Back during the bad old days of the Soviet Union, an anecdotal observation by an anonymous laborer summed up the worthless currency and unmotivated workforce. “They pretend to pay us,” he cracked. “And we pretend to work.”

Today’s TV viewers might offer a similar lament: “They pretend to broadcast, and we pretend to watch.”

While it would be unfair to compare ABC to the Soviet economy circa 1978, the new game show “Wanna Bet” (8 p.m., ABC) is so slapdash, unoriginal and thoroughly third-rate that you almost cry out for the relative ambition of “Wipeout.”

“Wanna Bet” solicits ideas from its audience who suggest outlandish pranks and dares. Can somebody do a hula hoop with a 50-pound truck tire for 45 seconds? Do you care?

A British comedy team called Ant and Dec preside over these festivities, along with celebrities Sherri Shepherd, George Takei, Tom Green and Harland Williams.

How many things depress me about “Wanna Bet”? Well: 1) It lasts an hour and not a half hour; 2) it’s the latest show to feature British and/or Australian hosts; 3) the fact that it exists at all; 4) its low-wattage homemade quality is a pathetic attempt to imitate YouTube, but it’s boring enough to drive more viewers away from their television and back to YouTube; 5) did I mention No. 3?

¢ ABC has no monopoly on unoriginality. TLC launches a new series tonight called “Take Home Nanny” (7 p.m., TLC) about Nanny Emma Jenner and her efforts to help kids prepare for special events. Is this nanny “super”? You be the judge.

¢ The last time I thought about “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” I was half-hoping the show would morph into a “Scream”-like horror parody and I could watch an ax murderer pick them off one by one. No such luck.

Now the series has a spin-off, “Date My Ex: Jo & Slade” (9 p.m., Bravo). Jo De La Rosa used to be happy as a lazy, parasitic bimbo in a big ugly house. But she got bored and pursued her music career in Los Angeles. Now her former fiance, with the unlikely name of Slade Smiley, is her manager and wants to help her find a new boyfriend.

Four suitors, some with very plucked eyebrows, move in with Slade and court her “Bachelor”-style. The romance here seems as contrived as Slade’s name and Jo’s music career.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Scheduled on “Top Gear” (8 p.m., BBC America): expensive wheels and driving songs.

¢ “History Detectives” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) investigates a Marine’s jacket, an Airstream caravan and a Lincoln forgery.

¢ A parolee expires on “The Closer” (8 p.m., TNT).

¢ National Geographic offers two reminders to obey the law overseas: “Locked Up Abroad: Philippines” (8 p.m.) and “Bangladesh” (9 p.m.).

¢ Scheduled on “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC): dangerous work on America’s cell towers.

¢ Boy bands are linked to pure evil on “The Middleman” (9 p.m., Family).

¢ Tragedy links Grace to a troubled young man on “Saving Grace” (9 p.m., TNT).

Cult choice

Ben Stiller stars in the 2007 comedy “The Heartbreak Kid” (9 p.m., Cinemax), a remake of a 1972 Elaine May comedy starring Charles Grodin.