"My Name is Earl" debut, 8 p.m., NBC. Fresh and offbeat, "Earl" isn't the best new comedy, but it's the most distinctive. Earl (Jason Lee, a favorite of indie-movie fans) is ready to make up to everyone he has wronged. "Earl" has the fun flavor of an indie film.

"Big Brother," 8 p.m., CBS; "R U the Girl," 5 p.m., UPN (KIKU); "Rock Star: INXS," 9 p.m., CBS. All three reality shows pick their winners tonight.

OF NOTE

"Bound for Glory" debut, 4 p.m., ESPN. In the reality show, football great Dick Butkus coaches a team that has a long losing streak.

"Nip/Tuck" season-opener, 7 p.m., FX. The opening scenes — long, manipulative and deceitful — should be enough to have anyone walk away. We stayed for a few more minutes but regretted it. "Nip/Tuck" remains repulsive as we discover how Christian recovers from the "carver" attack.

"NCIS" season-opener, 7 p.m., CBS. In last season's finale, Kate was killed by a sniper. She returns now in fantasy conversations. Gibbs thinks the shooter was his old nemesis. Stick with this complex and intriguing tale that continues next week.

"Nova: The Mystery of the Megaflood," 8 p.m., PBS. Thousands of years ago, an epic flood ripped through Washington state.

"According to Jim" season-opener, 7 p.m., ABC. Jim lets his son skip his first day of kindergarten to catch a Cubs game.

"Dancing With the Stars: Dance Off," 7:30 p.m., ABC. In the summer "Stars" series, energetic Kelly Monaco defeated the elegant John O'Hurley. Now comes a rematch with results announced Thursday.

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. The twists have House asking if it's still illegal to perform an autopsy on a living person. He does just that, eventually, in another great episode.

"The Office" season-opener, 8:30 p.m., NBC. Michael always manages to turn the annual awards ceremony into an ordeal.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" season-opener, 9 p.m., NBC. Stabler tries to stop a released sex criminal (Robert Patrick of "The X-Files") before he repeats his crimes.