Daily Best Bets

1) “American Ninja Warrior” (shown here in previous year) season-opener, 8-10 p.m., NBC. This summertime hit has turned into a fall show. It’s getting a late start, but will sprawl across autumn, when NBC needs temporary help. That’s what “Big Brother” and “Love Island” do for CBS. Like those two, “Ninja” has a “bubble,” keeping everyone in one place. Instead of tryouts around the country, it does everything at America’s Center in St. Louis. Some 150 people start by tackling the six-obstacle qualifier. Read more…

1) “Power Book II: Ghost” debut, 9 p.m., Starz. The “Power” series was a ratings winner for Starz – tough, taut and often lethal. Even the main character – a drug boss known as Ghost – was killed; his son Tariq did it, but Ghost’s wife Tasha was charged. Now Tariq is in college (shown here), stretching for ways to make money and get his mom free. Meanwhile, there’s a new drug boss, played by Mary J. Blige. Read more…

1) College football season-openers, cable. The first football Saturday is a modest one, with a bigger line-up coming next week. For now, ESPN packs in three games – Eastern Kentucky at Marshall at 1 p.m. ET; Southern Methodist at Texas Tech at 4:30; and Arkansas at Memphis at 8. It also has two games on its ESPN3 streaming service. The CBS Sports Network had the first game, Thursday; today, it has Army (shown here last season) hosting Middle Tennessee — with a crowd consisting only of cadets – at 1:30 p.m. ET. Read more…

1) “New York Times Presents,” 10 p.m., FX and Hulu. The death of Breonna Taylor (shown here) has drawn intense focus. Here’s a long look, with friends, neighbors, officials, boyfriend Kenneth Walker and her mom. Key comments are from David James, a Black ex-cop and a Louisville councilman. Banging on the door without identifying as police “is the most dangerous thing you can do,” he says. Most neighbors say the cops didn’t identify themselves; one disagrees. Walker fired a shot; a police barrage then killed Taylor. Read more…

1) “Holey Moley,” 8 p.m., ABC. Thursdays have become the centerpoint for summertime games and reality shows. At 8 p.m., that includes two shows on CBS (“Big Brother” and “Love Island”), two hours of “Beat Shazam” on Fox and “The Wall” on NBC. It also includes this goofy miniature-golf show (shown here), which has a final spot to fill in next week’s $250,000 championship. Contestants range from a law student to a pageant queen, from a musician to a former pro football player. Read more…

1) “Tough as Nails” finale, 9-11 p.m., CBS. The team prize was handed out last week, but now comes the big one – an individual prize of $200.000 and a truck. Starting with 12 people, “Nails” – already renewed for next season – has its final five. There are two women – Linda Goodridge, 29, a deputy sheriff; and Callie Cattell, 28, a fisherman – and three men. Danny Moody, 33, is a drywaller; Miles Pak, 28, is a forestry tech; “Murph” Murphy (shown here), 47, is a Marine veteran. Phil Keoghan hosts. Read more…

1) “Transplant” debut, 10 p.m., NBC. At a Middle Eastern restaurant in Canada, a tragedy strikes. There are life-and-death moments, as one of the workers (Hamza Haq, shown here) takes action. Then … well, we won’t say any more. “Trasnsplant” is careful to reveal itself slowly; watching this first hour that way is a rewarding experience. John Hannah, a Scottish star, is the only actor Americans might recognize. (We see him first as a restaurant customer.) The Canadian cast, led by Haq, performs with subtle skill. Read more…

1) “Planet Earth: A Celebration” (shown here), 8-9:25 p.m. ET, BBC America and IFC; 8-9:25 p.m. ET/PT AMC and Sundance. This began with two great series – “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II.” The BBC chose eight gorgeous segments and added new music, performed by the members of the BBC Orchestra (separated by six feet) and Hans Zimmer (separated by the Atlantic Ocean). The moments – from hilarious parading flamingos to horrifying racer snakes – are brilliantly crafted. Read more…

1) MTV Video Music Awards, 8 p.m., everywhere. This sprawls across the cable world — MTV, VH1, CMT, BET, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Pop, Paramount, Comedy Central and, for the first time, CW. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande (shown here) – who lead with nine nominations apiece – combine for “Rain on Me”; BTS has the TV debut of “Dynamite.” Also performing: Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, CNCO, Maluma, Doja Cat and more. Keke Palmer hosts the night, which has a New York tribute. Read more…

1) “On the Waterfront” (1954) and “North by Northwest” (1959), 6 and 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies. These truly great movies that have nothing in common … except Eva Marie Saint. “Waterfront” is black-and-white, intense and maybe the best-acted movie ever. Marlon Brando and Saint got Oscars; Rod Steiger, Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb were nominated. “Northwest” is simply fun, a colorful Alfred Hitchcock romp that has Cary Grant, Saint and classic chase scenes,including the one shown here. Read more…