‘Summer’ keys on adolescents

Labor Day becomes “Groundhog Day” in the well-cast but shamelessly derivative ‘tween fantasy “The Last Day of Summer” (8 p.m., Nickelodeon).

As the summer days dwindle to a precious two, September looms large for three adolescents filled with apprehension about entering middle school. Jansen Panettiere stars as Luke, the leader of sorts of a trio that call themselves the Steel Monkeys.

His pals A.J. (Jon Kent Ethridge) and Riley (Eli Vargas) spend the next-to-last night of summer camping out in Luke’s backyard, fretting about a sullen school bully named Meat (Daniel Samonas) and worrying about the big change from grammar school to middle school.

Their band is also scheduled to appear at the end-of-summer talent show.

In short order, Luke makes a fool of himself in front of his crush, Alice (Denyse Tontz), pulls a dumb stunt at the skateboard bowl and enrages Meat. Things get so bad that he wishes for a “do-over day,” and to his cosmic surprise, he finds his wish granted – again and again and again.

Lifetime has a hit with “Army Wives,” while History draws in the guys with “Ice Road Truckers.” Talk about his-and-her realities.

History ups the ante with “Human Weapon” (10 p.m., History), a ludicrously macho look at the history and practice of martial arts techniques around the world.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel takes his stab at the game-show racket, headlining the new series “Set for Life” (8 p.m., ABC).

Other highlights

Catch a six-episode “Meerkat Manor” (7 p.m., Animal Planet) minimarathon.

Desperate strangers lurk on the outskirts of town on “Jericho” (9 p.m., CBS).

Matt and Emily ponder the future on the series finale of “Standoff” (9 p.m., Fox).

Adrian’s new case introduces him to the hip-hop milieu on “Monk” (9 p.m., USA).

Pharmacists become the dictators of the future on “Doctor Who” (9 p.m., Sci Fi).

On two episodes of “Man Vs. Wild” (Discovery), Scotland (9 p.m.) and Pacific overtures (10 p.m.).

Death in the martial arts ring on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS).

Scheduled on “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC): the things we do for vanity.

A soggy victim appears to defy the laws of science on “Psych” (10 p.m., USA).

Christopher Walken and Shane MacGowan appear on “The Henry Rollins Show” (8 p.m., IFC).