TV Best Bets

Sunday, Oct. 21: ‘The Simpsons’ Halloween Treat ‘Treehouse of Horror XXIX’

THE SIMPSONS ™ and © 2018 TCFFC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

ALSO SEE: NFL Regular Season Schedule 2018

All Times Eastern.

Sunday, Oct. 21

The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXIX”
FOX, 8pm

In the annual spooktacular, Homer wins an oyster-eating contest against the mythical creature Cthulhu, Springfield is overrun by podlike body-snatchers and Mr. Burns opens a Jurassic Park-like retirement home.

Dancing With the Stars: Juniors: “Disney Night”
ABC, 8pm
Who knows how far they’ll go? It’s the always popular Disney Night on the dance floor, and the nine remaining kid competitors will perform to the studio’s biggest hits. Expect tunes from The Little Mermaid (“Poor Unfortunate Souls”), Moana (“How Far I’ll Go”) and Toy Story (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”). Tomorrow, the flagship’s grownup stars strut their own stuff to House of Mouse selections.

Supergirl: “Fallout”
The CW, 8pm

A shocking revelation causes chaos in National City. Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) sets out to capture Mercy Graves (guest star Rhona Mitra), while Alex (Chyler Leigh) takes control at the DEO. Brainy (Jesse Rath) meets Nia (Nicole Maines) and the two end up in a precarious situation.

Good Witch: “Tale of Two Hearts”
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!

When Cassie’s (Catherine Bell) precious family heirloom — a red ruby known as “The Heart of Middleton” — goes missing from a museum exhibit, the residents of Middleton start to doubt their Halloween spirit. James Denton and Bailee Madison also star.

90 Day Fiancé
TLC, 8pm
Season Premiere!

The rocky path from valentines to visas is tested for six new U.S./international pairs. Kalani, a Mormon from California, must convince her family that Samoan fiancé Asuelu — father of her baby — is the One.

God Friended Me: “Error Code 1.61”
CBS, 8:30pm

In the new episode “Error Code 1.61,” the God Account leads Miles (Brandon Micheal Hall) and Cara (Violett Beane) to the Hayden Planetarium, where they meet a woman (guest star Annaleigh Ashford) who is searching for a long lost love.

Shark Tank
ABC, 9pm

A mother-daughter duo is passionate about their healthy vegan soups; an entrepreneur pitches his new tool to make it simpler to invest in crypto-currency; a New York chef wants to expand his vegan sushi restaurants across the nation; and in an emotional pitch, siblings from Long Island, N.Y., present the product of their late father, an NYC firefighter whose dream was to pitch on Shark Tank but who passed away before he could.

Charmed: “Let This Mother Out”
The CW, 9pm

After getting a message from the spirit board to not trust Harry (Rupert Evans), the sisters are conflicted and ultimately concoct a plan to see if he is telling the truth. Harry soon realizes that the sisters are up to no good and tries to help before it’s too late. This new sisterly unit is not fully unified, with Mel (Melonie Diaz) and Macy (Madeleine Mantock) struggling with who’s the real big sister, and Maggie (Sarah Jeffery) caught in the middle.

Alaska: The Last Frontier
Discovery Channel, 9pm

Tonight on the Kilcher family’s life-in-the-wild docuseries: Otto’s son Levi moves back after two decades away! And now that Atz Sr. has built a floating homestead, the Yule Tide, where should he drop anchor?

Family Guy: “Big Trouble in Little Quahog”
FOX, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!

Sir Patrick Stewart and NBA star Kyrie Irving lend their voices to this episode where, after Brian teases Stewie for being small, Stewie invents a shrinking machine that reduces both of them to a microscopic size.

Shameless: “Down Like the Titanic”
Showtime, 9pm
Midseason Finale!

The scrappy Gallagher family has a perfect new foil (and love interest) for William H. Macy’s boozy patriarch, Frank: psychiatric patient Ingrid Jones (Katey Sagal of Married…With Children fame).

NCIS: Los Angeles: “Hit List”
CBS, 9:30pm

The NCIS team is in danger after their pictures and some personal information are included on a cartel hit list. Guest star Gerald McRaney returns in the new episode “Hit List.”

The Alec Baldwin Show
ABC, 10pm

Reality star, entrepreneur and cultural phenom Kim Kardashian West spends the hour talking to Alec about her famous family including husband Kanye West, her impressive journey from reality star to entrepreneur, and her recent political advocacy.

Caribbean Life: “Raising a Family on St. John”
HGTV, 10pm
Season Premiere!

Pack extra sunscreen for back-to-back episodes! First, a family of four leaves the Lone Star State behind to look for a St. John beachside abode. Then, an active couple opts for the sands of Roatán over the snow of North Dakota.

The Woman in White
PBS, 10pm
New Series!

Walter Hartright encounters Anne, a woman dressed all in white, on Hampstead Heath and learns she escaped from a nearby asylum. Walter falls in love with his pupil, Laura Fairlie, but she’s set to marry Sir Percival Glyde, who put Anne in the asylum.

Madam Secretary: “The Rake”
CBS, 10:30pm

Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) flies to Fashion Week in Milan to confront the Chinese foreign minister over an anti-sweatshop treaty in the new episode “The Rake.”

Monday, Oct. 22

Arrow: “The Longbow Hunters”
The CW, 8pm

In order to track down Diaz (Kirk Acevedo) from inside prison, Oliver (Stephen Amell) realizes that he must align with an old enemy. Meanwhile in Star City, Felicity’s (Emily Bett Rickards) attempts to root out Diaz are thwarted by Diggle (David Ramsey), whose allegiance to ARGUS now requires him to keep civilians like her on the outs.

Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram
HBO, 8pm

This gripping documentary follows the plight of “The Chibok Girls,” a group of 276 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the Islamic jihadist group Boko Haram in 2014. In 2017, 82 of the girls were released and, after they were taken to a government safe house in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, the filmmakers of Stolen Daughters were granted exclusive access to them. The film shows how the young women are adapting to life after their long imprisonment and how the Nigerian government is handling their re-entry into society.

The Voice: “The Battles, Part 3”
NBC, 8pm

The battle rounds continue, and surprises abound as the artists take on songs ranging from ’80s country to modern pop hits, which lead to electrifying performances and debilitating decisions. With plenty of steals left in play, the coaches are eager to fill their teams with the best talent. The battle rounds continue tomorrow night.

The Strange Life of Dr. Frankenstein
TCM, 8pm

Two hundred years ago, 19-year-old Mary Shelley published her classic and influential novel Frankenstein. This documentary examines the book and its eternal theme — humanity’s quest for the secret of life — and delves into how Shelley’s novel retains an extraordinary modernity two centuries after it first appeared.

Happy Together: “About Your Parents”
CBS, 8:30pm

In the new episode “About Your Parents,” Jake (Damon Wayans Jr.) is determined to prove that he can take care of an ill Claire (Amber Stevens West) without relying on her parents.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: “The Virgin Gary”
The CW, 9pm
Season Premiere!

The Arrowverse’s group of misfits head into Season 4 with a new member — Constantine (Matt Ryan), the demon hunter fans first met as the star of his own short-lived NBC drama — and a magical mess to clean up. Having softened the barrier between worlds during their battle with demonic Mallus, the Legends may have also freed a slew of mythical creatures.

Magnum P.I.: “Sudden Death”
CBS, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!

Pop music icon Cyndi Lauper guest-stars as an unscrupulous lawyer in the new episode “Sudden Death,” in which Magnum (Jay Hernandez) takes on the case of a young football player’s father accused of murder.

9-1-1: “Dosed”
FOX, 9pm

When the first responders race to the rescue of a crashed news helicopter, they become the subject of an eager reporter’s first on-air assignment.

T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle
VH1, 9pm
New Series!

Musicians and entrepreneurs T.I. and Tamika “Tiny” Harris expand their empire with this latest reality series. The lives of the hip hop family has been covered by VH1 before, but this time the series includes their friends, who just happen to be fellow members of Atlanta hip hop music including Monica, LeToya Luckett and Toya Wright.

Who Is America?
Showtime, 9:30pm

The man who brought us Borat and Da Ali G Show — Sacha Baron Cohen — has been experimenting in the playground of 2018 America with new characters in his fake interview show. In this repeat episode, Cohen poses as Dr. Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., a reporter for “Truthbrary.org,” and interviews former Congressman Barney Frank, and then later poses as an anti-terror expert. The episode ends with a strange interview/meet-up with O.J. Simpson.

Welcome to Waverly
Bravo, 10pm
New Series!

Taking place in Waverly, Kansas, where the population is 563, the new four-part docuseries breaks down what happens when big city sensibility meets small town values. Seven professionals from major metropolitan areas will each be paired up to work alongside a local counterpart in their respective industries for six weeks. The series airs nightly until its conclusion this Thursday.

Manifest: “Connecting Flights”
NBC, 10pm

Stories unfold for those left behind in the aftermath of Flight 828’s disappearance. Meanwhile, in the present, Cal (Jack Messina) takes Ben (Josh Dallas) on a mysterious adventure that awakens Ben to his son’s perplexing abilities. Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) tries to protect Jared (J.R. Ramirez) from consequences at work, while keeping her romantic feelings at bay.

X Company: “Friendly Fire”
Ovation, 10pm

Sinclair (Hugh Dillon) and Krystina (Lara Jean Chorostecki) join the team in Berlin as they plan to assassinate the man who could win the war for the Nazis.

POV: “The Apology”
PBS, 10pm

Meet three of the 200,000 former “comfort women” kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Seventy years after their imprisonment, they give their firsthand accounts of the truth.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

The Conners: “The Separation of Church and Dan”
ABC, 8pm

When Geena (Maya Lynne Robinson) learns that D.J. (Michael Fishman) hasn’t been taking Mary (Jayden Rey) to church while she’s been away, she insists they go as a family. To make matters worse, Mary refuses to attend without her cousins Harris (Emma Kenney) and Mark (Ames McNamara), leaving D.J. in the last situation he wants to be in — at the mercy of Darlene (Sara Gilbert).

NCIS: “Fragments”
CBS, 8pm

In the new episode “Fragments,” the NCIS team works to exonerate a Marine serving a life sentence for murder after the discovery of a 50-year-old tape recording of the victim.

The Flash: “The Death of Vibe”
The CW, 8pm

After Cicada’s (Chris Klein) attack on The Flash (Grant Gustin), the team realizes they need to think outside the box to stop this dangerous new foe. Desperate to help her parents, Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy) comes up with a plan that ultimately puts a member of Team Flash in danger.

Major League Baseball: World Series: Game 1
FOX, 8pm Live

FOX has exclusive coverage of the 114th World Series beginning with Game 1 tonight at the home park of the league champion with the better regular-season record. Game 7, if necessary, is scheduled for Oct. 31.

NHL Hockey: San Jose at Nashville
NBCSN, 8pm Live

Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks head to Music City for a matchup against Filip Forsberg and the Nashville Predators.

The Great American Read
PBS, 8pm
Series Finale!

After months of waiting and millions of votes, Meredith Vieira reveals America’s best-loved novel.

The Kids Are Alright: “Timmy’s Poem”
ABC, 8:30pm

To Peggy’s (Mary McCormack) dismay, Timmy (Jack Gore) decides to enter a poetry contest to win the money he needs to repair his ventriloquist dummy. Stumped, he decides to plagiarize a poem and soon realizes he’s not the only one who passed it off as his own. Meanwhile, Lawrence (Sam Straley) complains that there are no fresh vegetables in the family’s diet.

black-ish: “Don’t You Be My Neighbor”
ABC, 9pm

The neighbors decide to rent their house out and it’s causing problems for the Johnsons. Dre (Anthony Anderson) develops a newfound joy of calling the cops over petty neighborhood issues but begins to question the example he is setting for Jack (Miles Brown). Diane (Marsai Martin) develops her first crush and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) wants to help but lets Zoey (Yara Shahidi) take the lead.

FBI: “Doomsday”
CBS, 9pm

In the new episode “Doomsday,” Special Agents Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) and OA Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) investigate the death of a safety inspector and its possible connection to a leak at a nuclear power plant.

This Is Us: “Toby”
NBC, 9pm

Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby (Chris Sullivan) try to keep busy while waiting for big news. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) embarks on a new journey. Kevin (Justin Hartley) meets someone from his father’s past.

Native America: “From Caves to Cosmos”
PBS, 9pm
New Series!

Learn about some of the most advanced cultures in human history, and the Native American people who created them and whose legacy continues to this day. The first episode looks to answer a 15,000-year-old question: Who were America’s First Peoples? The answer hides in Amazonian cave paintings, Mexican burial chambers, New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon and waves off California’s coast.

Splitting Up Together: “Asking for a Friend”
ABC, 9:30pm

Afraid that the answer could ruin his chances with Lena (Jenna Fischer), Martin (Oliver Hudson) finds every way he can to avoid asking Lisa Apple (Monica Barbaro) if she is pregnant. At the same time, Lena worries Mason (Van Crosby) is changing himself to please his new girlfriend and finds parallels to her own relationship with Martin.

The Rookie: “Crash Course”
ABC, 10pm

Talia (Afton Williamson) forces Nolan (Nathan Fillion) to confront his personal moral instincts in order to be a good cop after he encounters a kidnapping victim. Meanwhile, Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) is temporarily placed with a new training officer who tests her patience, and Jackson (Titus Makin) must confront his failures head-on if he wants to be an officer.

NCIS: New Orleans: “In the Blood”
CBS, 10pm
Guest Star Alert!

NCIS: New Orleans celebrates its 100th episode with a guest appearance by Stacy Keach and a musical performance by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. In “In the Blood,” Cassius Pride (Keach) is wrapped up in an NCIS case involving a notorious unsolved casino heist from several years ago.

Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island
Lifetime, 10pm
New Series!

This spinoff follows a group of former Married at First Sight participants as they get a second chance at love. These 16 participants — including fan favorites and unmatched candidates from previous seasons, plus some new faces — have the opportunity to travel to an exotic island and possibly find love. After they choose their own partners with guidance from Married at First Sight experts Dr. Jessica Griffin and Pastor Calvin Roberson, they start to forge deep connections and work on falling in love. At the end of their stay, each couple must decide whether they want to get married or leave the island alone.

New Amsterdam: “Cavitation”
NBC, 10pm

A journalist visits New Amsterdam to shadow Max (Ryan Eggold) and learn about the hospital. Bloom (Janet Montgomery) and Reynolds (Jocko Sims) have a major disagreement after she makes a call against protocol, and Kapoor (Anupam Kher) deals with issues from his past.

The Guest Book: “Finding Reality”/“Under Cover”
TBS, 10pm
Season Premiere!

In the first part of this hourlong season premiere, Vivian (Carly Jibson) and Eddie (Eddie Steeples) leave Mt. Trace to make a fresh start in a small beachside town, where they meet Nikki (Kimiko Glenn, Orange Is the New Black) and Tommy (Dan Beirne, Fargo), the engaged couple running Emmy Lou’s Grill and vacation home Barefeet Retreat; and Bodhi (Jimmy Tatro, American Vandal), the local handyman. The second half sees two people renting a room at the Barefeet Retreat to lure in their next mark. Guest stars include Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and Sufe Bradshaw (Veep).

Chris Jericho: Hunting Monsters
Travel Channel, 10pm

In this hourlong special, WWE champ and entertainer Chris Jericho searches for legendary swamp creatures in southern Louisiana.

The Purge: “The Giving Time Is Here”
USA Network, 10pm

Lila (Lili Simmons) grapples with rejection, while Miguel (Gabriel Chavarria) and Penelope (Jessica Garza) seek the safety of the Cantina.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

The Goldbergs: “Mister Knifey-Hands”
ABC, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!

Despite Beverly’s (Wendi McLendon-Covey) wishes, Jackie’s (Alexis G. Zall) parents allow Adam (Sean Giambrone) to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street and a disagreement between the families ensues. But Beverly dreams of facing off with horror icon Freddy Krueger (guest star Robert Englund), which teaches her an important lesson about her son’s relationship with Jackie.

Riverdale: “Chapter Thirty-Eight: As Above, So Below”
The CW, 8pm

When a series of suspicious roadblocks threaten to delay the opening of the speakeasy, Veronica (Camila Mendes) enlists help to ensure opening night goes off without a hitch. Elsewhere, Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Jughead (Cole Sprouse) follow different leads to learn more about the strange incidents going on in the town.

2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards
Hallmark Channel, 8pm

This inspiring annual awards ceremony searches out and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs in seven different categories: Law Enforcement/Arson Dogs, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Guide/Hearing Dogs, and Emerging Hero Dogs (the category for “ordinary” dogs who do extraordinary things).

Chicago Med: “What You Don’t Know”
NBC, 8pm

When things become complicated, Will (Nick Gehlfuss) is forced to lie to Natalie (Torrey DeVitto). Ethan (Brian Tee) and April (Yaya DaCosta) find out some compromising information about Emily’s (Arden Cho) boyfriend, and Ava (Norma Kuhling) is unsure of what to do with a patient who is refusing treatment.

Nature: “Super Cats: Extreme Lives”
PBS, 8pm
New Miniseries!

Meet the planet’s ultimate cats. Cheetahs are the fastest animal on land. A snow leopard searches for a mate in the Himalayas. The Canada lynx lives farther north than any cat. An African leopard fights to raise a cub in the worst drought in decades.

Top 10 Deadliest Beasts
Smithsonian Channel, 8pm

This two-hour special counts down the top 10 deadliest predators ever to roam planet Earth. From iconic killers like the T. rex to bizarre beasts like giant terror birds and ferocious sea scorpions, the filmmakers travel worldwide to uncover the astonishing truth about these incredible creatures.

Horror Stars: Bela Lugosi
TCM, beginning at 8pm

Enjoy a chilling evening of classic movies starring iconic horror actor Bela Lugosi. The night kicks off with White Zombie (1932), and also includes Mark of the Vampire (1935), The Devil Bat (1940) and more.

American Housewife: “Trust Me”
ABC, 8:30pm

When Taylor (Meg Donnelly) decides she wants to go to a Halloween party, Greg (Diedrich Bader) and Katie (Katy Mixon) disagree on whether or not she can be trusted. Oliver (Daniel DiMaggio) and Cooper (Logan Pepper) anxiously try to prepare for playing a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven with their dates at a separate Halloween event. A pregnant Viv (Leslie Bibb) follows Katie around, trying to get help preparing for her baby before it arrives.

SEAL Team: “All That Matters”
CBS, 9pm

The bonds among tough, loyal SEAL Team leader Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz), his unit and his family are unbreakable — until something terrible happens to make Jason come unglued. “It drives him to consider leaving the team,” Boreanaz says of the action-packed two-part story that starts tonight and continues next week. “He’s been striving to keep them together, but then everything falls on top of him.”

All American: “i”
The CW, 9pm

Spencer (Daniel Ezra) and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) spend an unexpected day together in Crenshaw and Jordan gets his first taste of real life in South Central L.A. Meanwhile, Billy (Taye Diggs) struggles with his identity as a father as Olivia (Samantha Logan) and Layla (Greta Onieogou) attempt to rekindle their friendship. Coop (Bre-Z) faces her own truth, coming clean to her parents about being gay.

Modern Family: “Good Grief”
ABC, 9pm

It’s another epic Halloween full of costumes, tricks and treats for the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker clan as they deal with huge, unexpected news.

Chicago Fire: “A Volatile Mixture”
NBC, 9pm

Working alongside a journalist, Casey (Jesse Spencer) does some digging into the cause of a trailer park fire. Boden (Eamonn Walker) hits his breaking point while Mouch (Christian Stolte), Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Cruz (Joe Minoso) work to figure out why Molly’s isn’t performing up to expectations.

NOVA: “Flying Supersonic”
PBS, 9pm

Uncover the history of the Concorde, the passenger plane that flew from the late ’70s until 2003 at twice the speed of sound. Today, scientists are working to build a new generation of quieter, greener and cheaper supersonic passenger planes.

Single Parents: “Politician, Freemason, Scientist, Humorist and Diplomat, Ben Franklin”
ABC, 9:30pm

Will (Taran Killam) is crushed when Sophie (Marlow Barkley) wants to tone down Halloween and invites a boy over. Poppy (Kimrie Lewis) and the twins attempt to convince a reluctant Douglas (Brad Garrett) to wear a silly costume; after he finally puts it on, he meets the woman of his dreams. Angie (Leighton Meester) struggles to tell her boss that she needs to leave work to be with her son on Halloween.

A Million Little Things: “the game of your life”
ABC, 10pm

Gary (James Roday) attempts to plan a romantic date with Maggie (Allison Miller) with the intentions of getting her to open up about a secret she has been hiding. Eddie (David Giuntoli) begins to understand the sacrifices Katherine (Grace Park) has made and attempts to stall Theo’s (Tristan Byon) play as a grand gesture to win her back. Rome (Romany Malco) takes steps to consult with a doctor.

Criminal Minds: “Innocence”
CBS, 10pm

In the new episode “Innocence,” the BAU helps local law enforcement isolate a prime suspect for a ritualistic murder in Tallahassee, Fla.

Chicago P.D.: “Fathers and Sons”
NBC, 10pm

While undercover, Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) discovers his father (guest star Jack Coleman) is working for a suspected drug dealer and is forced to ask the question: Is his dad involved?

Thursday, October 25

‘Demons Inside’ Marathon
AMC, beginning at 10am

Catch a daylong marathon of spooky flicks, starting with The Exorcist III and also including The Omen (2006), The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Exorcist II: The Heretic, Annabelle, the AMC network premiere of Prince of Darkness and a special edition of The Exorcist, as the film celebrates its 45th anniversary.

College Football
ESPN & FS1, beginning at 7pm Live

Thursday primetime college football features a Big 12 matchup with the Baylor Bears at the West Virginia Mountaineers on FS1. On ESPN, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets visit the Virginia Tech Hokies in an ACC game.

The Big Bang Theory: “The Imitation Perturbation”
CBS, 8pm

When Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) dresses up as Sheldon for Halloween, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) seeks retaliation at Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) Halloween party in the new episode “The Imitation Perturbation.”

Grey’s Anatomy: “Everyday Angel”
ABC, 8pm

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) reaches out to Teddy (Kim Raver). Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) hide out near Betty’s (Peyton Kennedy) school after she becomes a flight risk. Jo (Camilla Luddington) wants to get to work on the fellowship, but Bailey’s (Chandra Wilson) attention is elsewhere.

Supernatural: “The Scar”
The CW, 8pm

Still trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Dean (Jensen Ackles), Sam (Jared Padalecki) enlists the help of Sheriff Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes), who may unknowingly already be on the case. Castiel (Misha Collins) continues to be a father figure to Jack (Alexander Calvert), who surprises even himself when a life is on the line.

Superstore: “Costume Competition”
NBC, 8pm

When an employee costume competition is announced, Amy (America Ferrera) and Mateo (Nico Santos) aren’t afraid to play dirty to win first prize — a paid day off. Meanwhile, Glenn (Mark McKinney) is preoccupied by Cloud 9’s new automatic cart collector, and Garrett (Colton Dunn) is tormented by an annoying Halloween novelty song.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics visit Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles to face LeBron James and the Lakers.

NFL Football: Miami at Houston
FOX & NFL Network, 8:20pm Live

Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill faces a tough test against J.J. Watt and the Texans defense at Houston’s NRG Stadium for this Week 8 clash on Thursday Night Football.

Young Sheldon: “Seven Deadly Sins and a Small Carl Sagan”
CBS, 8:30pm
Guest Star Alert!

Guest star Jason Alexander returns as drama teacher Mr. Lundy in the new Halloween episode “Seven Deadly Sins and a Small Carl Sagan,” in which Mary (Zoe Perry) clashes with Mr. Lundy over plans for a Halloween fundraiser for the church.

The Good Place: “The Ballad of Donkey Doug”
NBC, 8:30pm

Jason (Manny Jacinto) visits with some people from his past while Chidi (William Jackson Harper) gets help in resolving a problem.

Station 19: “Lost and Found”
ABC, 9pm

Everyone is less than enthusiastic when Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe) assigns each member of the crew a specialty skill to learn. During a house call, Ryan (Alberto Frezza) is caught off guard when he comes face-to-face with someone from his past. Sullivan, Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz) and Maya (Danielle Savre) handle a structure fire in a derelict building.

Mom: “Flying Monkeys and a Tank of Nitrous”
CBS, 9pm

When Marjorie’s (Mimi Kennedy) husband passes away, the ladies accompany her on a trip to memorialize him in the new episode “Flying Monkeys and a Tank of Nitrous.”

Legacies
The CW, 9pm
New Series!
A spinoff of popular shows The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, this new drama follows a group of magical teenagers as they learn to control and harness their dangerous powers. Will they be able to overcome their dark pasts and work together to fight the monsters terrorizing their small town? Legacies promises plenty of drama, tons of terrifying beasts and some familiar faces in Mystic Falls.

Murphy Brown: “The Girl Who Cried About Wolf”
CBS, 9:30pm

In the new episode “The Girl Who Cried About Wolf,” Murphy (Candice Bergen) is exasperated when she learns Frank (Joe Regalbuto) is dating an anchor, Christy Shepherd (guest star Katie Finneran), from the competing Wolf Network.

I Feel Bad: “I’m a Massive Hypocrite”
NBC, 9:30pm

After hearing Lily (Lily Rose Silver) and a friend make fun of Louie (Rahm Braslaw), Emet (Sarayu Blue) worries her daughter is becoming a snob and thinks it would benefit Lily to spend more time with her brother. But Emet’s hypocrisy comes to light when she can’t bear to be around her own annoying cousin.

Nightwatch Nation: “We Are Nightwatch Nation”
A&E, 10pm
Season Finale!
Tonight marks the end of the first season of the Dick Wolf-produced series that follows multiple teams of brave men and women who stop at nothing to keep America safe while we sleep.

S.W.A.T.: “S.O.S.”
CBS, 10pm

The new episode “S.O.S.” was filmed on the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. Hondo (Shemar Moore) and Chris (Lina Esco) go undercover to infiltrate and take back a cruise ship that’s under siege by drug smugglers who will execute passengers if they detect police onboard.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: “Exile”
NBC, 10pm

A young woman wakes up in the hospital with no memory of her assault, and Carisi’s (Peter Scanavino) investigation stalls when she disappears.

Deutschland 86
SundanceTV, 12am (late-night)
Season Premiere!

This sequel to the 2015 German series Deutschland 83 shifts gears from John le Carré spy territory to a geopolitical thriller worthy of high-end Robert Ludlum. Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay), an East German soldier recruited three years earlier to cross into West Berlin as an undercover agent, has been in exile since. An elaborate scheme to raise money for the impoverished Communist regime sends Martin and his calculating Aunt Lenora (Maria Schrader) to South Africa. They aim to sell military arms to enemy forces of Botha’s apartheid government. Harrowing complications ensue, catapulting the action to the Libyan desert and eventually to Paris. Miss The Americans? Pledge allegiance to Deutschland.

Friday, Oct. 26

Castlevania
Netflix
Season Premiere!

The animated series based on the classic video game franchise returns. Trevor Belmont (voice of Richard Armitage), last survivor of his house, is no longer alone, and he and his misfit comrades race to find a way to save humanity from extinction at the hands of Dracula (Graham McTavish) and his vampire war council.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix
New Series!

Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka plays the title role in this series inspired by the Archie Comics character Sabrina the Teenage Witch. But this is not the Melissa Joan Hart Sabrina viewers may be used to; the dark coming-of-age series is inspired by the graphic novels of the same name and is said to be tonally in the vein of The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. Featuring horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft, the drama finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her half-witch/half-mortal nature while standing against evil forces.

“Hellraiser” Marathon
AMC, beginning at 9am

Don’t be a Pinhead! Catch films from the Hellraiser series all day long.

MacGyver: “Dia de Muertos + Sicarios + Family”
CBS, 8pm

MacGyver (Lucas Till) and Jack (George Eads) rush to Mexico to help Oversight (Tate Donovan) after an attempt to capture a drug cartel leader goes wrong in the new episode “Dia de Muertos + Sicarios + Family.”

Dynasty: “The Butler Did It”
The CW, 8pm

Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) gets in over her head and needs help from Liam (Adam Huber) and Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley). Kirby (Maddison Brown) makes a shocking discovery that changes everything, while Blake (Grant Show) wines and dines a new guest (Ana Brenda Contreras).

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: “I’m on My Own Path”
The CW, 9pm

As Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) contemplates her feelings about her career, Paula (Donna Lynne Champlin) is forced to deal with a big client (guest star Nia Vardalos). Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III) tries to get back in the dating game, while Heather (Vella Lovell) and Hector (Erick Lopez) deal with insurance.

Midnight, Texas: “Head Games”
NBC, 9pm
Season Premiere!

The supernatural thriller based on Charlaine Harris’ bestselling book series is back for Season 2. After defeating the demon Colconnar, the residents of Midnight try to go back to life as it was, but the balance they thought they were regaining becomes threatened by the opening of a mysterious new hotel in town.

Shakespeare Uncovered: “‘The Winter’s Tale’ With Simon Russell Beale”
PBS, 9pm

Beale uncovers the romance and betrayals of The Winter’s Tale and shows that in this play Shakespeare offers something for which everyone longs: the ability to make amends for an irreversible mistake. “Richard III With Antony Sher” follows, comparing the historical king’s reputation with the play’s enduring portrait of ruthless ambition and vengeance.

Z Nation: “Pacifica”
Syfy, 9pm

Warren (Kellita Smith) and George (Katy M. O’Brian) search for Lt. Dante (Zack Ward), who may be part of an underground network helping Talkers flee human vigilantes.

Blue Bloods: “Thicker Than Water”
CBS, 10pm

In the new episode “Thicker Than Water,” Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Baez (Marisa Ramirez) investigate a murder attempt against a celebrated fertility doctor with a seemingly pristine reputation.

Van Helsing: “Rusty Cage”
Syfy, 10pm

Sam (Christopher Heyerdahl) comes to realize his dark destiny and tries to groom Mohamad (Trezzo Mahoro) to be a worthy partner. Scab (Rowland Pidlubny) and Ivory (Jennifer Cheon) are bestowed Daywalker powers and return home to find the Sisterhood in ruins.

Channel Zero: The Dream Door
Syfy, 11pm
Season Premiere!

The fourth installment of this horror anthology series based on “creepypasta” online tales is inspired by Charlotte Bywater’s short story that follows newlyweds Jillian and Tom, who have each brought secrets into their marriage. When they discover a strange door in their basement, those secrets start to threaten their relationship — and their lives. Episodes of The Dream Door air every night this week up to the season finale on Halloween night (Oct. 31), which serves as the main event for Syfy’s 31 Days of Halloween programming.

Tracey Ullman’s Show
HBO, 12am (late-night)

You know the saying “she has a face for radio”? Well, actress and impersonator Tracey Ullman has a face for anyone — making Season 3 of her HBO sketch show a gut buster. Our fave characters: German chancellor Angela Merkel practicing how not to roll her eyes at other politicians, and Duchess Camilla Parker Bowles taking the step-grandkids for a playdate to a children’s gym. (Quote: “I’ve been looking for something like that ever since Charles said we’re not allowed to chase them with dogs.”)

Saturday, Oct. 27

College Football
CBS, beginning at 3:30pm Live

CBS airs two college football games today, starting with the famed SEC rivalry game between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. The second game, tonight, is the annual meeting between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen, held this year at San Diego County Credit Union Stadium.

“Friday the 13th” Marathon
AMC, beginning at 5pm

You’ll never look at an antique hockey mask the same way again after watching Friday the 13th I-IX and Friday the 13th (2009).

Christmas at Pemberley Manor
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
A modern-day Elizabeth Bennett (Jessica Lowndes) helps billionaire William Darcy (Michael Rady) find his holiday spirit as she plans a holiday festival on the estate that he’s hoping to sell.

Storm of Suspicion: “Blizzard Betrayal”
The Weather Channel, 9pm

The Weather Channel seizes its opportunity to get in on the true-crime genre with this new series spotlighting cases that somehow involve Mother Nature. In tonight’s “Blizzard Betrayal,” a wife heads out on a snowy evening walk in November and never returns. When police find her body, though, they suspect foul play — not frigid temps.

Versailles: “Crime and Punishment”
Ovation, 10pm

Seeking retribution, Louis (George Blagden) lashes out at the Parisian rebels, though Philippe (Alexander Vlahos) urges a more reasoned response. Word from Spain casts doubt on Marie-Thérèse’s (Elisa Lasowski) intentions, while Sophie’s (Maddison Jaizani) loyalties are tested.