With so many new shows premiering this week, you’ll need to prioritize which of the remaining series to keep on your schedule:
“True Detective” (Sunday, 9 p.m., HBO): Be careful what you wish for: Yes, they’re finally revealing more of what happened to make Rust (Matthew McConaughey) snap, back in 2002, but now we have to endure the weekly discoveries of tortured and abused children. And while the series depends heavily on the chemistry between stars McConaughey and Woody Harrelson — every other character is a cardboard cutout from any cop series — we should also expect to see how that case drove the partners apart.
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Chicago P.D.” (Wednesday, 9 and 10 p.m., NBC): Mama is convinced that every police and rescue drama will eventually live in the “Law & Order” universe. This week, “L & O” calls over Sophia Bush from the new Chicago series, and in their game of Red Rover, “Chicago P.D.” asks for SVU’s Ice-T and Kelli Giddish to help out on a case. Since “Chicago P.D.” has already had a crossover with parent series “Chicago Fire,” it’s only a matter of time before Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) team up, right?
“New Girl” (Tuesday, 9 p.m., Fox): The very funny Linda Cardellini — last seen as Don Draper’s mistress — is still in town as Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) even more insane sibling, who had to be bailed out of jail when she was introduced. The only roommate whom dear sister Abby hasn’t met yet is Schmidt (Max Greenfield), which can only mean they’re devoting the upcoming episode to a romantic entanglement.
“Dallas” (Monday, 9 p.m., TNT): Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) is planning a wedding for the philandering John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) as Season 3 kicks off. If you’re simply dying to know every detail, a marathon of the first two seasons starts Sunday. Or you can save those 25 hours of your life by waiting for the “previously on” recap, because, really, everything’s that’s happened thus far on the series can be summed up in two minutes.
“Portlandia” (Thursday, 10 p.m., IFC): Before he runs off to be the bandleader for Seth Meyers, catch Fred Armisen in the Season 4 premiere of his quirky, hilarious series with Carrie Brownstein. Once again they’ll welcome an eclectic stew of guest stars, including Kirsten Dunst, k.d. lang, Maya Rudolph, The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith and a few Portland Trail Blazers. And Kyle MacLachlan will be back as the mayor.