Life is messy, and love endures. That’s the message of the anarchic sitcom “Raising Hope” (8 p.m., Fox). This program should appeal to fans of “My Name Is Earl,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and the movie “Raising Arizona,” and anyone in search of laughs who won’t get caught up by the presence of cigarettes or easy gags at the expense of a character suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“Hope” features one of the most outlandish and rapidly presented setups in TV history. It would be criminal to give it away. Let’s just say that baby Hope was born on death row and leave it at that.

Lucas Neff stars as Jimmy Chance, a 23-year-old guy with no direction, still living with his downwardly mobile parents, Virginia (Martha Plimpton) and Burt (Garret Dillahunt), who have taken over his delusional grandmother Maw Maw’s (Cloris Leachman) ramshackle home because she can’t remember to throw them out.

Life changes when he discovers that he’s a father and tries to raise baby Hope with the reluctant help of his dysfunctional family.

• Set on the other end of the class divide, “Running Wilde” (8:30 p.m., Fox) stars Will Arnett (“Arrested Development” and “30 Rock”) as Steven Wilde, a spoiled and selfish trust-funded tycoon who sees his driver, Migo (Mel Rod-riguez), and butler, Mr. Lunt (Robert Michael Morris), as his only friends.

Into his life returns Emmy (Keri Russell), the daughter of a fired servant and the childhood crush he never forgot. She’s a super-liberal environmentalist and anthropologist. Sparks fly, with the help of her daughter, Puddle (Stefania Owen), who doesn’t much care for mom’s life in the jungle or her ridiculous activist fiance (David Cross).

“Wilde” reunites Arnett and Cross with the writers and producers of “Arrested Development.” While that show was innovative, aspects of “Wilde” often seem like a throwback to old sitcoms and movies about dimwitted tycoons dating back to screwball comedy or “Gilligan’s Island.” And that’s not a bad thing.

• Michael Imperioli (“Life on Mars”) returns as Fitch, a gruff homicide detective in “Detroit 1-8-7” (9 p.m., ABC). Like every police veteran since time began, Fitch resents his partner and has a troubled back story that we’ll learn more about if this series survives (longer than say, “Life on Mars”). “Detroit” makes much of its city’s grim scenery and reputation for senseless murder. Fitch displays an uncanny ability to cajole confessions and surrender from hardened criminals, often without saying anything at all. I call him the perp-whisperer.

Tonight’s season premieres

• Gibb’s team become targets on “NCIS” (7 p.m., CBS).

• Tears and pounds will be shed on “Biggest Loser” (7 p.m., NBC).

• A new school year opens with budget cuts on “Glee” (7 p.m., Fox).

• On two helpings of “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS), a missing agent (8 p.m.), a hit squad tracked (9 p.m.).

Tonight’s other highlights

• The “30 for 30” film “The House of Steinbrenner” (7 p.m., ESPN) examines the legacy of the late Yankees owner.

• A new threat looms on the season finale of “Warehouse 13” (8 p.m., Syfy).

• A difficult balancing act on “Parenthood” (9 p.m., NBC).

• The “P.O.V.” (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings) documentary “The Oath” examines jihadist philosophy.