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…
There’s a special place in the TV universe for side characters.
From Rev. Jim in “Taxi” to Kramer in “Seinfeld” and Stuart in “Big Bang,” they give comedies big laughs. From Gabby Hayes in westerns to Buntz in “Hill Street Blues,” they give dramas extra humanity.
And on new shows this fall? There’s a good one — Christy, in CBS’ “Cupertino” — and a great one: That’s Arvid, in NBC’s “Newlyweds” (shown here, center). Read more…
1) World Series, 8 p.m. ET, Fox. After two games in Milwaukee — the first World Series games there in 44 years — the best-of-seven series moves south. The Tampa Bay Rays (shown here) host through Wednesday (if needed). If more are needed, it’s back to Milwaukee on Friday and (Halloween night) Saturday. Eventually, the Brewers or Rays will win their first Series title. Read more…
TV’s best new show will soon get a Sunday-night boost.
“Cupertino” is usually confined to 10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS. But on Sunday, Nov. 8, it will air three hours — a new one (complete with traffic-jam jurisprudence, shown here) and then reruns of the first two episodes.
Those are the episodes that set things in motion: An evil law firm fired two people — Michael (Mike Colter, shown here with Renee Elise Goldsberry), an experienced pro, and Olivia (Rachel Keller), in her first year out of law school. They soon formed their own tiny firm, to take on the giants of Silicon Valley. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror,” 8 p.m., Fox. This annual delight again offers three stories — sometimes too messy, often very funny, always quite weird. Bart and his dog switch souls … Homer transforms into other husbands (including Jeff Probst) … And, in a clever finale (shown here), Homer is trapped in a world of drivers-ed films, causing crash after crash. Read more…
“Saturday Night Live” will soon have another stretch of three new episodes.
Along the way, it will have one of its most popular hosts (John Mulaney, left), plus two newcomers.
“SNL” opened its season Sept. 26 (its earliest start in more than a decade) with a stretch of three new shows. Then two reruns were scheduled, including one this Saturday (Oct. 24), with Dakota Johnson hosting and Turnstile as music guest.
Then comes the new stretch, with shows at 11:29 p.m. on NBC: Read more…
1) “Ghosts” special, 9-10 p.m. Thursday, CBS. This comedy has sagged at times, but always has great holiday episodes. It’s off the schedule until mid-season, but gets hour-long specials for Halloween and Christmas. This one sees the arrival of an old mirror that has one flaw: A ghost is trapped inside, astonishing everyone (shown here). From there, things get wilder and funnier. Read more…
1) World Series, 8 p.m. ET, Fox, with pre-game at 7. It’s the second game in a best-of-seven series heading to a happy ending. The winner won’t be the privileged Dodgers or Yankees; it will be a first-ever championship for the Milwaukee Brewers (shown here). hosting tonight, or Tampa Bay Rays. Good times — and, depending on who wins, the hoisting of beer mugs — will follow. Read more…
1) “Newlyweds” debut, 8:30 p.m., NBC. Here’s the sort of comedy we need now — big and broad and mostly quite funny. Tea Leoni and Tim Daly, who married last year, play people who marry quickly. She’s bold and instinctive; he’s not. Their world is spiced by Jamie Lee Curtis (shown here, right, with Leoni) as his e-wife and hilarious newcomer Bill O’Neill as his assistant. Read more…
Best-bets for Oct. 28: some lowdown drama and elementary comedy 
Best-bets for Oct. 27: taut drama, eerie dancing 
Best-bets for Oct. 26: It’s a three-sport tangle 
