‘Brothers’ works most of the time

Are viewers looking for entertainment comfort food for hard times?

The folks behind “Brothers” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) must think so.

NFL legend Michael Strahan plays Mike Trainor, a financially challenged New York bon vivant who rushes home when his mother, Adele (CCH Pounder), informs him that his dad, Coach (Carl Weathers), has suffered a stroke.

This forces Mike to share the house with his estranged, paralyzed brother, Chill (Daryl Chill Mitchell).

For all of the obvious, not-quite-good-enough one-liners and intrusive laugh-track moments, “Brothers” works more than half the time.

Not every sitcom can handle one brother’s bankruptcy, another’s disability and Coach’s creeping dementia without getting overly sentimental or maudlin.

Season premieres

Melinda gives birth on “Ghost Whisperer” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).

A veteran’s death sparks an investigation on “Law & Order” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Clark enters training on “Smallville” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).

Allison struggles to regain her gift on “Medium” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

Summer Glau joins the cast of “Dollhouse” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

An activist needs protection on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

Other highlights

Evil toys confound a neighborhood on “Monk” (9 p.m., USA, TV-PG).

Two-part harmony, one part murder on “Psych” (10 p.m., USA, TV-PG).

Late night

Hugh Laurie appears on “The Jay Leno Show” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Bruce Willis, LL Cool J and the Noisettes appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Conan O’Brien hosts Teri Hatcher, Seth MacFarlane and Rodrigo Y Gabriela on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC)