Neal Justin's TV picks for Sept. 21: 'Lethal Weapon,' 'Empire,' 'Law & Order: SVU'

The stature of the "Lethal Weapon" franchise was already diminished by a progressively insipid series of sequels and Mel Gibson's off-screen behavior, so there's nothing this TV version can do that will make you forget the original film. In fact, Clayne Crawford is quite engaging as the slightly less unhinged Riggs, and Damon Wayans, an action lead in his prime, embraces his place as a sidekick who is getting too old for this you-know-what. As recycled material goes, this doesn't reek as bad as I expected it would.

7 p.m. KMSP, Ch. 9

"Empire" may no longer qualify as "hot with a bullet" on any pop-culture charts, but that hasn't stopped celebrities from joining the guest list. Taye Diggs, Mariah Carey, Kid Cudi and rapper Birdman are all expected to stop by in hopes that they'll get cut down by Taraji P. Henson before rumors that she's been fired for diva behavior actually turn out to be true.

8 p.m. KMSP, Ch. 9

After 18 years on the job, you can expect star Mariska Hargitay to float in and out of this new season of "Law & Order: SVU," if only to collect a paycheck or get signed to a spinoff all her own. But she is front and center in the premiere, defending a sexual-assault victim accused of being part of a terrorism attack, a plot that gives TV's longest-running drama permission to touch on at least four controversies in the headlines. When will Hargitay — and audiences — have had enough?

8 p.m. KARE, Ch. 11

Neal Justin