SUNNYSIDE 9:30 p.m. on NBC. Kal Penn, the comic actor who made a name for himself in “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” and “House,” added the title of government employee to his résumé when he stepped away from acting to work in President Barack Obama’s White House. That political experience adds a certain amount of credibility to this series, which Penn stars in and is a creator of. He plays Garrett Modi, a disgraced former New York City councilman who starts a new gig helping a group of immigrants in Queens navigate the citizenship process. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Penn described an early conversation he had when he was conceptualizing the show. “Thematically, this sounds cheesy, but I love making people laugh, and I love America,” he recalled saying. “It would be great if we could do a show that makes people do both of those together.” Also debuting on NBC Thursday is PERFECT HARMONY, which will air at 8:30 p.m. It stars Bradley Whitford as a snooty music professor who takes over leadership of a small-town church choir.

UNTOLD STORIES OF HIP HOP 10 p.m. on WE TV. The veteran hip-hop radio host Angie Martinez helms this new show, which promises candid interviews with A-list rappers. On offer in the first episode: conversations with Cardi B and Snoop Dogg.