix. It’s the second night for this talent show, airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also streaming is the start of “Steal,” an Amazon Prime mini-series, with Sophie Turner (“Game of Thrones”) as an ordinary soul enmeshed in a billion-dollar robbery.
5) MORE: PBS’ “Nature” reruns a terrific hour, focusing on the rich natural diversity in the San Diego area. That’s at 8 p.m., going against “Shifting Gears” and “Abbott Elementary” on ABC and “Chicago Med” (a medical mystery surrounds a college basketball player) on NBC.