All Times Eastern.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Designated Survivor
ABC, 10pm
New Series!
Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, the titular character in this intriguing new drama/thriller. Kirkman served as the civic-minded, peace-loving HUD secretary before an explosion wiped out the Capitol, the POTUS and other federal bigwigs. Just like that, Kirkman’s the president — in the midst of a potential terrorist crisis — and surrounded by plenty of people who doubt him and his do-no-harm ways. Does he have it in him to unite his team and save the day, his own bewildered family and the nation?
The Goldbergs
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Goldbergs creator Adam F. Goldberg, who based the series on his own growing-up years, tweeted that fans can expect more “smothering, yelling, 80s toys, Star Wars references, tightie whities and the Big Tasty run!” in Season 4.
Survivor
CBS, 8pm
Season Premiere!
A war of generations begins as the millennials’ “Vanua” tribe battles Gen X’s “Takali” tribe in Season 33 of Survivor. In the 90-minute premiere, “May the Best Generation Win,” a massive storm leads to a first in Survivor history, and one castaway snatches a powerful advantage in the game.
Lethal Weapon
FOX, 8pm
New Series!
Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford have just the right chemistry to pull off a remake of the 1987 classic film starring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson.
Blindspot: “Heave Fiery Knot”
NBC, 8pm
The team races to stop a corrupt DEA agent from selling stinger missiles to a drug cartel as Weller (Sullivan Stapleton) fights to keep everyone together under the increasing pressures of Jane’s (Jaimie Alexander) rift with the others and the uncomfortable addition of Nas (Archie Panjabi) as co-leader.
Speechless
ABC, 8:30pm
New Series!
Executive producer Scott Silveri based this comedy on his own memories of growing up with a special needs brother. Minnie Driver stars as Maya DiMeo, the put-upon matriarch of a clan made up of her patient and unflappable husband Jimmy (The Big Bang Theory’s John Ross Bowie), angsty preteen son Ray (Mason Cook), tough-nut daughter Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) and oldest son J.J. (charming newcomer Micah Fowler), a funny, patient guy born with cerebral palsy. As Maya takes on — and puts off — the world trying to make it more accommodating of J.J., her boy goes right ahead and finds himself the ally he and his family desperately need. Families with special needs members might find the pilot a bit of an eye roll, but the cast and good intentions could make it worth sticking around for.
Modern Family
ABC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Stuff to look forward to as Season 8 premieres: Martin Short does an ep as the guy who does Phil’s tchotchkes, and Nathan Fillion recurs as TV weatherman Rainor Shine. We swear we’re not making that up.
Law & Order: SVU
NBC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
What will become of Peter Gallagher’s grief-stricken Deputy Chief William Dodds after son Mike (Andy Karl) died in last season’s finale? And with Tucker (Robert John Burke) eager to begin life anew with Liv (Mariska Hargitay) and little Noah (Bradley Dubow) in Paris — and Liv more than a little weary of working motherhood — is there another shake-up ahead in the SVU ranks? Find out when the perennial favorite returns for an 18th season tonight.
Empire
FOX, 9pm
Season Premiere!
At the end of Season 2, Hakeem was left standing at the altar, Lucious and Anika got hitched, and Anika and Rhonda were engaged in a rooftop catfight when one of them appeared to fall. But this is TV, and those Lyons (including those by name only), seem to have nine lives.
black-ish
ABC, 9:30pm
Season Premiere!
Dre and Bow’s (Emmy nominees Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross) new addition is on the way, delighting only some of its soon-to-be siblings. As for twins Jack and Diane (Miles Brown, Marsai Martin) losing their “babies of the family” status, Martin giggles, “I think Diane is probably sad or something. Diane is a little scary. I’m not sure what she’d do with the baby.”
Big Brother
CBS, 9:30pm
Season Finale!
Find out which Big Brother Houseguest gets the $500,000 grand prize in this 90-minute season finale.
The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands
AXS TV, 10pm Live
Tonight’s episode of the live concert series features a special 90-minute tribute to David Bowie.
Chicago P.D.: “The Silos”
NBC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Intelligence investigates a gruesome case. Upon further examination, it appears the victim was wearing a CPD-issued wire at the time of his death. Meanwhile, Burgess (Marina Squerciati) meets her new partner, Julie Tay (guest star Li Jun Li), who came from one of the worst assignments in the city. Together they respond to their first call, and Tay shares details of her past. Additionally, Commander Crowley (guest star Barbara Eve Harris) confronts Lindsay (Sophia Bush) about why she and Voight (Jason Beghe) were at that location on the night that Intelligence pursued Justin’s killer.
India: Nature’s Wonderland
PBS, 10pm
Join wildlife biologist Liz Bonnin, actress Freida Pinto and mountaineer Jon Gupta as they explore India’s natural wonders in a two-part miniseries, which begins tonight. From tigers and gibbons to elephants and rhinos, from the sacred Ganges to tea plantations, experience the subcontinent’s marvels.
Mr. Robot: “eps.2.9_pyth0n-pt2.p7z”
USA Network, 10pm
Season Finale!
Angela gets a new acquaintance, and an old friend reveals everything to Elliot.
Thursday, Sept. 22
Grey’s Anatomy
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Jo’s past with her abusive husband and the fate of her future with Karev should take center stage in Season 13, as should Meredith’s bond with Riggs. Plus, we’ll see if those rumors that Jackson (Jesse Williams) and April (Sarah Drew) — and April and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) — make amends are true.
Rosewood: “Forward Motion & Frat Life”
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!
A new captain (Eddie Cibrian) shakes up the East Miami P.D., and Miami’s young, hot-shot mayor gets personally involved when his promising young mentee is murdered.
Superstore
NBC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Season 2 picks up in the wake of the store walkout at the end of last season. Executive producer and creator Justin Spitzer told reporters that he was glad to be able to address unions in Season 1, and that viewers can expect the show to continue to get political and issue-oriented at times. As examples of what to see in that regard this season, Spitzer explained: “We deal this year with Mateo being undocumented. We deal with transgender bathroom protests, which are a big thing right now, obviously, in Target. The morning-after pill, open-carry. And those are early on [in the season].”
NFL Football: Houston at New England
CBS & NFL Network, 8:25pm Live
Thursday Night Football heads to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., as the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans in Week 3.
The Good Place: “Tahani Al-Jamil”
NBC, 8:30pm
The series begins in its regular time slot with an episode in which Chidi (William Jackson Harper) begins formally teaching Eleanor (Kristen Bell) about ethics. Lesson No. 1: be kind to your neighbor. Meanwhile, Michael (Ted Danson) and Janet (D’Arcy Carden) help Chidi find a new, exciting hobby.
Pitch
FOX, 9pm
New Series!
A female has finally made it to the big leagues, but not everyone is happy to meet or play with the infamous pitcher Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury, Under the Dome). The series also stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Ali Larter, Mark Consuelos and Dan Lauria.
Chicago Med
NBC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The medical drama and most recent entry in NBC’s popular Chicago franchise (until Chicago Justice bows in midseason) begins its second season tonight. According to executive producer and creator Dick Wolf, the thing he finds interesting about Chicago Med is that “it’s one show that, if you watch every week, you will learn something. No, we’re not announcing unknown medical breakthroughs, but that’s the responsibility that we have, is that we have to get it right. … You don’t want to get a call from 300 cardiologists saying, ‘Are you crazy? You probably killed 15 people last night with that information.’ It’s a bigger responsibility than we have on the other shows.”
How to Get Away With Murder
ABC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and Co. (but especially Annalise) had a rough run last season and it looks like they won’t fare too much better in Season 3. Says ABC, “With Wallace Mahoney’s murder unsolved and Frank’s whereabouts still unknown, Annalise and her inner circle struggle to keep their secrets from getting exposed. Relationships will be fractured, lies will spin out of control, and a shocking, new mystery will upend their entire lives.” Which is just how HTGAWM fans like it.
The Blacklist
NBC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Now that we know Liz (Megan Boone) is alive and Alexander Kirk (Ulrich Thomsen) is her dad, the team has some adjusting to do. Plus, are Red and Mr. Kaplan headed for a showdown?
Friday, Sept. 23
Last Man Standing
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Tim Allen’s sitcom returns for Season 6, which sees Mike face new challenges as he continues to be surrounded by forces testing his ideas about everything he believes in.
MacGyver
CBS, 8pm
New Series!
We guarantee your pulse will be pounding — and your funny bone tickled, too — after tonight’s premiere episode, penned by Hawaii Five-0’s Peter Lenkov, directed by Furious 7’s James Wan and starring the X-Men films’ own Havok, Lucas Till, as a new-era Angus MacGyver, Department of External Services agent and dazzling problem solver.
Hell’s Kitchen: “When the Wall Comes Tumbling Down”
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!
British chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay welcomes the newest crop of hopefuls to the grounds of a U.S. Army training facility where they’re divided into two teams: men vs. women — and they’ll all have to prove their culinary skills in the Signature Dish Challenge.
Dr. Ken
ABC, 8:30pm
Season Premiere!
The put-upon GP (Ken Jeong) and his wacky family members, friends and coworkers return for a sophomore season.
Shark Tank
ABC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The Sharks are back for Season 8, giving you a prime opportunity to ogle Robert Herjavec’s shiny new wedding ring from network mate and Dancing With the Stars partner Kym Johnson. Hopeful entrepreneurs pitch their products in hopes of attracting the cash and mentorship of business moguls. When asked about a favorite product this season, shark Mark Cuban revealed that there will be “lots of beer!”
Hawaii Five-0
CBS, 9pm
Season Premiere!
In the Season 7 premiere, McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) refuses to listen to Danny’s (Scott Caan) pleas to take it easy while recovering from surgery. When the body of a serial killer is left in the Five-0 headquarters, the team goes on a hunt for the vigilante.
The Exorcist
FOX, 9pm
New Series!
Based on one of the greatest horror movies ever made, this chilling series follows two very different priests working together to help the Rance family deal with demonic possession. The Rances seem like your typical American family — but all is not as it appears.
Art in the Twenty-First Century
PBS, 9pm
Tonight’s first episode, “Los Angeles,” features Diana Thater’s immersive video installations and Liz Larner’s experimental abstract sculptures, along with Tala Madani, who skewers stereotypes in satirical paintings, and Edgar Arceneaux, who examines history through drawing and performance. In “Vancouver,” we meet Liz Magor, who makes realistic casts of humble objects; Stan Douglas, who reenacts historical moments through multimedia productions; Brian Jungen, who transforms consumer goods into sculptures; and renowned photographer Jeff Wall.
Z Nation: “A New Mission”
Syfy, 9pm
In the first episode of Season 3, Warren and gang are taken prisoner, while Murphy escapes the sub with his newly formed group.
Blue Bloods
CBS, 10pm
Season Premiere!
In Season 7, Danny’s (Donnie Wahlberg) world is turned upside down when Michael Lewis (guest star Michael Imperioli) from the attorney general’s office obtains new evidence against Danny in a self-defense shooting case.
Van Helsing
Syfy, 10pm
New Series!
In the wake of a vampire takeover, Vanessa Helsing is the last hope for survival, as she discovers she has a unique blood composition that makes her immune to vampires and gives her the ability to turn a vampire human. With this secret weapon, Vanessa becomes a prime target for the vampires, while she tries to save humanity. Kelly Overton, Jonathan Scarfe and Christopher Heyerdahl star.
Saturday, Sept. 24
College Football: Duke at Notre Dame
NBC, 3:30pm Live
NBC airs this Saturday afternoon college football matchup between the Duke Blue Devils and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from legendary Notre Dame Stadium.
Steve Jobs
HBO, 8pm
Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) and the company he cofounded, Apple, revolutionized the technology industry. But, over time, Jobs struggled to stay involved with Apple and battled through enormous infighting. Also stars Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen.
Ghost Adventures
Travel Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Zak and the crew are called to the Palace Saloon in Prescott, Ariz., to help banish a malevolent spirit that is terrorizing the staff. During the investigation, Jay is attacked in the saloon’s basement, where the spirit resides.
48 Hours
CBS, 10pm
Season Premiere!
TV’s popular true crime series returns for its 29th season. Over the years, the series has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.
