HBO's Succession Plots a Hostile Takeover of Sunday Night

The time is ripe for a new HBO series to seize the popular imagination, and seeing as how media and politics are dominating the news cycle these days, Succession, with its soapy drama and timely parallels to real life, seems poised to be the network's next breakout hit.

Other options today include the investigation of a long-rumored government research program (that may have inspired Stranger Things), the surprising stories behind your favorite snack foods, and Showtime's final look at the origins of Fox News. Here are the highlights.

SEASON PREMIERE: Though it got off to a low-key start last year, HBO's Succession ultimately amassed an audience of dedicated fans, who watched as the wealthy Roy family battled for control of a worldwide media empire. The fact that the family in question bore a striking resemblance to News Corp's Murdoch clan undoubtedly attracted curious viewers, but the show's mix of high drama and sharp humor kept them tuning in week after week. The show's second season begins tonight. Watch the preview. 9:00 PM ET on HBO

SERIES PREMIERE: The History Channel's three part series The Food That Built America explores the surprising and often dramatic stories behind many of our seemingly mundane pantry staples. From ketchup, to fast food, to cornflakes, viewers may be surprised by the origin stories of the everyday items in their cabinets. Watch the preview. 9:00 PM ET on History Channel

SERIES PREMIERE: The Travel Channel's new series Strange World kicks off with an episode entitled Zombie Boys, which investigates a series of government experiments involving mind control and time travel rumored to have taken place at Montauk Air Force Base on Long Island. Tales of these experiments have been cited as inspiration for Netflix's Stranger Things. 10:00 PM ET on Travel Channel

MADE FOR TV MOVIE: Candace Cameron Bure (Full House) stars as Aurora Teagarden in the second of three original movie mysteries premiering this month. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For finds our hero investigating a case of poisoning during a wedding reception. Niall Matter and Marilu Henner (Taxi) co-star. 9:00 PM ET on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries

ALSO TONIGHT:

• Teen Choice 2019 lets kids 13 and up pick the winners in a variety of categories involving the top performers in movies, music, television, sports, fashion, and more.  8:00 PM ET on FOX
• The Loudest Voice wraps its seven part look at the career of Fox News founder Roger Ailes (as played by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe).  10:00 PM on Showtime
• Grantchester wraps its fourth season of small towncrime solving. 9:00 PM ET on PBS
• Jamestown concludes the third season of this series from the makers of Downton Abbey. 10:00 PM ET on PBS

Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.