1) “The Gilded Age,” HBO. The third season reruns at 1 p.m., leading into the season-opener at 9, finding lives re-arranged. Bertha got her way, with her daughter Gladys marrying a duke; now, however, her own husband George has left. (Those three are shown here, in better times.) Peggy and William are engaged; Jack Trotter is adjusting to prosperity and Ada is learning to be in charge. Read more…
Many hours have been spent on two worthy debates:
1) Who was the best “Star Trek” captain? and
2) Who was the best Scrooge?
I’ll save you some time. The answer to both is Patrick Stewart (shown here as Scrooge), who died Wednesday at 86. Read more…
1) “St. Denis Medical” season-opener, 8 p.m. today, NBC. It was 36 years ago that David Alan Grier and Damon Wayans linked in the Emmy-winning “In Living Color.” Now they’ve re-united for one episode, a funny one: Ron (Grier, 70, shown here center in a previous episode) is recovering from heart surgery; his temporary replacement (Wayans, 66) spews slogans and pep talks. Read more…
1) “Simpsons” marathon of “Treehouse of Horror” episodes, 8 a.m. ro 1 a.m., FXX. Here’s a fun way to spend time before or after trick-or-treating. Each half-hour has three tales. Some are gory, most are funny, all are wonderfully imaginative. (One example is shown here.) This time, it runs in reverse: The 35th one (2024) is 8 a.m.; the first (1990) is 1 a.m. that night. Read more…
An overlooked gem will return to TV soon.
“Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (shown here) is a half-hour film from 1983, when the Disney movie studio was at a low point. It drew praise and an Oscar nomination, but was often ignored as the company grew.
Now it’s returning on Thanksgiving eve, as the start of the holiday rush from Disney-owned ABC. There will be other nods to the classics — “Mary Poppins” on Thanksgiving, “The Sound of Music” three days later — plus some newer bursts of music and animation. That includes: Read more…
1) “Jimmy Webb — American Songwriter,” 9 p.m., PBS. After a so-so start — Webb singing lead on “Up, Up and Away” — this soon soars. It adds great singers, some relatively unknown (Ashley Campbell, shown here, and Ryan Shaw) and some stars. Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett lead a terrific stretch of songs that Webb wrote for Glen Campbell, Ashley’s dad. Read more…
1) “Ghosts,” 9-10 p.m., CBS. This had some so-so episodes last year and was shelved until mid-season. But it always shines on holidays, so CBS set Halloween and Christmas specials. Here’s a good one, starting with a mirror that has one flaw — a ghost trapped inside. There are gasps (shown here) and things get wilder and funnier. Read more…
In early January — when many Americans are encased in snow and sorrow — the beach babes will return.
The beach hunks will, too. The “Baywatch” reboot starts Jan. 6 on Fox.
The network has long been obsessing on the show. At the “upfronts” in May, when networks promote their new seasons, Fox had no new series coming in the fall; instead, it focused on “Baywatch” and showed that the new cast of young (and fit) actors (shown here). It’s also run promos during football games and more.
Now the debut has been set for 9 p.m. on a Wednesday. So far, Fox hasn’t announced its usual plan of airing the first episode right after a football game. Read more…
1) “The Lowdown,” 9-10:05 p.m., FX. Three brilliant actors combine here. Ethan Hawke is Lee, a “citizen journalist” who is often battered and always passionate. Tommy Lee Jones is his estranged dad, who’s up to something. And Betty Gilpin (shown here) is superb as a public defender, in love with a missing prisoner. Tonight, things get messy in a corrupt county. Read more…
1) “The Drop” season-finale, 9 p.m., FX. Wanda (shown here) has been grasping for a role in the 1990s rap world dominated by men and violence. She brings smarts, intensity and a whiz-kid cousin, Lamar, but the odds are still steep. Now they’ve been cheated and she hatches a dangerous plan. It’s a potent finish to a fierce little season. Read more…
Best-bets for Nov. 1: a gilded or lethal evening 
Best-bets for Oct. 31: a funny (or creepy) Halloween 
Best-bets for Oct. 30: a hitmaker and some laughs 
