1) “Tracker,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Yes, it’s great to have a strong-and-silent hero; that’s kind of a Hollywood tradition. But sometimes you need the opposite. Tonight, Colter (Justin Hartley), quiet and careful) is missing. His brother (noisy and risky) is called in to help. He’s again played by Jensen Ackles (left, with Hartley), in a vibrant episode. Read more…
1) “What We Do in the Shadows” season-opener, 10 p.m. today, FX. After five weirdly funny seasons (and three best-comedy Emmy nominations), this starts its final one. The three-episode opener starts with Jerry The Vampire’s key question: If they are secret, why is a human camera crew there? No one remembers … and for 48 years, no one remembered to wake Jerry. Guillermo (shown here), the wise ex-aide, might know. Read more…
1) “NCIS: Origins,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. If you missed the series debut Monday, catch this quick rerun. It’s intense and involving, but has moments of fun. Austin Stowell is sturdy as Gibbs, a young widower reporting for duty in 1991. He’s mostly silent and solemn, but surrounded by colorful colleagues (shown here), led by his high-voltage boss, Mike Franks. Read more…
Long ago, Reba McEntire received some astute maternal analysis.
“Momma always said I had the attention span of a 2-year-old,” she told the Television Critics Association.
That hasn’t changed much, now that she’s 69. It will be evident Tuesday (Oct. 22), when NBC displays her as:
— A comedy actress. At 8 p.m., it reruns the opener of “Happy’s Place” (shown here with Belissa Escobeda and McEntire) following its debut at 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 18).
— A music judge. At 8:30 is a 90-minute version of “The Voice.” Read more…
1) “Happy’s Place” debut, 8 p.m., NBC. Bobbie (Reba McEntire, second from right) inherited her dad’s bar, which she was already running. Now she learns a half-sister (left) she’d never met owns half of it. McEntire and some supporting actors get the most out of a so-so script. But the sister is underwritten and an employee (and friend) is badly overwritten, leaving a so-so show. Read more…
We sort of figured we knew Georgie Cooper.
When “Young Sheldon” started, he was a high school quarterback who charmed girls. He quit the team, quit school, bought an RV that was a mobile bedroom. He was sort of a generic TV teen, easy to ignore.
Then that changed. Even before “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ (8 p.m. Thursdays, starting Oct. 17, on CBS) began, he had evolved.
“He’s growing up and becoming the man of the household,” Montana Jordan (shown here), who plays him, told the Television Critics Association. Read more…
1) “Elsbeth” season-opener, 10 p.m., CBS. Yes, Elsbeth is one of TV’s great characters, hiding a sharp mind under a surface of bright colors and cheery comments. But in this opener, much of the attention goes to a guest star: Nathan Lane (shown here) plays an opera lover who would kill for a better view. It’s a rich portrait, with Elsbeth stepping in to solve the case. Read more…
1) “Shrinking” season-opener, Apple TV+. Jimmy (Jason Segel, shown here) has a mixed record as a therapist. One client is in prison for murder, another is struggling and the boss (Harrison Ford) is frustrated. Also, a neighbor keeps telling Jimmy’s colleague to stop sleeping with him. Like the first season, this is a rare mixture of bright comedy and deep personal pain. Read more…
For decades, ABC had an October tradition:
Each of its situation comedies had a Halloween episode. “Roseanne” (later re-titled “The Conners”) was the best; “Modern Family” was close.
And now? Once again, every sitcom is involved … but, ABC only has one. That’s “Abbott Elementary,” a comedy island stranded between unscripted shows on Wednesdays. “The Conners” has been renewed for a final season, but that will be later; it’s on the shelf during its favorite holiday.
So ABC is making do with Halloween themes for other shows. Its first samplingias Oct. 13; it starts a three-Sunday string of light scare movies with “Haunted Mansion,” surrounded by spooky themes to an “America’s Funniest Home Videos” rerun and a new “Celebrity Family Feud.” The others — including “Hocus Pocus,” shown here — will be Oct. 20-31. They are: Read more…
1) “BET Hip Hop Awards,” 8-10 p.m., BET and VH1. Megan Thee Stallion and Kendrick Lamar lead nominations, with 12 and 11. They’re up for artist of the year, alongside Nicki Minaj, Drake, Cardi B, Future, 21 Savage and GloRilla (shown here), who performs. So do 2 Chainz, Yung Miami, Juiccy J, Soulja Boy, Trina, E-40, Big Boogie and more; Fat Joe hosts. Read more…
