I must have missed the memo dictating that all new shows must be shot in Las Vegas. Just three days after the debut of “Caesar’s 24/7” on A&E, a sports network offers us “Tilt” (8 p.m., ESPN), a drama set in the seamy world of professional poker.

Michael Madsen (“Kill Bill”) stars as Don “The Matador” Everst, an arrogant poker champion who struts around the fictional Colorado Casino like he owns the place. We quickly learn that the management is very much in cahoots with Everest’s dishonest tactics. When Lee Nickel (Chris Bauer), an out-of-town cop, accuses the card shark of cheating him, the casino boss quickly erases a surveillance tape so as not to give away their shared fraud.

Everest has also gained the attention of a team of poker professionals dedicated to bringing him down. Eddie Cibrian (“Third Watch”) plays Eddie, a brilliant young talent who can’t rest until he bests The Matador.

I’ve just got one question. Why should I care?

“Tilt” does a credible job of recreating the dark atmosphere of casino life; there is not one scene shot in daylight. Gosh, that’s just what I want to watch during a long winter night. I hope ESPN isn’t trying to sell “Tilt” in Sweden.

“Tilt” is also a natural outgrowth of ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker. It’s interesting, strange even, that ESPN is using a fictional show to say that one of the “sports” it covers is notoriously fixed.

But with the exception of “3,” their biography of the late Dale Earnhardt, all of ESPN’s fictional efforts — including scathing portraits of Bobby Knight and Pete Rose — have focused on the negative aspects of sports. Doesn’t anybody there like the games they cover?

Most baffling of all, “Tilt” is a series and not a TV movie. I could see devoting an hour or two to the pursuit and demise of the arrogant Everest. But will viewers return to this dark, dank demimonde week after week? Don’t bet on it.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Sandy bursts into song on “The O.C.” (7 p.m., Fox).
• Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan star in the 2000 sports romance “Love & Basketball” (8 p.m., WB).
• A baby snake in a cadaver’s skull raises eyebrows on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).
• The gang collects bail money for Jason on the season finale of “North Shore” (8 p.m., Fox).
• Gang members seize Abby and demand surgery on one of their own on “ER” (9 p.m., NBC).
• Scheduled on “Primetime” (9 p.m., ABC): germs lurking in gyms; an interview with the family of Lana Clarkson, the actress found shot in Phil Spector’s mansion.

Series notes

Would-be taste arbiters tangle on “Wickedly Perfect” (7 p.m., CBS) … A very special escort on “Joey” (7 p.m., NBC) … Dino faces his emotions on “Life as We Know It” (7 p.m., ABC).

Making cameos on back-to-back episodes of “Will & Grace” (NBC), Lily Tomlin (8 p.m.), Kristin Davis (8:30 p.m.).

Late night

Jon Stewart hosts Annette Bening on “The Daily Show” (10 p.m., Comedy Central) … Marg Helgenberger, Ryan Seacrest and My Chemical Romance appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Paul Giamatti on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC) … Matt Leinart, Nick Lachey, Simon Pegg and Todd Glass appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:05 p.m., ABC).

Jennifer Garner and Jim Gaffigan chat on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (11:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Teri Polo and Wyclef Jean on “The Late, Late Show” (11:37 p.m., CBS).