‘Nightline’ probes secrets in primetime

The hazy, lazy, low-rated days of summer often provide the ABC news division with a few dollops of primetime exposure. Even a “news” show not devoted to hyping “The Bachelor.”

“NightlinePrime: Secrets of Your Mind — Why We Do What We Do” (9 p.m., ABC) will air over four successive Thursdays from tonight to Sept. 9.

Over each episode, a different “Nightline” correspondent will examine a different topic with the help of world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Julian Bailes and his patients at the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center.

Tonight, Cynthia McFadden looks at the idea that the brain may be affected by love. We meet a man who was literally rendered paralyzed by cupid’s figurative arrow and another story of a man who reconnected with his beloved after a traumatic brain injury.

Over the next three weeks, “Nightline” examines the mind of the murderer, the brain’s reaction to life or death stress, and the affects of food on the brain and the mind-over-matter aspects of battling obesity.

• Where-Are-They-Now meets Mother-and-Daughter Makeover on “You’re Wearing That!?” (9 p.m., WE). Remember Kimberley Locke from season 2 of “American Idol”? How about Kimberly Locke from “Celebrity Fit Club”? She’s here along with her mother, Christine. And they both get to try out new clothes and berate each other about their fashion sense in front of host and expert Luciene Salomone.

Not every mother-daughter team will feature a famous face. But look for Charlene Tilton of “Dallas” fame when she appears with her 27-year-old daughter, Cherish, next week.

• “Pitchmen” (8 p.m., Discovery) enters its second season. The series “stars” infomercial king Anthony Sullivan as he looks for marketable products that can be priced right and pack the “wow” factor necessary for infomercial gold. Sullivan’s partner, Billy Mays (OxiClean, Mighty Putty, ShamWow!), died last year in the middle of the first season of “Pitchmen.”

• Homeowners put their trust in their contractor and a panel of online experts in the interactive series “Run My Renovation” (9 p.m., DIY).

Tonight’s other highlights

• The Atlanta Falcons host the New England Patriots in NFL preseason football (7 p.m., Fox).

• Hodges and Wendy mentor high school forensics buffs on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Michael breaks a promise to eager young students on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• A missing-child case puts everyone on alert on “Rookie Blue” (8 p.m., ABC).

• The competition continues on “Project Runway” (8 p.m., Lifetime).

• Blind spots on “Burn Notice” (9 p.m., USA).

• Not much to celebrate on “Royal Pains” (9 p.m., USA).

Cult choice

Director Sam Raimi returns to the over-the-top horror of his “Evil Dead” movies with the 2009 shocker “Drag Me to Hell” (6:30 p.m., HBO).

Series notes

Pierce goes too far on “Community” (7 p.m., NBC) … Elena discovers the truth about Damon and Stefan on “Vampire Diaries” (7 p.m., CW) … Jack can’t choose on “30 Rock” (7:30 p.m., NBC) … Coraline’s secret revealed on “Moonlight” (8 p.m., CW) … Leslie hosts a telethon on “Parks & Recreation” (8:30 p.m., NBC) … Prison bars can’t hold Jane back from a murder case on “The Mentalist” (9 p.m., CBS).