“Dateline” (7 p.m., NBC) will broadcast an interview with Dennis Rader, who recently confessed to being the notorious “BTK” serial killer wanted for a series of gruesome killings dating back to the 1970s. Before his capture, Rader had a spotless reputation as a father, husband, church leader and Scoutmaster.

Harvard psychologist Robert Mendoza, hired by Rader’s defense team to evaluate his sanity, conducted the interview. “Dateline” also will present a timeline of Rader’s killings, his subsequent obsession with the media, his arrest – which took him completely by surprise – and his willing confession.

¢ As even casual listeners of sports talk radio know, nobody is more second-guessed than managers of major league baseball teams. “Costas Now” (8 p.m., HBO) offers viewers a dugout seat with St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. Host Bob Costas spent three days with LaRussa in mid-July and interviewed him after each game about his expectations, decisions and disappointments.

In the same hour Costas will chat with Lance Armstrong, and discuss allegations that a South Carolina physician prescribed steroids to more than a dozen members of the Carolina Panthers football team.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ The case of the mysterious mail-order bride on “Veronica Mars” (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ On a four-episode marathon of “Arrested Development” (Fox), at long last love (7 p.m.), a funny uncle (7:30 p.m.), Michael mulls his possible love child (8 p.m.) and a farewell to arms (8:30 p.m.).

¢ Jenifer Lewis stars in the 2004 drama “Nora’s Hair Salon” (7 p.m., UPN).

¢ Diana Degarmo, the runner-up on “American Idol” 2004, guest stars on “Blue Collar TV” (7:30 p.m., WB).

¢ The daughter of a math whiz is kidnapped on “Numb3rs” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Witnesses prove scarce in a murder case from the civil rights era on “Crossing Jordan” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Scheduled on “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC): an abused wife’s tale of survival; ever-louder car stereos; ambush photographers.

Late night

Ricky Gervais and The Knitters appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno is host to Selma Blair, John Caparulo and Avril Lavigne on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Jennifer Tilly, Tyrese and Doug Benson appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC).