TV Best Bets

Friday, Oct. 21: Great Performances: “Hamilton’s America”

Great Performances: Hamilton's America Credit: Joan Marcus

All Times Eastern.

Friday, Oct. 21


Great Performances: “Hamilton’s America”
PBS, 9pm
Great Performances follows the creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pop culture Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and the history behind the show. Includes interviews with Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Questlove, Jimmy Fallon, Nas, Stephen Sondheim and more.

Black Mirror
Netflix
New Season!
Charlie Brooker’s outstanding, six-episode anthology series taps into our collective unease with the modern world. Each stand-alone episode is a sharp, suspenseful tale exploring themes of contemporary techno-paranoia.

College Football
ESPN & ESPN2, beginning at 7pm Live
Primetime college football matchups tonight are South Florida at Temple (ESPN), San Jose State at San Diego State (ESPN2) and Oregon at California (ESPN).

Last Man Standing: “Trick or Treat”
ABC, 8pm
The Baxter family is excited for their annual Halloween party — except for Mike (Tim Allen), who’s also been tasked with choosing the theme. Hoping to put the kybosh on the tradition, Mike tells everyone to dress like another member of the family — then he shows up as Donald Trump. Can Vanessa’s (Nancy Travis) setback bring the bickering clan back together?

MacGyver: “Toothpick”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Toothpick,” MacGyver (Lucas Till) must fix a sabotaged train in order to protect a whistleblower who has proof that her boss is selling weapons to U.S. enemies.

The Vampire Diaries: “Hello Brother”
The CW, 8pm
Season Premiere!
The eighth, and final, season kicks off months after Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) mysteriously vanished from the armory vault. Stefan (Paul Wesley) searches tirelessly for them, while Bonnie (Kat Graham) struggles to hold onto hope that they will be found.

Dr. Ken: “D.K.’s Korean Ghost Story”
ABC, 8:30pm
Allison (Suzy Nakamura) is disappointed that Halloween doesn’t seem scary to Dave (Albert Tsai) anymore. But after D.K. (Dana Lee) tells a scary Korean gwishin (ghost) story — featuring members of the Park family and the Welltopia gang bringing the tale to life — she discovers her little boy might not be as grown-up as he seems.

Hawaii Five-0: “Ke Kū ’Ana (The Stand)”
CBS, 9pm
When a cache of guns is stolen from a gun range, Five-0 discovers the culprit is intent on making a dramatic and potentially deadly statement on gun violence in the new episode “Ke Kū ’Ana (The Stand).”

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
The CW, 9pm
Season Premiere!
In the Season 1 finale of the quirky musical comedy, Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) told her longtime crush Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III) that she moved to West Covina to be with him. Yikes! Now that the stalker-y cat is out of the bag, we can’t wait to see what Rebecca does — and sings about — next.

The Exorcist: “Chapter Five: Through My Most Grievous Fault”
FOX, 9pm
We had a feeling that The Exorcist was gonna pull out all of the stops for Halloween.
As the storm of the century descends upon Chicago, Father Tomas (Alfonso Herrera) and Marcus (Ben Daniels) engage the demon in scary, spiritual warfare.

Z Nation: “Doc Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
Syfy, 9pm
Doc is captured by the residents of a mental hospital and must help them escape.

Blue Bloods: “For the Community”
CBS, 10pm
Erin (Bridget Moynahan) and Anthony (guest star Steve Schirripa) try to prevent the deportation of a prominent community activist (guest star Judy Reyes, Devious Maids) who isn’t a citizen, in the new episode “For the Community.”

Van Helsing: “Nothing Matters”
Syfy, 10pm
Vanessa and Susan are pursued through the sewers by mutated feral vampires and arrive back at the safety of the hospital only to find the aftermath of a hostile takeover. Vanessa then hatches a plan to take it back by force.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Transformers Rescue Bots: “Upgrades/Transformations”
Discovery Family Channel, 8am
Season Finale!
In the first of two back-to-back episodes, the evil genius Doctor Morocco returns to wreak havoc when Optimus Prime splits the Rescue Bots into different teams for new assignments. Then, Doctor Morocco hatches a bold new plot to defeat the Rescue Bots by becoming one of them.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: “To Where and Back Again”
Discovery Family Channel, 11am
Season Finale!
In Part 1 of the two-part season finale, Starlight Glimmer assembles an unlikely team of heroes to defend Equestria from the return of one of its greatest threats. In Part 2, she leads an unlikely squad of rescuers against one of the ponies’ oldest and greatest foes.

Death of a Vegas Showgirl
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
Roselyn Sanchez (Devious Maids) and her husband Eric Winter (Witches of East End) executive produce this new Lifetime movie, based on a true story of sex and betrayal. In Las Vegas, two ultra-talented dancers, Jason “Blu” Griffith (Danso Gordon, Saving Hope), and showgirl Debbie Flores (Sanchez), become involved in a tumultuous romance that spirals into obsession and spins out of control. On the eve of achieving her dream — a starring role on the Vegas stage — Debbie vanishes without a trace. The investigation into her disappearance reveals the twisted depth of this tragic love story that ends in a sordid murder that shocked the world with its gruesome details.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
BBC America, 9pm
New Series!
Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), this dramedy stars Elijah Wood as a lovable loser who lands in the middle of a bizarre murder investigation led by socially inept psychic Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett, Penny Dreadful).

Rats
Discovery Channel, 9pm
Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary is both enlightening and terrifying as he turns his cameras on those nasty little varmints — rats. Inspired by Robert Sullivan’s New York Times best-selling book, Rats goes deep beneath the surface to explore the lives of man’s greatest parasite. Spurlock goes inside parks, subway tunnels and sewers, but also travels the globe to give us new perspectives on infestations, revered rats and more.

Good Witch: Secrets of Grey House
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!
A popular fantasy author is inspired to hold the launch party for her latest book in Middleton. But as the town comes together to prepare for the event, Cassie (Catherine Bell) comes to an important realization.

Shadows of the Dead
Syfy, 9pm
Original Film!
A group of teenagers tries to escape a creature that lives among the shadows and is hunting them down.

Versailles: “Bow to Your King”
Ovation, 10pm
Philippe returns victorious from the front, while attacks continue outside Versailles. The king invites the biggest noble families to Versailles to celebrate the peace treaty.

Saturday Night Live
NBC, 11:30pm Live
Tom Hanks hosts SNL for his ninth time, joined by musical guest Lady Gaga, who will be making her third appearance on the show.

Sunday, Oct. 23

NFL Football: N.Y. Giants vs. Los Angeles (London)
NFL Network, 9:30am Live
The NFL heads overseas again for this matchup at London’s Twickenham Stadium as the N.Y. Giants take on the L.A. Rams, airing on NFL Network Sunday morning in the U.S.

Tom Cruise Movie Marathon
FX, beginning at 10:30am
Catch a marathon of Tom Cruise’s action films today on FX beginning with Knight and Day (2010) and continuing with Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011), Oblivion (2013) and Jack Reacher (2012).

Jean of the Joneses
TV One, 7pm
TV One offers the television premiere of this film festival sensation that costars Sherri Shepherd, Michelle Hurst, Gloria Reuben and Erica Ash, with Taylour Paige as the title character. The film follows Jean and her multigenerational family of loving women. In the wake of tragedy, this matriarchal clan uncovers secrets that will ultimately teach their family a powerful lesson of acceptance.

Bob’s Burgers: “Teen-A-Witch”
FOX, 7:30pm
When Tammy steals Tina’s brilliant costume idea, Tina seeks the help of Mr. Ambrose, who encourages her to dabble in the dark arts to win the annual costume contest.

The Simpsons: “Trust but Clarify”
FOX, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!
Newsman Dan Rather plays himself when Springfield news anchor Kent Brockman struggles to adapt to the changing news industry.

NCIS: Los Angeles: “Ghost Gun”
CBS, 8:30pm
The murder of a navy machinist with high security clearance sends the NCIS team on a citywide hunt tracking evidence in the new episode “Ghost Gun.”

The Walking Dead
AMC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
“I remember, right before I walked out of the trailer for the first time, this weird calm came over me. … I knew what I had to do,” says Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Good Wife, Supernatural) of joining the venerable zombie drama as the Saviors’ murderous, bat-wielding leader Negan. Too bad what he had to do was bash in the head of one of the Grimes Gang — and likely break viewers’ hearts, too. But a key Alexandrian ally also arrives this season in Khary Payton’s King Ezekiel, tiger-taming leader of The Kingdom, where Carol (Melissa McBride) and Morgan (Lennie James) have landed.

Family Guy: “Inside Family Guy”
FOX, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
Actors James Woods and David Tennant, along with Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman, guest-voice an episode that takes viewers behind the scenes of a week of Family Guy production.

Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9pm
Original Film!
Kellie Martin stars in a new film series based on characters from Nancy Grace’s New York Times best-selling series of Hailey Dean Mystery novels. Hailey Dean (Martin) is a former prosecutor who now helps others as a therapist. But when a parent of one of her patients dies, Hailey suspects foul play and finds herself searching for truth and seeking justice. Grace will make an appearance in the film.

Madam Secretary: “South China Sea”
CBS, 9:30pm
In the new episode “South China Sea,” U.S. environmental activists protesting China’s damage of a South China Sea reef are arrested for spying, and Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) finds herself in a stalemate with the Chinese foreign minister as she lobbies for their release.

Talking Dead
AMC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Who takes to the couch to talk over The Walking Dead’s Season 7 premiere? Find out when Chris Hardwick switches gears from talking Fear to talking Dead.

Edge of Alaska
Discovery Channel, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Built during the Gold Rush in the early 1900s, McCarthy, Alaska, once was a thriving, vibrant city. The area is more than 100 miles from the closest city and now has fewer than 50 residents. Discovery Channel’s cameras continue to capture the eclectic group of individuals living in these extreme conditions in the third season of the popular series.

Elementary: “Render, and Then Seize Her”
CBS, 10:30pm
Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) learns a secret about Captain Gregson’s (Aidan Quinn) girlfriend (guest star Virginia Madsen) when she hires him for a case she wants kept off of Gregson’s radar in the new episode “Render, and Then Seize Her.”

Monday, Oct. 24

The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” Marathon
FXX, beginning at 6pm
The Simpsons’ classic “Treehouse of Horror” episodes are featured this week on FXX. Tonight’s episodes begin with the first “Treehouse of Horror” from Season 2 and run through Season 13’s “Treehouse of Horror XII.”

Supergirl: “Welcome to Earth”
The CW, 8pm
Guest Star Alert!
As debate rages over alien vs. human rights issues, Lynda Carter (OMG, it’s Wonder Woman!!) lands in National City as President Olivia Marsdin. When an attack is made on her life, Supergirl and the DEO are assigned to protect the president and find the responsible party.

The Voice: “The Knockouts, Premiere”
NBC, 8pm
The coaches enlist key advisers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to prepare their artists for the knockout rounds. Part 2 of the knockout rounds airs tomorrow night.

NFL Football: Houston at Denver
ESPN, 8:15pm Live
Two of the NFL’s great defensive stars are showcased on Monday Night Football as J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans visit Von Miller and the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

Man With a Plan
CBS, 8:30pm
New Series!
In this new sitcom, Matt LeBlanc plays Adam, a contractor who takes on a more active role in parenting when his wife (Liza Snyder) decides to go back to work full time. But no amount of planning can prepare Adam for just how difficult a parent’s job can be.

2 Broke Girls: “And the Godmama Drama”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “And the Godmama Drama,” Oleg (Jonathan Kite) and Sophie (Jennifer Coolidge) want to have Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) as Barbara’s godparents, but that plan is derailed when Oleg’s domineering mother, Olga (guest star Mercedes Ruehl), arrives from Ukraine for the baby’s baptism.

The Odd Couple: “Food Fight”
CBS, 9:30pm
Guest Star Alert!
When Oscar (Matthew Perry) learns that his favorite hangout is in financial trouble, he impulsively asks Felix (Thomas Lennon) to help save it, without considering the disastrous consequences. Fred Willard guest-stars in the new episode “Food Fight.”

Scorpion: “Plight at the Museum”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Plight at the Museum,” Team Scorpion’s simple job at a Los Angeles museum turns deadly when they discover thieves robbing a rare gem exhibit in order to get materials needed to enrich a nuclear bomb.

Timeless: “Party at Castle Varlar”
NBC, 10pm
Lucy (Abigail Spencer), Wyatt (Matt Lanter) and Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) are shocked when they’re told the mothership has landed in Nazi Germany, but time is short, and they’re the only ones equipped to kill Flynn (Goran Visnjic) and end his psychotic crusade. The team weighs the consequences of Flynn’s destruction, meets the man behind one of literature’s most popular figures, and endures a very uncomfortable “party.”

POV: “Thank You for Playing”
PBS, 10pm
When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife document their emotional journey with a video game, “That Dragon, Cancer.” It evolves from a cathartic exercise into an acclaimed work of art.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

The Middle: “Halloween VII: The Heckoning”
ABC, 8pm
As Halloween approaches, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) finds out that the kids would all choose to live with Mike (Neil Flynn) if the pair ever divorced. Sue (Eden Sher) plots to get her room back from Brick (Atticus Shaffer), and having to be nice around April (Greer Grammer) all the time causes Axl (Charlie McDermott) to freak out on his family.

NCIS: “Shell Game”
CBS, 8pm
After a kidnapped petty officer escapes her captor, NCIS uncovers a connection to her missing husband in the new episode “Shell Game.” Former NFL player Tony Gonzalez returns in his guest role as an NCIS special agent.

MLB: World Series, Game 1
FOX, 8pm Live
FOX has exclusive coverage of the 112th World Series as the American League champion Cleveland Indians host Game 1 at Progressive Field tonight.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
It’s opening night of the NBA regular season, and TNT starts things off with a doubleheader featuring the N.Y. Knicks at the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the San Antonio Spurs at the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors.

American Housewife: “Westport Zombies”
ABC, 8:30pm
Jealous of Taylor’s (Meg Donnelly) friendship with neighbor Viv (Leslie Bibb), Katie (Katy Mixon) reluctantly competes in the Westport Halloween “Zombie Run” when she finds out they are, too. Meanwhile, Greg (Diedrich Bader) and Anna-Kat (Julia Butters) get a little too far into character for the zombie part of the run’s obstacle course.

Fresh Off the Boat: “Louisween”
ABC, 9pm
Halloween is Louis’ (Randall Park) favorite holiday, but he discovers Jessica (Constance Wu) is more interested in writing her first horror novel than participating in his hijinks. Meanwhile, Emery (Forrest Wheeler) and Evan (Ian Chen) debate costume options, and Eddie (Hudson Yang) and his crew are excited to party with high-school kids at Nicole’s (Luna Blaise) house.

No Tomorrow: “No Holds Barred”
The CW, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
Jenna Dewan Tatum (Supergirl) guest-stars as Xavier’s polyamorous, free-spirited friend Tuesday, whose actions encourage Evie to test her own personal boundaries.

Game of Homes: “Showdown to Show Home”
Discovery Family Channel, 9pm
Season Finale!
The teams of amateur home renovators have just 24 hours to correct their mistakes from previous challenges before host Cameron Mathison welcomes the public to view the finished houses. Their vote, along with the views of the judges, will award one team a new house and a plot of land.

Dead Silent
Investigation Discovery, 9pm
New Series!
This series explores the psychological terror of a true crime story set in a desolate location.

This Is Us: “The Game Plan”
NBC, 9pm
Rebecca and Jack get into an argument about starting a family; the family backstory behind the long line of love for the Pittsburgh Steelers is revealed; after accepting his part in the play, Kevin realizes his script is relevant to his own life; Randall and Beth encounter an unexpected turn of events.

American Masters: “Norman Lear”
PBS, 9pm
Discover how the prolific creator of All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Good Times effected social change through his groundbreaking sitcoms and activism. Features George Clooney, Amy Poehler, Jon Stewart, Russell Simmons and others.

Channel Zero: Candle Cove: “Want to See Something Cool?”
Syfy, 9pm
Mike must convince Gary that Candle Cove is behind the murders before he takes justice into his own hands. Meanwhile, Marla, Jessica and Amy frantically search for Mike before it’s too late.

The Real O’Neals: “The Real Halloween”
ABC, 9:30pm
Guest Star Alert!
When Halloween— or, as Kenny (Noah Galvin) calls it, “the gay Super Bowl” — arrives, he plans to go to Boystown to watch the costume parade. To prevent that, Eileen (Martha Plimpton) agrees to let him throw his own Halloween party at home, but her tolerance is tested when Kenny recruits Stuart (Caleb Pierce) and his gay friends to join the party and makes a big costume change. Meanwhile, Jimmy (Matt Shively) and Shannon (Bebe Wood) plot an epic Halloween prank. ESPN’s Neil Everett guest-stars.

NCIS: New Orleans: “Course Correction”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “Course Correction,” the NCIS and FBI investigate a private plane crash in the bayou that killed three sailors.

The Renovation King: “Family Barbecue/The Ensuite Retreat”
Discovery Family Channel, 10pm
Season Finale!
Renovation expert Barry Du Bois is the man with a plan to turn the humblest place into a palace. And in back-to-back episodes, Barry helps a busy family turn a neglected BBQ area into an outdoor dining space, and then transforms a run-down junk room into a relaxing en suite retreat.

Married With Secrets
Investigation Discovery, 10pm
New Series!
This series explores the true stories of seemingly happy marriages that have ended in dark and unexpected twists. From high-school sweethearts who run a deadly sex ring, to a neighborhood power couple with a secret stalking obsession to a wife hiding her escort side job from her husband, this series reveals romances turned to modern-day nightmares.

Chicago Fire: “Scorched Earth”
NBC, 10pm
Casey (Jesse Spencer) enlists Susan Weller (guest star Lauren Stamile) to help with an urgent personal matter, Severide (Taylor Kinney) receives an offer to travel luxuriously with rich party guy Travis Brenner (guest star Scott Elrod) and Stella (Miranda Rae Mayo) uses all her resources to help a sick street kid after saving him during a tunnel fire.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

The Goldbergs: “Stefan King”
ABC, 8pm
Stephen King fan Adam (Sean Giambrone) tries his hand at horror writing, but when Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) learns the monster in his story is based on her, his Halloween plans are jeopardy. Meanwhile, dateless Erica (Hayley Orrantia) forces Barry (Troy Gentile) to go to a costume dance with her.

Ghost Brothers: Ghostin’ Edition
Destination America, 8pm
A marathon of enhanced episodes from Season 1 features social media extras, new footage and more as TV’s first African-American paranormal investigation team explores haunted places around the country. Episodes include visits to the Magnolia Plantation, Prospect Place and the Allen House.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 8pm Live
ESPN’s coverage of the NBA regular season begins tonight with the Oklahoma City Thunder (without Kevin Durant) at the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets at the L.A. Lakers (without the retired Kobe Bryant).

MLB: World Series, Game 2
FOX, 8pm Live
FOX’s exclusive coverage of the 112th World Series continues tonight at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.

Nature: “Giraffes: Africa’s Gentle Giants”
PBS, 8pm
What does it take to relocate a herd of wild giraffes in Africa? One man, his family and a band of enthusiastic helpers will journey across the wild heart of Uganda and the mighty Nile River to move the world’s rarest and most precious “cargo.”

Speechless: “H-A-L—HALLOWEEN”
ABC, 8:30pm
Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) is crushed when the kids no longer want to dress up for Halloween, so Maya (Minnie Driver) tries to cheer him up by allowing him to take things off the family “Dead to Me” list. Meanwhile, Ray (Mason Cook) recruits Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) work at the school’s haunted mansion, and JJ (Micah Fowler) gets drunk at a party, causing Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) to fear for his job.

Modern Family: “Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook”
ABC, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
When Luke’s (Nolan Gould) Halloween bash appears to be a bust, the Dunphy clan taps a visit from Rod Skyhook to save the day. Meanwhile, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) squares off with his Halloween nemesis, while Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) try to keep him in check. Jay (Ed O’Neill) has a trick up his sleeve when he learns Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is going to a former enemy’s party. Martin Short guest-stars.

Criminal Minds: “Keeper”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “Keeper,” the BAU team searches for a serial killer along the Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.

black-ish: “The Purge”
ABC, 9:30pm
Dre (Anthony Anderson) seeks revenge after Junior (Marcus Scribner) embarrasses him during a basketball game. Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) takes things too far when the kids participate in the neighborhood’s Halloween “mischief night” where petty offenses go unpunished.

The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands
AXS TV, 10pm Live
Tonight’s tribute is to Pat Benatar, with her music performed by Los Angeles-based Crimes of Passion.

Code Black: “Demons and Angels”
CBS, 10pm
In the new Halloween episode “Demons and Angels,” Willis (Rob Lowe) and his team rush to the scene of a fire at a haunted theater where Dr. Nolan (guest star Kathleen Rose Perkins) and her boyfriend’s son are trapped.

Chicago P.D.: “A War Zone”
NBC, 10pm
Intelligence is tasked with tracking down the dealers of fentanyl — a drug that has been linked to multiple overdoses around the city. As they investigate possible sources, the team uncovers a series of dealers in a college smuggling ring. Meanwhile, Tay (guest star Li Jun Li) and Burgess (Marina Squerciati) come across a bloodied child who exposes a dark and twisted secret about his home life with his parents.

Rectify
SundanceTV, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Tonight begins the fourth and final season of the award-winning series.

Everest Air
Travel Channel, 10pm
New Series!
This six-part series follows a high-altitude rescue team that patrols Mount Everest’s slopes and helps climbers in need.

Jon Glaser Loves Gear
truTV, 10pm
New Series!
Created by and starring comedian Jon Glaser (Trainwreck, Parks and Recreation), this 10-episode series debuts with two back-to-back episodes tonight. A slew of celebs and athletes play alongside Glaser as he sets out to make a docuseries around his obsession with his gear. However, that obsession continually threatens to derail the show, as episodes spiral off on some comic personal tangents. “It’s about my genuine true passion about all things gear-related, which is not necessarily techy … it’s more like the cool rain hat I like, the compression socks I have for running — it’s all that kind of stuff,” Glaser says.

Thursday, Oct. 27

Superstore: “Halloween Theft”
NBC, 8pm
Dina (Lauren Ash) throws a wrench in everyone’s Halloween plans when something goes missing from the store and she declares that no employee can leave until someone confesses to stealing. Amy (America Ferrera) is determined to find out who is responsible because she doesn’t want to miss trick-or-treating with her daughter, and Mateo (Nico Santos) prepares for his secret date with Jeff (recurring guest star Michael Bunin).

NFL Football: Jacksonville at Tennessee
NFL Network, 8:25pm Live
This NFL Network exclusive edition of Thursday Night Football has an AFC South matchup as the Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.

The Good Place: “Most Improved Player”
NBC, 8:30pm
Michael (Ted Danson) has a private meeting with Eleanor (Kristen Bell). Meanwhile, Chidi (William Jackson Harper), who has been harboring a secret, contemplates what to do.

The Great Indoors
CBS, 8:30pm
New Series!
Joel McHale stars in this new sitcom as Jack Gordon, an outdoor magazine’s adventure reporter who suddenly finds himself stuck in an office managing a group of digital-savvy millennials. Stephen Fry, Christine Ko, Susannah Fielding, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Shaun Brown also star.

Mom
CBS, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Coming up in Season 4, Christy (Anna Faris) and Bonnie (Allison Janney) stay sober but will face other challenges. Also this season, William Fichtner is a series regular as Adam, and guest star Rosie O’Donnell returns as Aunt Jeanine.

Chicago Med: “Alternative Medicine”
NBC, 9pm
Dr. Manning (Torrey DeVitto) tends to a young cancer patient and struggles to inform the parents of her dire condition. Elsewhere, Dr. Reese (Rachel DiPillo) is contacted by Danny (guest star Nick Marini), a troubled young man, and turns to Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) and Det. Lindsay (guest star Sophia Bush) for help in resolving a difficult situation.

Life in Pieces
CBS, 9:30pm
Season Premiere!
In the Season 2 premiere, Matt (Thomas Sadoski) moves into Colleen’s (Angelique Cabral) apartment but faces some serious resistance from Colleen’s roommate. Also, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman guest-star as Clementine’s (Hunter King) parents.

Pure Genius
CBS, 10pm
New Series!
In this new drama series, Silicon Valley tech titan James Bell (Augustus Prew) enlists Dr. Walter Wallace (Dermot Mulroney), an exceptional veteran surgeon with a controversial past, to run his state-of-the-art hospital with an ultramodern approach to medicine. Odette Annable, Reshma Shetty, Aaron Jennings, Ward Horton and Brenda Song also star.

The Blacklist: “The Thrushes”
NBC, 10pm
When Alexander Kirk contracts with a mysterious group that specializes in hacking the world’s most secure computer systems, Red (James Spader) and Liz (Megan Boone) see an opportunity to make a move on Kirk’s organization.

Friday, Oct. 28

Good Girls Revolt
Amazon
New Series!
Inspired by Lynn Povich’s book of the same name, this series set during the women’s rights movement of the 1960s and ’70s follows a group of young female researchers at Newsweek (formerly known as News of the Week) who fight for gender equality in their workplace. Their revolutionary request sparks changes and upends marriages, careers, sex lives, love lives and friendships. Genevieve Angelson and Anna Camp star.

The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” Marathon
FXX, beginning at 6pm
The Halloween celebration continues with 12 straight episodes of The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror” episodes. Tonight’s marathon has “Treehouse of Horror” episodes from Seasons 9-21, spanning the years 1997-2009.

College Football
ESPN2, beginning at 7pm Live
ESPN2 airs a Friday night college football doubleheader with the Navy Midshipmen at the South Florida Bulls, followed by the Air Force Falcons at the Fresno State Bulldogs.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
ABC, 8pm
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with a special night that features the full-length special, plus a bonus cartoon, You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown, which also features the Great Pumpkin.

MLB: World Series, Game 3
FOX, 8pm Live
Coverage of the 112th World Series moves to the home of the National League champion.

Hotel Transylvania
FX, 8pm
Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez lend their voices to this spirited animated adventure, in which Dracula runs a resort where monsters can get away from those pesky humans. But once his daughter decides she wants to explore the world, he has to rethink his outlook on life.

2016 American Humane Hero Dog Awards
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
TV personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern and actor James Denton take the stage for the third consecutive year as cohosts of the sixth annual awards, and Katharine McPhee will perform during the “pup-ular” event. This award ceremony honors heroic canines and recognizes eight special dogs in the categories of Search & Rescue, Military, Law Enforcement, Arson, Guide/Hearing, Service, Therapy and Emerging Hero (an ordinary pet who has done extraordinary things).

Terror Classic Movies: Universal Horror
TCM, 8pm
Tonight, TCM airs several of the original Universal Pictures horror classics, including Dracula (1931), The Mummy (1932) and The Wolf Man (1941).

Z Nation: “Welcome to Murphytown”
Syfy, 9pm
The Man discovers Lucy’s existence, while 10K reunites with the gang and tells them about Murphy’s growing army.

Blue Bloods: “Whistleblowers”
CBS, 10pm
Frank (Tom Selleck) contends with allegations of abuse of power in the NYPD in the new episode “Whistleblowers.” Also, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Baez (Marisa Ramirez) investigate the case of a woman who was struck by a car under suspicious circumstances.

Van Helsing: “For Me”
Syfy, 10pm
Vanessa and Axel lead the others in the hospital’s last stand against a siege by Julius and his vampire soldiers. Later, when Dmitri’s vampire “Death Squad” arrives, it looks like civil war is brewing between the two vampire factions.

Tracey Ullman’s Show
HBO, 11pm
New Series!
HBO brings Ullman’s BBC One smash stateside with six episodes that offer the comic’s take on “modern life on the British side of the pond.” In her new outing, Ullman — who had her own self-titled sketch series in America from 1987-90 — will impersonate Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Angela Merkel, Duchess Camilla and others.

Saturday, Oct. 29

College Football: Florida vs. Georgia
CBS, 3:30pm Live
A great college football rivalry is renewed today in Jacksonville, Fla., as the Florida Gators take on the Georgia Bulldogs in an SEC clash on CBS.

College Football: Miami at Notre Dame
NBC, 3:30pm Live

It was a big college football rivalry in the late 1980s. (Remember the 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” game?) The Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet again this afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium on NBC. The Irish beat the Canes 41-3 in their most recent clash in 2012.

MLB: World Series, Game 4
FOX, 8pm Live
Play-by-play broadcaster Joe Buck and analyst John Smoltz call Game 4 action from the ballpark of the National League champs.

The Night Before Halloween
Syfy, 9pm
Original Film!
When a Halloween prank goes wrong, it unleashes a creature that will hunt each of the participants down and kill them, unless they can figure out how to transfer the curse to someone else. Bailee Madison and Anthony Lemke star.

Versailles: “Invalides”
Ovation, 10pm
Soldiers working at Versailles revolt, while the Duke of Cassel heads to the palace after a decree from the king stating that nobles who move to the area will be relieved of their debts.