“Life on Mars” (9 p.m., ABC) returns to the schedule on a new and more competitive night. The fantasy police procedural about detective Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) unstuck in time and stranded in a gritty New York precinct house circa 1973 now faces off against “CSI: NY” and “Law & Order,” offering network viewers three simultaneous chances to watch New York’s finest put the bad guys away. And to make matters murkier, tonight both “Lost” and “Law & Order” have stories about possible Russian mobsters. But only “Mars” features a cop who may or may not be in a coma back in 2008, dreaming of a chance to reconnect with Lisa Bonet.

As fans of “Life” know, it is based on a popular British series, and now BBC has scheduled a “Life on Mars” sequel called “Ashes to Ashes,” scheduled to air in March. In that new series Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) will be transferred from Manchester to London, where the capital city is adjusting to life in the 1980s.

• The series “Spectacle” (8 p.m., Sundance) has set itself apart from other talk shows with intimate and intelligent conversations between singer/songwriter Elvis Costello and an array of performers and composers, from James Taylor to Elton John (who also serves as a producer) to Tony Bennett and members of the Police.

Tonight, Costello broadens the show’s range by inviting opera soprano Renee Fleming, who discusses the differences and similarities between opera and pop. She also dishes on the tricks of the trade, like how to appear in thrall of a male lead a head shorter than herself. Like all of Costello’s guests, Fleming also performs some of her well-known work — well known to opera buffs, at least. Unlike many performers whose singing and conversational voices seem similar, Fleming’s exalted vocal instrument takes her and the audience to an entirely different realm.

• An Australian comedy troupe promises to offend every ethnic group, nationality, political persuasion and religion on the imported series “The Chaser’s War on Everything” (8 p.m., G4).

• Things blow up but never without careful preparation on the new series “The Detonators” (7 p.m., Discovery).

• A cruise ship linked to a theme park gets a serious overhaul on “Project Extreme” (9 p.m., DIY).

• “Hi-Tech War on Terror” (9 p.m., National Geographic) examines vulnerabilities in the nation’s tunnels, highways, borders, power grids and cities, and the new technology designed to address them.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Auditions continue on “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Confronted by his mother, Hurley explains the truth about the Island as only Hurley can on “Lost” (7 p.m., ABC). An original episode (8 p.m.) follows about Locke’s hunt to learn the truth about the newest batch of hostile islanders.

• A case hits close to Stabler’s home on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (8 p.m., NBC).

• A female soldier faces charges of sexual assault on “Lie to Me” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Mac has that old sinking feeling on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

• A trucker’s death may be linked to a Russian mobster on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).