Tues, Jan. 17
6 p.m. “Underworld: Evolution, The Movie Special”
A look at the sequel to “Underworld” helps to explain the origin of the vampires and werewolves, what set off their ancient blood feud and where the vampires got their darkly stylish fashion sense. MTV
6 p.m. “Death Detectives”
Cameras capture a week in the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office where each body gets a tag, a death certificate and an hour in a tanning bed. A&E Network
6 p.m. “Chasing Nature”
Examining features in the skulls of bighorn sheep that allow it to survive ramming its head against other sheep and why this doesn’t work when you pound your head on your desk every afternoon. Animal Planet
7 p.m. “American Idol”
The show kicks off another season with an evening of the most appalling auditions in Fox’s ongoing effort to boost viewer self esteem. Fox
7 p.m. “Fear Factor”
Engaged couples strapped into straitjackets eat live spiders. Couples usually don’t go through anything this scary until they have kids. NBC
8:30 p.m. “The Italian Job”
A gang of high-tech thieves stage a theft of gold on the streets of Los Angeles, using Mini Cooper sports cars to zip through the city’s infamous gridlock. If any more movie chases head into the L.A. drainage canals, they’re going to have to put in metering lights. (2003) FX
9 p.m. “Love Monkey”
This new drama follows four men at different stages of their lives. Men will be familiar with those stages as “emotionally clueless,” “slightly less clueless,” “the red sports car/affair with secretary decade” and “cranky.” CBS