“Knight Rider” (9 p.m., NBC): A dashing man of few words, and a souped-up car that did

“Knight Rider” (9 p.m., NBC): A dashing man of few words, and a souped-up car that did his talking for him: That was the David Hasselhoff hit “Knight Rider” of the 1980s. In NBC’s new TV-movie version, the car is even more fabulous (not only can it speak, it can also shape-shift, and its artificial intelligence possesses infinite knowledge). It’s driven by Sarah Graiman, a 24-year-old grad student at Stanford University whose genius father designed it. But now dad’s been kidnapped. Sarah (at the wheel of the Knight Industries Three Thousand, or KITT) must track him down. To help, she enlists her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer, a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger. Peel rubber! Deanna Russo (“The Young and the Restless”) plays Sarah, Justin Bruening (“All My Children”) is Mike, and “the Hoff” even makes a guest appearance. This new, retooled “Knight Rider” airs tonight at 9. And be warned: Its likely destination is a weekly series slot on NBC next season.

“Ultimate Recipe Showdown” (9 p.m., Food Network): They’ve cooked up yet another TV food fight. “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” has regular folks competing to see who can produce their favorite dishes under the glare of the spotlight and the pressure of a live audience. Contestants compete in six categories: Chicken, Burgers, Comfort Foods, Cakes, Pasta and Cookies. The winner nabs $25,000.

“Brothers & Sisters” (10 p.m., ABC): In the last original episode of “Brothers & Sisters” filmed before the strike, Nora begins to realize that Isaac (Danny Glover) isn’t the guy she thought he was, and she isn’t exactly thrilled. Meanwhile, Robert and Jason finally hash things out.

“Bulging Brides” (10 p.m., WE tv): What do you do if you’re engaged to be married but can’t stuff yourself into your wedding dress? You say “I do” to “Bulging Brides,” a new reality series that follows brides-to-be as they try to shed unwanted pounds and inches in an effort to fit into their gowns. Personal trainer Tommy Europe and nutrition specialist Nadeen Boman put the women through an intense six-week regimen. Back-to-back half-hour episodes start with Kymm, who figured — mistakenly — that if she bought her wedding dress two sizes too small, she would feel obliged to become a gym rat. Then we meet junk-food junkie Sarah, who’s bummed out about her oversized bum.

“Dexter” (10 p.m., CBS): Dexter Morgan enjoys his job as a blood-spatter expert with the Miami Police Department. He has a cabin cruiser and a home by the water. And a passion: He’s a serial killer. It’s always good to have a hobby to keep you out of trouble. Dexter, a sociopath who copes in pro-social ways, stalks and executes bad people that the cops and courts have let slip through the cracks: “The ones,” explains Dexter, “that think they beat the system.” A hit for two seasons on Showtime, “Dexter” now comes to CBS as a beneficiary of the just-concluded writers strike and the dearth of programming that resulted. This is the first time a full season of a premium cable drama is making the leap to network television, says CBS, and all the ghoulishness is pretty much intact. Just certain four-letter words are excised. Starting at the beginning on Sunday at 10 p.m. EST, the series quickly establishes Dexter’s modus operandi — and rocks his world with the onset of a rival serial murderer: the mysterious Ice Truck Killer, taunting Dexter with corpses and other clues. Reasonable people can disagree on whether “Dexter” belongs on broadcast TV (likewise for CBS-originated series such as the depraved “Criminal Minds” and “CSI”). In any case, “Dexter” is a fascinating drama, and Michael C. Hall (“Six Feet Under”) cuts to the quick as the title character.