Two teams of plus-size contestants vie to shed pounds and add to their bank account as winners of “The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m., NBC), hosted by Caroline Rhea.

The two teams follow comprehensive diet and exercise plans to undergo radical physical makeovers. Difficult challenges, inevitable alliances and delicious temptations make life tough for the contestants. And, this being a “reality” show, players will decide who gets eliminated each week. Will weekly winners receive a rose? And if so, will any of them consider it an edible flower? When all is said and done and the pounds are shed, “The Biggest Loser” waddles away with a cool quarter-million. The former “Sabrina” star Rhea already considers herself a winner — she no longer has to worry about an animatronic cat stealing her best lines.

• And here’s just the show to inspire viewers to kick the reality habit. “He’s a Lady” (9 p.m., TBS) invites 11 rough, tough guys to a show called “All American Man” for a chance to win $1 million. Once assembled, they’re told they have to compete to see who will make the prettiest and most ladylike woman. We’re supposed to laugh as we watch burly guys submit to bikini waxes and learn to walk in heels, etc. Judges include Morgan Fairchild, Debbie Matenopoulos and John Salley.

Now that TBS calls itself the “funny” network, somebody should have studied cross-dressing comedies. A cursory glance at “Some Like it Hot” or “Bosom Buddies” would show that cross-dressing is most humorous when guys do it under duress, as a means to survive a mob hit or rent a cheap apartment. Then it becomes part of a greater comedy of mistaken identity and misperception. Watching burly men do it competitively, for money, is simply a vulgar drag.

Tonight’s other highlights

• A double date turns icky on “Gilmore Girls” (7 p.m., WB).
• Lou throws in the towel on “Clubhouse” (8 p.m., CBS).
• Felonious nerds on “Veronica Mars” (8 p.m., UPN).
• A teen’s confession rings less than true on “Judging Amy” (9 p.m., CBS).
• A serial killer takes inspiration from famous cases on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC).
• A serious tiff erupts between Sipowicz and Clark on “NYPD Blue” (9 p.m., ABC).

Late night

Jude Law and Ricky Gervais appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Ewan McGregor and Duran Duran on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Bowling for Soup performs on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC).