There was a time when it was enough for a chef to be recognized for the quality of his food and the popularity of his restaurants. But now we live in an era when a man can be designated as “the World’s Sexiest Chef.” And Jean Christophe Novelli is that man. He’s also the star and French-accented judge, jury and executioner on a new series called “Chef Academy” (10 p.m., Bravo).

“Academy” has been put on a low-testosterone diet. Don’t go looking for the aggressive outbursts of Gordon Ramsay or ugly prima donna behavior from Novelli’s students.

The amateurs here are just that. Only one has risen as high as an assistant chef. One man has been a Navy cook on a submarine for nine years. At least three call themselves housewives who simply want to do a better job in the kitchen and bring passion to their family dinners. The oldest of the group is a woman who appears to have spent too many of her 47 years in the warm California sun. But this Valerie Perrine lookalike also has a few tricks up her apron.

While a few participants see this as a validation that may bring them professional advancement, “Academy” has a refreshing lack of cut-throat competition. The students actually seem to support each other. Even the elimination process seems more laid-back. You get three chances to fail before the chef shows you the door.

For all of his Gallic posturing, Novelli, accompanied by his abundantly pregnant British wife, seems determined to behave like a human being. Like many Frenchmen, he has a decidedly eccentric take on American popular culture. When he expresses his dream to see “Hollywood’s biggest star,” it turns out he just can’t wait to meet the man who played Detective Colombo.

• E! hitches its wagon to the “Twilight/New Moon” hype wagon with “10 Vampires We Love” (9:30 p.m., E!). Hey kids, don’t forget Count Chocula!

Tonight’s other highlights

• Members of the band Bon Jovi appear on the 16th season premiere of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” (6 p.m., Bravo) hosted by James Lipton.

• Samuel wants to be all he can be on “Heroes” (7 p.m., NBC).

• House returns to the fold and game-playing resumes on “House” (7 p.m., Fox).

• “Dancing with the Stars” (7 p.m., ABC) continues.

• Gary Sinise narrates “WWII in HD” (7 p.m. through 10 p.m., History), airing nightly through Thursday.

• Six goes on a mission for Two (7 p.m.) and meets a familiar face (8 p.m.,) as the six-part miniseries “The Prisoner” (AMC) continues.

• A sea-going wedding ceremony turns tragic on “Trauma” (8 p.m., NBC).

• A teen needs to recover long-buried memories on “Lie to Me” (8 p.m., Fox).

• “American Experience” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) continues its look at the 1930s with “Surviving the Dust Bowl,” a documentary from 1999. Liev Schreiber narrates.

• Filmmakers follow four young Iranian women who have escaped from abusive homes in the documentary “The Glass House” (8 p.m., Sundance), making its American TV debut.

• An investigation into a highway pileup reveals the mixed motivations of the victims and drivers on “CSI: Miami” (9 p.m., CBS).

• A district attorney’s murder opens a window on a world of escorts on “Castle” (9 p.m., ABC).

Cult choice

An all-girl rock band blazes a trail through Hollywood in the 1970 spoof “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” (9:05 p.m., IFC).