TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"The Bachelor" opener, 7 p.m., ABC. This show stumbles when it has guys unwilling to commit. That definitely doesn't seem the case with Jason Mesnick. At 32, he has married and divorced. He has also proposed to (and been rejected by) DeAnna Pappas on "The Bachelorette." Now he's ready to try again, with women who know him well. One — Shannon (29, an outgoing dental hygienist from Marshall, Mo.) — confesses that "I totally feel like a stalker." Competition springs up in surprising ways. Shannon (32, a teacher from Batavia, NY) wanted to salsa dance with Mesnick; Raquel (27, a medical student from Brazil) does it first. One woman grumbles about "flirty, gorgeous Melissa" (25, a sales rep in Dallas); Jackie (26, a divorced wedding planner from Dallas) is unhappy because she was rejected twice as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, but Melissa was accepted. This group doesn't seem to have much racial variety; it has also shed TV's recent obsession with bottle blondes. Mesnick was previously drawn to the raven-haired Pappas, a fellow Greek; in this opener, he seems quickly drawn to DeAnna lookalikes.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE

"The Story of India" opener, 9 and 10 p.m., PBS. As India returns to international strength, Michael Wood saunters through its history. That past was shaped by conquerors — Alexander the Great and then the first three rulers of the Maurya dynasty. The third, Ashoka, said he was shattered by the death and destruction caused by his battles; he created a nonviolent leadership that would shape thinking in the Far East and (much later) the world.

OF NOTE

"Superstars of Dance," 7 p.m., NBC. After its Monday debut, this short-run competition settles into its regular spot. There, it may grab some of the people waiting for "Dancing With the Stars" to return.

"Big Bang Theory," 7 p.m., CBS. Emboldened by temporary fame, Raj makes a move for Penny in this rerun.

"Football," 3:15 p.m., Fox. The Fiesta Bowl has Texas and Ohio State, with the pre-game show at 2:30.

"Masters of Illusion" debut, 8 p.m., MyNetwork (K5). After dabbling with magicians in the past, this young network tries a weekly series. In the weeks ahead, it will have more than 70 magicians; MyNetwork says the show is taped live, with no camera or computer tricks.

"Two and a Half Men," 8 p.m., CBS. In a funny rerun, Charlie meets a long-ago girlfriend (Rena Sofer) whose son seems Charlie-like.

"True Beauty" debut, 9 p.m., ABC. The men and women think they're in a standard beauty contest; they don't realize that character is a key factor.

"The Diet Tribe" debut, 8 p.m., Lifetime. On the eve of a new "Biggest Loser" season, Lifetime tries a kinder, gentler version. The five women are close friends, co-conspirators in a lifestyle that has seen their weight escalate, ranging from 210 to 292 pounds. They work with Jessie Pavelka, a muscular sort who seems like the "Loser" trainers with a mute button. The result is upbeat and moderately interesting.