Two nights into “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox) is too early to start reading tea leaves, but who can resist?

The audition phase is more notable for Olympics-style background pieces and heart-tugging biography than actual performance. And at least one “star” has already emerged.

How country is Vanessa Wolfe? The bridge-jumping singer from the tiny rural town of Vonore, Tenn., makes Kellie Pickler look like a debutante. You’d have to have a heart of stone not to root for such a nervous and enthusiastic performer.

No one watches “Idol” as a barometer of economic conditions, but even this distracting series has to acknowledge hard times. Vanessa wasn’t the only contestant to talk about shopping at the dollar store. She bought her performance outfit there for $4.50. The peculiar Skibowski also extolled the emporium, likening his appeal to the dollar store in one of many incomprehensible rambles.

• What’s the difference between creative “borrowing” and outright theft? The “Independent Lens” documentary “Copyright Criminals” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) offers a thought-provoking discussion of the subject filtered through a history of hip-hop “sampling” culture.

Since the 1980s, artists have peppered their recordings with digitally manipulated snippets of songs both famous and obscure. Some sampled recordings outsold the originals. MC Hammer used a catchy riff from the Rick James song “Super Freak,” and his song “You Can’t Touch This” became one of best-selling rap songs of all time. Was that a crime? Or merely lame?

Eventually, music-company lawyers got into the act, turning sampling into an expensive and time-consuming legal and creative minefield. One producer complains that it’s now far easier to secure the rights to an entire song than to a five-second sample.

“Copyright” offers opinions on all sides of the controversy. Some see it as crass unoriginality, while others contend that sampling merely continues a history of artistic appropriation and homage essential to creativity.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The Sphinx offers up secrets on “Nova” (7 p.m., PBS, check local listings).

• On two episodes of “Better Off Ted” (ABC), Veronica snoops to conquer (7:30 p.m.), lost in translation (8:30 p.m.).

• The four-episode sitcom “Love That Girl” (8 p.m., TV One), starring Tatyana Ali, debuts.

• Dodging bullets on a bullet train on “Human Target” (8 p.m., Fox).

• Neal’s deal with the FBI may unravel on “White Collar” (9 p.m., USA).

• “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (9 p.m., HBO) looks at concussions in the NFL.