In true bipartisan spirit, the three major networks will ignore the first night of the Republican National Convention, just as they did the first night of the Democrats’ convention. Viewers who want to take in the quadrennial spectacle with a minimum of hyperthyroid cable news blather would be well served to watch the whole shebang on PBS.

Jim Lehrer will be host to three hours of “NewsHour” coverage (7 p.m., PBS, Sunflower Broadband Channels 7 and 11) every night through Thursday. This program was the only one to carry every major speech at the Democratic National Convention, and it promises to do the same for the Republicans. Tonight’s scheduled speakers include New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain.

ABC, CBS and NBC are scheduled to broadcast the convention at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks will join Lehrer to provide commentary and political analysis after most speeches and events. During the Democrats’ Boston gathering, they managed to discuss issues and personalities with a minimum of rancor, ridicule and rumor, the three essential ingredients of conversation and commentary on MSNBC and Fox. I also particularly enjoyed the long-view perspective provided by presidential historians Michael Beschloss and Richard Norton Smith.

• Viewers in search of a sillier take on the convention should turn to “The Daily Show” (10 p.m., Comedy Central) special “Indecision 2004: Midway to the Election Spectacular.” Jon Stewart will recap the night’s activities throughout the convention.
• For those who believe that clothes, cars and “bling” make the man, there is “The Fabulous Life: Bush vs. Kerry” (9 p.m., VH1), which promises to examine the lifestyles of the two rich and famous men running for president.
• Soon, it seems, every series on television will be a makeover show. “The Complex: Malibu” (7 p.m., Fox) offers an idea whose time has come and gone several times before. Eight couples will compete for the chance to renovate one of four units in a California apartment building.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The Dallas Cowboys are host to the Tennessee Titans in preseason NFL action on “Monday Night Football” (7 p.m., ABC).
• “The Assistant” (9:30 p.m., MTV), Andy Dick’s “Apprentice” spoof, wraps up its first season.