The world of vampires just got a whole lot uglier. And it’s about time. Undead creatures look so pretty on “Vampire Diaries” and “True Blood.” But the new gothic series “Demons” (9 p.m., today, BBC America) sets the record straight. They’re hideous.

The tongue-in-cheek horror/action series follows the monster-hunting adventures of Luke Rutherford (Christian Cooke), the handsome teenage descendant of legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing. He’s awakened to his destiny by his gruff godfather Rupert (Philip Glenister), who quickly brings him up to speed about the arts and science of waging war on an underground army of darkness.

With its emphasis on gadgets and guns and underground libraries that combine 19th-century aesthetics with 21st-century science, “Demons” will remind viewers of any number of series, from “Warehouse 13” to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

But it’s most unique in its depiction of vampires as horrid, putrefied specimens accompanied by odd monkey creatures. These vamps eat bugs and cough up otherworldly hairballs. After one glance at them, it’s a wonder that Van Helsing doesn’t have a whole lot more help.

• Now airing in its regular time, “Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie” (8 p.m., today, HGTV) offers viewers an international perspective on backyard design. Before committing to each week’s project, the lucky Australian host jets around the world on inspirational junkets.

On tonight’s episode, he hangs out in Italy to bring back ideas to a Southern California couple who want to transform their backyard from a hard-baked wasteland into something beautiful and vaguely Tuscan.

Durie more than obliges, bringing in hundreds of shrubs, erecting a pergola, building an outdoor brick oven and transforming an ugly cinder-block wall with hanging plants.

“Room” shows how far HGTV has changed from a do-it-yourself network to a place to ogle celebrity hosts spending other people’s money on strangers. The plant bill alone for this transformation must be more than $20,000. But Durie remains tight-lipped about the price of everything.

• Honesty is the first step toward self-improvement. The 12 contestants on “Worst Cooks in America” (9 p.m., Sunday, Food) have no illusions about their skills in the kitchen. But they’re willing to learn.

Every week, two cooking pros will test these students in high-pressure challenges. Amateur chefs get the hook on a weekly basis until the final two face off to prepare a restaurant-quality meal for a panel of experts and critics. The winner receives $25,000 and gets to wipe “worst cook” off his or her resume.

• Another show with an intriguing title, “Confessions of a Reality Show Loser” (8 p.m., Sunday, Discovery Health) follows Erik Chopin. Viewers may recall him as the winner of season three of “The Biggest Loser.” He dropped a total of 214 pounds for “Loser,” but has since gained it all back.

“Confessions” promises to address both his weight issues and the emotional toll of gaining and losing so much avoirdupois and doing it all on television. Erik vows to get down to a healthy size once again and to stay there.

After all, it’s a big tumble from NBC to Discovery Health. If he has to this again, he’ll be reduced to do YouTube or public access.

• Forget “Jersey Shore,” the new destination for reality exhibitionism in a specific ZIP code is “Secrets of Aspen” (9 p.m., Sunday, VH1), a documentary-style look at the excesses of the posh mountain resort.

Today’s highlights

• The “Doctor Who” marathon continues on BBC America, concluding at 9 p.m.

• “It’s Me or the Dog” (8 p.m., Animal Planet) returns for a new season.

• A DA’s demise may be linked to an escort service on “Castle” (9 p.m., ABC).

Sunday’s highlights

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): Swiss banks lower their veil of secrecy; frustrations mount at VA hospitals; elephant communication.

• On two episodes of “Cold Case” (CBS), death at sea (8 p.m.), a skater’s demise reconsidered (9 p.m.).

• A celebrity couple contemplates a family and tries to find the right place to live as “Giuliana & Bill” (8 p.m., Style) returns for a second season.

• Kitty’s cancer reaches a delicate stage on “Brothers & Sisters” (9 p.m., ABC).