The calendar may say April, but with three network series debuting tonight, it feels like September.

“Harper’s Island” (9 p.m., CBS) looks like a Stephen King miniseries that unfolds like “The Bachelor,” but here, a character is eliminated — in the grisliest sense of the word — each week.

Poor-boy-made-good Henry Dunn (Christopher Gorham) is marrying the ravishing rich girl Trish Wellington (Katie Cassidy), much to her snobby father’s chagrin. Her friends look down on his buddies. But they may not be above a little hanky-panky.

Foreboding signs bob up before the party boat embarks for the posh island-wedding celebration. Henry’s best friend from childhood is Abby Mills (Elaine Cassidy). Seven years back, her mother was linked to a horrific mass murder on the island. She hasn’t returned since.

And why can’t the bride-to-be get her cousin on the phone? Could it be because he’s tied to the boat’s propeller? Why is the groom’s sleazy Uncle Marty (Harry Hamlin) packing heat? Who is the strange intruder from Trish’s past? And why does Madison (Cassandra Sawtell), the bored, creepy flower girl, spend her time torturing snails with a magnifying glass?

With its soap-opera soul and murder-a-week format, “Island” may be the most addictive and over-the-top series in a long time.

• The new police drama “Southland” (9 p.m., NBC) boasts producers from both “ER” and “The West Wing.” And while it shares a certain solemn sense of self-importance with both of those shows, it’s hardly innovative.

“Southland” does mark the return of Ben McKenzie, the brooding star of “The O.C.” and “Junebug,” who has a little Steve McQueen about him. He plays Ben Sherman, a rookie cop who endures the hazing and disrespect of veteran officers. A series of incidences are resolved in the space of 45 minutes and wrapped up with a moody montage set to sensitive music.

• “Office”-lovers, beware. “Parks and Recreation” (7:30 p.m., NBC) tries to be exactly like “The Office.” And it’s simply horrible. “Parks” condescends to its characters and its subject matter and hopes that a “hip” audience will laugh along anyway. It’s like an “SNL” skit that arrives dead on arrival but continues for a very long half hour.

The most remarkable thing about “Parks” is not that it’s bad. It’s that professionals working for a major network could watch this pilot and decide to air it anyway.

• The new series “Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire” (9 p.m., Comedy Central) sends up the mystical-epic genre with all the subtlety you’d expect from such things.

Tonight’s other highlights

• A scientist disappears on “Bones” (7 p.m., Fox).

• A skydiver’s accident may have been staged on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

• On two episodes of “The Office” (NBC), Jim schemes (7 p.m.), Andy and Dwight bond (8 p.m.).

• The Teutuls return for a sixth season of “American Chopper” (8 p.m., TLC).

• Budget worries abound on “30 Rock” (8:30 p.m., NBC).

• Erica glances back at commitment problems on “Being Erica” (9 p.m., Soapnet).

• “How to Find a Husband” (9 p.m., Fine Living) sounds like a sitcom, but it’s not.