Over the past few seasons, CBS has gone out of its way to attract actors of note, including Gary Sinise and James Woods. Liev Schreiber will join “CSI” soon in a recurring role. And the amazing cast of the short-lived “Smith” included Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen. I am greatly respectful of these actors, as I am of Stanley Tucci, star of the new series “3 lbs.” (9 p.m., CBS).

But casting does not a great series make. “3 lbs.” follows closely in the “House” tradition, with Tucci starring as Doug Hanson, a brilliant neurosurgeon with no bedside manner and a flagrant disdain for social graces. But unlike Hugh Laurie’s House, who likes to think out loud and say whatever comes to mind, Hanson is more cryptic and withdrawn.

These character flaws allow Hanson’s assistant, Jonathan Seger (Mark Feuerstein), to fill the silences with compassionate gush. He’s the nice, caring guy to Hanson’s cold genius. He holds patients’ hands and tries to see the soul inside the brain that Hanson dismisses as “wires in a box.”

The casting, while natural, seems to subtract from the sum of both men’s talents. Tucci often has been cast as flawed or villainous (“The Devil Wears Prada,” “Winchell,” “The Daytrippers”), and Feuerstein (“Conrad Bloom,” “Good Morning, Miami”) has made a career of playing the nice young man, handsome, successful and eager to please. “3 lbs.” would be a more interesting show if the roles were reversed and Feuerstein played the heavy. Or maybe not.

Indira Varma co-stars as Adrienne Holland, a beautiful neurologist who shares flirty moments with Seger and some strange, unexplained past with Hanson. The debut episode concerns heated arguments about treatment options for a tumor-stricken violin prodigy. It comes complete with cinematic scenes of hallucinations, dreams and a musical montage. It’s a brand-new show, but a lot seems very familiar.

FYI: The show’s title refers to the average weight of the human brain.

¢ William Shatner hosts “Show Me the Money” (8 p.m., ABC), a game-show variety hour that owes a little to both “Deal” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Contestants have to answer a battery of trivia questions, but questions are not assigned dollar amounts. After a correct answer, the player must choose from among 13 shapely dancers on stage who will reveal the prize. Choose the right beauty and you could hit a jackpot. Choose the wrong dancer and you’ve got chump change.

¢ “Nova” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings) showcases “A Family That Walks on All Fours,” a film about members of a large family in remote Turkey who never learned to walk upright. Is their condition a genetic mutation? A step back in evolution? Or is it cultural? It’s a fascinating hour.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Homecoming weekend brings added pressures on “Friday Night Lights” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ A surrogate pregnancy ends badly on “Standoff” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Stranded in Siberia on “The Unit” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ Fran Drescher guest stars on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ A father awakens from a 10-year coma on “House” (8 p.m., Fox).

¢ Three teen victims share the same tattoo on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m., NBC).