MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN: L-R: Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk in the series premiere of MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN airing Tuesday, Sept. 24 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2024 Fox Media LLC. CR: Kailey Schwerman/ FOX.

Week’s top-10 for Sept. 23: Debuts, country and a vital “Choice”

1) “The Choice,” 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, PBS. Each presidential year, the “Frontline” people create a profile of the candidates. The result – in the PBS tradition – tends to be deep, detailed and even-handed. Now comes the third “Choice” portrait of Donald Trump and the first of Kamala Harris. Even in a week stuffed with debuts (including “Murder in a Small Town,” shown here), this is the most important telecast. Read more…

1) “The Choice,” 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, PBS. Each presidential year, the “Frontline” people create a profile of the candidates. The result – in the PBS tradition – tends to be deep, detailed and even-handed. Now comes the third “Choice” portrait of Donald Trump and the first of Kamala Harris. Even in a week stuffed with debuts (including “Murder in a Small Town,” shown here), this is the most important telecast.

2) “The Voice” begins and “America’s Got Talent” ends, 8 p.m. today and Tuesday, NBC. Michael Buble spans both. He’s a new “Voice” judge (along with Snoop Dogg) and sings in the “AGT” finale. Other finale performers include Andra Day, Gabriel Iglesias, Detroit Youth Choir and the Simon Biles and “Magic Mike” troupes; then “AGT” names its winner.

3) “Brilliant Minds” debut, 10 p.m. today, NBC. Oliver Sachs was brilliant and eccentric – a swimmer, a weightlifting champion and a neurologist who had bold theories and was played by Robin Williams in “Awakenings.” Now here’s Zachary Quinto as a slightly fictionalized Dr. Oliver Wolf. This feels exaggerated at times, but has great emotional impact.

4) “Murder in a Small Town” debut, 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. The new Fox season is a mixed blessing. “Rescue HI-Surf” (9 p.m. Monday) is oddly bland, but this is a pleasant surprise. A gently human story offers two likable stars(shown here). Kristin Kreuk is a librarian; Rossif Sutherland (Donald’s son, Kiefer’s half-brother), as the police chief, quietly brings star quality.

5) “The Masked Singer” and “The Floor” season-openers, 8 and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. It’a Rob Lowe week on Fox. He stars in “9-1-1: Lone Star” at 8 p.m., then hosts “The Floor,” with 100 people offering expertise in such areas as “beauty,” “tailgating” and “Halloween costumes.” That follows “The Masked Singer,” with Rita Ora again joining the panel.

6) “Grey’s Anatomy” season-opener, 10 p.m. Thursday, ABC. It’s the 21st season, with lots of regulars wobbling and one returning. That’s Ben (Jason George), whose “Station 19” spin-off was canceled. Now the other Thursday hours go to Ryan Murphy productions: “9-1-1” ay 8 and “Doctor Odyssey” — Joshua Jackson as a doctor on a luxury liner – at 9.

7) “America Historia” and “Hispanic Heritage Awards,” 9 and 10 p.m. Friday, PBS. At 9, John Leguizamo starts a three-week portrait of Hispanic history; there are disturbing moments – angry and graphic – early. Then the awards bring fun, with music by Leslie Grace (who hosts), Omar Apollo, Alejandra Guzman, Cafe Tacvba and a Tito Puente tribute.

8) “Saturday Night Live” season-opener, 11:29 p.m. Saturday, NBC. The 50th season starts with four straight new episodes. Jean Smart hosts the opener, with music by Jelly Roll; hosting the next three are Nate Bergatze, Ariana Grande and John Mulaney. Chloe Troast, Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney won’t be returning; three newcomers will take their spots.

9) “The Summit” opener, 9-10:30 p.m. Sunday, CBS. Amid the jolting beauty of New Zealand (where the “Lord of the Rings” movies were filmed), 16 strangers face a challenge: The ones who reach a mountaintop on time will share $1 million. This is a lot like “Survivor” (which it will follow, starting Oct. 12), but with less fun and more ordeal.

10) More: In a busy week, NBC has the “People’s Choice Country Awards” on Thursday; it has season-openers of its Chicago shows Wednesday and “Dateline” at 9 p.m. Friday.” Fox has the season-openers of “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Crime Scene Kitchen” on Thursday and two cartoons on Sunday” – “The Simpsons” at 8 p.m. and “Krapopolis” at 9:30.

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