‘Talent’ follows proven formula

If you don’t believe that the summer onslaught of “talent” shows are the reincarnation of the old TV variety show, than you didn’t see last Tuesday’s installment of “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC).

Somewhere between the trio of drag performers, the pogo-stick boy and the charming, if obese, crooner, a Chinese acrobat wowed the crowd by spinning multiple plates to the tune of “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams. Both “Gas” and the spinning plates offered a flashback of sorts to the days of “The Ed Sullivan Show,” when it seemed that every act, from Elvis to the Beatles, was preceded by acrobats, ventriloquists and the obligatory moment of spinning dinnerware.

With “Endgame,” the news magazine “Frontline” (9 p.m., KSPS) presents its fifth installment in a worthy history of the Iraq war. “Endgame” examines the current surge strategy and its origins.

Other highlights

A sailor succumbs to radiation on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS).

“Nova” (7 p.m., KSPS) follows scientists into Australia’s outback to dig up prehistoric bones of a giant marsupial.

Director Wes Craven joins the judges on “On the Lot” (8 p.m., Fox).

Emily ends up behind bars on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., CW).

If necessary, Cleveland hosts San Antonio in Game 6 of the NBA Finals (5:30 p.m., ABC).

Infiltrating Iran on “The Unit” (9 p.m., CBS).

A teenage father figure might not make it on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).

Crab season concludes on “Deadliest Catch” (9 p.m., Discovery).

As fans of “My Life on the D-List” (10 p.m., Bravo) know, Kathy Griffin’s parents are the real stars of the show. In tonight’s installment, Kathy receives devastating news about her father’s health and puts her comedy on hold to be by his side.