TV'S BEST BETS

"Parco, P.I." (10 and 10:30 p.m., Court TV): This is a new unscripted series that tracks private investigator Vinny Parco and his brood of gumshoes as they search for clues, expose secrets and catch perps. His team includes headstrong daughter Danielle, unruly twin sons Chris and Vinny Jr., and no-nonsense wife Carol, all of whom spend hours working the phones and grilling contacts to help Vinny dig up information for his Intercontinental Investigations clients. Cheating spouses? Corrupt business partners? Even jewel thieves? It's all in a day's work on "Parco, P.I.," which premieres with two back-to-back half-hours.
"MTV Video Music Awards" (8 p.m., MTV): Will it be a Green Day night? The band is up for eight awards and is among the scheduled performers at the 22nd annual event, which airs from Miami. Also on the bill: Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and Shakira.
"Rome" (9 p.m., HBO): Love, lust and political lechery run rampant in this lavishly produced new drama series that starts in 52 BC, when Rome has grown to be the wealthiest -- and perhaps the most depraved -- city in the world. Much of the sweeping saga is seen through the eyes of two ordinary soldiers in Julius Caesar's 13th Legion. In addition to plenty of soap opera excesses, the series contains graphic violence and sexually explicit scenes.