TV today

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 4, 2016

8 p.m. on 2, 9, “BattleBots” — The field of mechanical competitors is reduced even more in the new episode, “Not So Sweet 16: The Round of 16 Part 1,” with — as the title indicates — the 16 entrants still in the contest battling, quite literally, to remain in it. Fon Davis, Jessica Chobot and guest judge Michael Stevens of YouTube fame (as “Vsauce”) pass judgment on the individual bouts … though, in most cases, it’s likely to be apparent who wins. ESPN’s Samantha Ponder is the host.

8 p.m. on 5, 8, “Rio Olympics Preview Special” — With just over two weeks of coverage about to begin, an overview of the athletes and events that will keep many eyes riveted on Rio de Janeiro is entirely appropriate — and this hourlong special provides it. There’s a lot to these games, and not all of it on the field of competition, since concerns about preparedness and health safety have been voiced. While this report is likely to factor those in, it also will survey the range of included sports and nations.

8 p.m. on 6, “The Big Bang Theory” — Leonard (Johnny Galecki) pays a visit to a psychiatrist (guest star Jane Kaczmarek, “Malcolm in the Middle”) at the urging of Penny (Kaley Cuoco), who ultimately comes to regret she recommended it, in “The Sales Call Sublimation.” Sheldon and Raj (Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayar) try to make names for themselves in astronomy. Howard and Bernadette (Simon Helberg, Melissa Rauch) have a hard time adjusting to Stuart’s (Kevin Sussman) absence.

10:03 p.m. on HIST, “Ice Road Truckers” — The fearless truckers have confronted frustrating and even occasionally terrifying challenges in their previous nine seasons, but as this hit unscripted series returns for its milestone season 10, the drivers may finally have met their match: climate change. Global warming and the fickle El Niño deliver a winter unlike any that has gone before, and one that is likely to be very short. That lends a sense of urgency to every load they undertake and moves the drivers to set aside personal profit to help those most in need.