What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Challenge to the challengers

The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras

Monkey see, monkey do! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, August 14!

Our Top Pick tonight is 40th season premiere of The Challenge (MTV, 8 p.m. / Paramount+, Thursday). This long-running competition series started as an all-stars sibling for MTV's Real World and Road Rules. Over the years, it has evolved to a contest of extreme athletic challenges from contestants from all types of reality shows and some TV rookies. This all-star-esque season pits some of the show's top competitors in 4 groups of eras (every 10 seasons). Most, but not all are rooted in MTV shows. [*LaFergs nods approvingly*]

Elsewhere, Vince Vaughn is a Bad Monkey, Mickey Hart has Rhythm, Bandits are on a mission, MasterChef has a birthday, Discovery goes on multiple Expeditions, and Netflix has the Worst Ex Ever.

(All times are Eastern. All listings are new unless otherwise stated. For more listings, visit The Futon Critic or Zap2it.)

ON THIS SITE

🍽️ Feed Me (Afternoon): A recipe for discussion and to talk about what you're doing in your kitchen.

EARLY STREAMING & EVENING

Bad Monkey (Apple TV+, midnight): "SERIES PREMIERE. After getting bounced from the Miami PD, a former detective (Vince Vaughn) is demoted to restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys. An unusual new case might get him back in the department if he can get past a trove of oddballs, and one bad monkey."✔️

🎥 Daughters (Netflix, 3 a.m.): In this documentary, "4 young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail."✔️

Sunny (Apple TV+, midnight): "Mixxy is sucker-punched by the realities of her friendship with Suzie. Himé confronts Jin."

Time Bandits (Apple TV+, midnight): Saffron saves the day in an icy situation. Penelope faces off with a tribal chief. Bittelig puts his heart into a rescue mission.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

American Murder: Laci Peterson (Netflix, 3 a.m.): Season 1

💲 Beat the Bridge (GSN, 6 p.m.)

In the Arena: Serena Williams (ESPN+, 3 a.m.)

🇰🇷 The Tyrant (Hulu, midnight): Season 1

💲 Trivia Loop (AXS TV, 6:30 p.m.)

Worst Ex Ever (Netflix, 3 a.m.): Season 1

🕗 8 P.M. EASTERN / 🕖 7 P.M. CENTRAL

⭐ The Challenge (MTV / Paramount+, Thursday): SEASON PREMIERE. The Challengers arrive at their first challenge, but are shocked when they learn they will start by competing within their eras. Politics begins immediately.

MasterChef (Fox / Hulu, Thursday): The chefs turn to their baking skills when tasked with making a celebratory birthday cake. The chefs work in teams to create a dish using a mystery box filled with different food items from their generation.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (TBS)

America's Got Talent (NBC / Peacock, Thursday)

Big Brother (CBS / Paramount+, Thursday)

Bargain Mansion (Magnolia): Season premiere

💲 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC / Hulu, Thursday): Zach Braff & Donald Faison; Ike Barinholtz & Alan Barinholtz

🕘 9 P.M. EASTERN / 🕗 8 P.M. CENTRAL

Rhythm Masters: A Mickey Hart Experience (ESPN / Hulu, Thursday): SPECIAL. "Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's breath-taking score, combined with exclusive stories and insight from elite athletes, helps show the depths of the universal rhythm found in music, sports, and life."

WHAT ELSE IS ON

Claim to Fame (ABC / Hulu, Thursday)

Expedition X (Discovery Channel / Max, Thursday): Season premiere

Good Bones (HGTV/ Max, Thursday): Season premiere

Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles (Bravo / Peacock, Thursday)

Pawn Stars (History)

The Real CSI Miami (CBS / Paramount+, Thursday)

🕙 10 P.M. EASTERN / 🕘 9 P.M. CENTRAL

The Ark (Syfy / Peacock, Thursday): "A disturbing rescue mission raises questions about Eva's past."

WHAT ELSE IS ON

Expedition Bigfoot (Discovery Channel / Max, Thursday): Season premiere

Ms. Pat Settles It (BET & BET Her)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo, 10:15 p.m. / Peacock, Thursday): Sean Evans, Charlamagne Tha God

Wayne Brady: The Family Remix (Freeform / Hulu, Thursday)

💤😴 LATE NIGHT 😴💤

📺 Suddenly Susan (Rewind TV, 2 a.m.): Susan discovers that Maddy is an alcoholic, and Todd purchases an expensive set of food storage containers.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

The Daily Show hosted by Desi Lydic (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. / Paramount+, Thursday): Mark Duplass

Jimmy Kimmel Live! with guest host Jeff Goldblum (ABC, 11:35 p.m. / Hulu, Thursday): Greg Kinnear, Janet McTeer, Waxahatchee

Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, 12:36 a.m. / Peacock, Thursday): Casey Affleck, Meredith Hagner
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 p.m. / Paramount+, Thursday): Alex Wagner, Ali Macofsky

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 p.m. / Peacock, Thursday): Kim Kardashian, Daveed Diggs, Charlie Vickers, Jessica Keenan

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Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
📡: Linear broadcast

🇰🇷: Korean Drama
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback

✔️: Video/gif/photo included

Happy watching, everyone!