Television

'TIL DEATH Attention, Everybody Loves Raymond fans: This new sitcom is not, repeat, not, a spinoff. But it does have the excellent Brad Garrett, which just might allow it to rise above its lame premise and tough competition. Mr. Garrett and Joely Fisher (Wild Card) play a couple whose vast experience with marriage gives them a steady supply of survival tips for the newlyweds (Eddie Kaye Thomas, Kat Foster) next door. (N/CC/HDTV/TVPG) (30 mins.) (7 p.m. Ch. 4)

NFL FOOTBALL The NFL season begins – as does NBC's re-entry into broadcasting the league's games – with this matchup from Pittsburgh between the Dolphins and Super Bowl champion Steelers. (Live) (CC/HDTV) (3 hrs.) (7:30 p.m. Ch. 5)

WHERE DID IT COME FROM? You'd be surprised to find out how ancient some of our so-called modern innovations are. So be prepared for repeated surprises from this new series, which traces the roots of supertankers, high-rise buildings, indoor plumbing and rental cars to their origins in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, China and elsewhere. Former ABC News science correspondent Dr. Michael Guillen hosts. (N/CC/TVPG) (1 hr.) (7 p.m. HIST)

THE DICK CAVETT SHOW WITH MEL BROOKS Nobody could draw stars out like Mr. Cavett, so his chats with such screen legends as Alfred Hitchcock, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Woody Allen are full of great stuff. Turner Classic Movies launches its lineup of Cavett classics with this special, in which he interviews the man behind The Producers and Young Frankenstein. (N) (1 hr.) (7 p.m. TCM)

LETTERMAN Actor Colin Farrell; India.Arie performs; toy demonstration. (10:35 p.m. Ch. 11)

LENO Actor Brad Garrett; Jessica Simpson performs. (11:05 p.m. Ch. 5)

KIMMEL Actor Anthony Michael Hall; actress Amy Yasbeck; the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus perform. (11:35 p.m. Ch. 8)

CONAN Actor David Duchovny; comic Greg Behrendt; Ben Harper performs. (12:07 a.m. Ch. 5)