1) “Surviving Earth,” 8 p.m.. NBC. A lush, tropical era prevailed for millions of years, we’re told. As this hour begins (232 million years ago) that’s ending. Rains abate as new creatures — early mammals (shown here) and dinosaurs — roam. With great special effects, it’s a fairly good hour, followed by a splendid “Americas” rerun visiting the Amazon.
2) “Elsbeth,” 10 p.m. Thursday, CBS. This delightful show ends each season with a big episode — a quirky fashion show the first year, a prison musical the second. Here’s a rerun of the third-season finale: Patti LuPone, 77, a three-time Tony-winner, plays a legendary cabaret star, now living amid a hotel’s faded elegance; Michael Urie plays a philanthropist.
3) “Viva Las Vegas” (1964), 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. This is one of the best of the Elvis Presley movies … which, admittedly, is faint praise. It has Ann-Margret, flashy backdrops and vibrant music, led by the theme song.
4) “9-1-1,” 8 p.m., ABC. In a rerun from early this season, Athena starts to confront what her life is, after her husband’s death. That’s followed by “9-1-1: Nashville,” flashing back to the house fire that changed Don’s life. In another rerun at 10, Blythe scrambles when the performer drops out of her gala.
5) World Cup, 9 p.m., ET, Fox. In its opener last week, Mexico had a 2-0 win before a boisterous home-town crowd. Now cones its second game, against Qatar. Fox also has games at noon and 3 p.m., with Fox Sports1 getting the 6 p.m. game. And everything is also on Peacock, Fox One and Telemundo.