“Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem” (8 p.m., History Channel): Their names still resonate:

“Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem” (8 p.m., History Channel): Their names still resonate: Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, Machine Gun Kelly, John Dillinger. All were part of an 18-month run of robberies, killings and kidnappings in 1933-34, when V-8 engines and bulletproof vests often gave criminals an edge. This two-hour special blends archival footage and re-enactments to revisit the notorious personalities who drew headlines and spawned the FBI’s war on crime.

“When Weather Changed History” (9 p.m., Weather Channel): Weather’s role in key events is spotlighted in this weekly one-hour series. The first episode revisits the 1986 launch of space shuttle Challenger, which exploded after an O-ring seal failed partly because of unusually low temperatures. A future program deals with the 1925 diphtheria epidemic near Nome, Alaska, when temperatures of 50 degrees below zero threatened dog sled drivers delivering lifesaving medicine. Another episode looks at the severe weather that hampered troops in World War II’s Battle of the Bulge.

“The Wire” (9 p.m., HBO): “It’s Baltimore. No one lives forever.” Alas, that line, uttered by fictional mayor Tom Carcetti (Aidan Gillen), also applies to this fantastic crime series, which launches its fifth — and final — season tonight. Each year “The Wire” explores a different social issue and this time around the show is interested in the diminishing power of the press in an era of downsizing and competition from the Internet. According to creator David Simon, it’s also about “just how far you can go on a lie” as we find Det. James McNulty (Dominic West) fabricating evidence in order to bring more attention and manpower to the investigation of drug kingpin Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector). As usual, the novelistic story is harrowing and bleak, but also deeply engrossing.

“American Gladiators” (9 p.m., NBC): It’s a battle of the buff and beautiful as “American Gladiators” returns. Yes, the cheesy 1990s competition show is back with male and female Gladiators touted as being “bigger and badder than ever.” (Watch for the steroid investigations). They’ll take on brave amateurs in contests such as Joust and Power Ball. Wimps and girly girls need not apply.

“The L Word” (9 p.m., Showtime): The lovely, lively ladies of “The L Word” return tonight to kick off Season 5 of the groundbreaking drama. Picking up where we left off, Helena is in jail and no one can reach her mother. Meanwhile, Jenny schemes her way to directing “Lez Girls,” the movie. Cybill Shepherd returns as a special guest star.

“Cashmere Mafia” (10 p.m., ABC): You might think of “Cashmere Mafia” as oddly related to “Lipstick Jungle,” which, also set in the Manhattan business world, stars Brooke Shields and premieres on NBC next month. “Cashmere Mafia” can be most easily identified as the one that premieres this week on ABC and stars Lucy Liu. She plays Mia, who, with Zoe (Frances O’Connor), Juliet (Miranda Otto) and Caitlin (Bonnie Somerville), are four ambitious, sexy women who have been best friends since business school — and who now, as they rise in their respective fields, continue to lend support and counsel to one another. They need it. Problems are always arising. These competitive women encounter pushback from colleagues, and even, sometimes, from their own mates. On the premiere, hotel magnate Juliet discovers trouble at home — her husband is cheating on her. And Mia’s engagement is put to the test when she and her fiancé are pitted against each other for the same top-level position.