Cops and corruption loom large in “The Chicago Code” (8 p.m., Fox), a new police drama created by Shawn Ryan, a producer behind “The Shield.”

Jennifer Beals stars as Teresa Colvin, the city’s first female police superintendent. She’s determined to take on the city’s notorious corruption, and that puts her at odds with powerful politician Ronin Gibbons (Delroy Lindo), a real estate tycoon turned city alderman, a man more powerful than the mayor. Legendary officer Jarek Wysocki (Jason Clarke) has his doubts about Colvin’s noble efforts, but certain events change his mind.

In addition to his decorations and reputation, Wysocki has a thing about officers using profanity and goes through new partners on a weekly basis. This allows “Code” to trade in some cliche buddy-cop banter localized to reflect the tension between fans of the Cubs or White Sox. Beals’ flat Chicago accent seems to come and go like a not-so-prevailing wind. In contrast, Lindo brings a certain oily gravitas to his role as the corrupt fixer. Not so much bad as less-than-compelling, “Code” hews much closer to “Blue Bloods” than “The Shield.”

• The documentary “Reagan” (8 p.m., HBO) takes a warts-and-all look at the 40th president and examines Ronald Reagan’s life, political career and posthumous ascent into mythic status.

Like many important figures, Reagan appears to be in the eye of the beholder. Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki interviews many Reagan biographers and members of his administration. But the most telling observations come from the president’s two sons. Michael Reagan, a radio talk show host, has devoted years to his father’s legacy and is seen leading tour groups to Reagan sites and extolling his heroic virtues. Ron Reagan Jr. has recently released a book about his father and has tried to understand a man whom even admirers describe as emotionally opaque.

The president’s namesake and several biographers describe a young man raised by an alcoholic father, who tended to filter out the negative and fix on the virtuous. He became a lifesaver, radio announcer, actor, corporate spokesperson and politician driven by the desire to make things right, to save people and take on the bad guys. Efforts to separate the man from his performance have stymied opponents, pundits and biographers for decades. And no one can deny that Reagan appealed to his greatest audience, the American voters.

• The network that brought you cupcake shops, toddler pageants and cake bosses looks at the world of balloon art on “The Unpoppables” (7 p.m., TLC).

l Hosted by Niecy Nash all week, “Way Black When” (9 p.m., TV One) looks at the pop culture of the 1980s.

Tonight’s other highlights

• Cuddy’s mother (Candice Bergen) needs a doctor but refuses to consult House on “House” (7 p.m., Fox).

• Fleming tries to unmask “The Cape” (8 p.m., NBC). Chad Lindberg (“I Spit on Your Grave”) guest stars.

• After Junior fires him for insubordination, Odie goes to Senior for advice on “American Chopper” (8 p.m., Discovery).

• A witness vanishes on “Hawaii Five-O” (9 p.m., CBS).

• Malcolm and Tommy seem too close on “Harry’s Law” (9 p.m., NBC).

• Winning the lottery can be murder on “Castle” (9 p.m., ABC).