1) “The Simpsons” season-opener, 8 p.m., Fox. One of TV’s eternal pleasures is back. Alas, this 36th season (starting with Bart’s birthday, shown here) is in mixed company. “Bob’s Burgers” (9 p.m.) has been clever, but the newer shows are so-so. At 9:30, the “Krapopolis” season-opener is fairly funny (but gory); at 8:30, “Universal Basic Guys” hits obnoxious overload.
2) “The Summit” debut, 9-10:30 p.m., CBS. Amid the bracing beauty of New Zealand (“Lord of the Rings” turf), 16 people face a challenge: The ones who reach a mountaintop on time will share $1 million. It’s a lot like “Survivor” (which it will follow on Wednesdays), but with less fun and more ordeal.
3) “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol” opener, 9-10:12 p.m., AMC, rerunning at 11:12. It’s hard to root for someone who will lie, wound strangers and shatter a decent chap’s life. Still, it’s almost possible, with Melissa McBride’s involving performance. And the opener ends by inter-cutting two spectacular action scenes.
4) “Ridley,” 8 p.m., PBS. This is best when it matches its setting – slow, solemn, pensive, with deep humanity. And tonight has the first half of the season’s best story, starting with a body in a tree. “Van der Valk” also starts a strong two-parter at 10; the clever “Moonflower Murders” continues at 9.
5) ALSO: ABC had set today as the start of its “Wonderful World of Disney” movies, beginning with the non-cartoon version of “The Little Mermaid” (2023). Now that’s been delayed for a week, replaced by two reruns – the second “Golden Bachelorette” at 8, the first “Doctor Odyssey” at 10.
— Mike Hughes, TV America