Three new series use the economic downturn as part of their premise, and each is a tad depressing in its own way.

A sitcom based on a book inspired by a Twitter feed, “$! My Dad Says” (7:30 p.m., CBS) stars Jonathan Sadowski as Henry, a recently laid-off journalist reduced to borrowing money from his estranged father, Ed (William Shatner), a cantankerous Vietnam vet without an internal censor, given to the frank and abrupt pronouncements that give the show its title.

“Mad TV” regulars Will Sasso and Nicole Sullivan return as Henry’s successful brother, Vince, and sister-in-law, Bonnie.

“Dad” unfolds like a fairly predictable sitcom with a handful of sets, an over-active laugh track and an onslaught of one-liners with a bad-to-funny ratio of about 4 to 1. To call the show’s tone uneven and weird is an understatement. But like Shatner’s many hammy put-ons, it could attract attention.

• A show based on mining jokes from getting foreigners to understand the meaning behind plastic fake vomit might not seem well thought out. But if anything, “Outsourced” (8:30 p.m., NBC) seems saddled with too many high concepts.

For starters, it’s a show about downsizing. Up-and-comer Todd (Ben Rappaport) has to move to India when his order-fulfillment center for a novelty company is shut down and outsourced. There he contends with subservient stereotypes (the nerd; an angry and resentful native; the gorgeous Bollywood type; the undermining sycophant; and the sharp lackey who quickly assimilates American slang and attitudes.)

Todd may be the boss, but he faces a major dilemma. What if foreigners, with their thriving economies, just don’t understand, or much care about, shoddy American pop-culture products? That’s an almost existential question and a nightmare for every Hollywood filmmaker and TV producer. Few laughs here.

• “My Generation” (7 p.m., ABC) offers proof that the fake-documentary format is better suited to satire. The grimly serious and pretentious scripted series uses the documentary format to follow up members of the class of 2000 from a Texas High School. What follows is pure soap opera, with a few sound booms and rough edits thrown in to make it seem “real.”

At least two students lost their family fortunes to the Enron scandal, a promising jock joined the Army the day after 9/11 (but not before marrying the school’s “rebel”), and the shy girl got pregnant after the prom but has waited nine years to inform the dad. Just in time for “My Generation”!

Tonight’s season premieres

• Sheldon goes on his first date on “The Big Bang Theory” (7 p.m., CBS). New to Thursdays.

• Betty White guest stars on “Community” (7 p.m., NBC).

• A mysterious child leads the way on “Bones” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Jack intervenes in Liz’s new relationship on “30 Rock” (7:30 p.m., NBC).

• Langston clings to life on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

• Michael clings to a new hire on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• Olivia fights to return on “Fringe” (8 p.m., Fox).

• The staff reels after the big cliffhanger on “Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m., ABC).

• After facing Red John, Jane wonders if he still belongs on the team on “The Mentalist” (9 p.m., CBS).

• Violet anticipates her big day on “Private Practice” (9 p.m., ABC).