HAPPY'S PLACE -- Episode: Pilot -- Pictured: (l-r) Belissa Escobedo as Isabella, Reba McEntire as Bobbie -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

Best-bets for Nov.8: a semi-happy place; a musical salute

1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. One story puts the show’s best characters — Bobbie (Reba McEntire, right) and the bar’s cook (Rex Linn) in a fishing cabin. The other pairs the worst characters, Bobbie’s half-sister (left) and the bartender. The resulting episode – no surprise here – is half-good. Read more…

1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. One story puts the show’s best characters — Bobbie (Reba McEntire, right) and the bar’s cook (Rex Linn) in a fishing cabin. The other pairs the worst characters, Bobbie’s half-sister (left) and the bartender. The resulting episode – no surprise here – is half-good.

2) “Salute to Service,” 9 p.m., PBS, reruns at 10. Three days before Veterans Day, here are vignettes, plus gifted military ensembles. They back country star Craig Morgan (an Army Airborne soldier who recently re-enlisted in the Reserves), singer-trombonist Aubrey Logan (including a vibrant, big-band “How High the Moon”) and bassist Christian McBride.

3) “Joan” finale, 9 p.m. CW. This six-part mini-series, based on a true story, has seen Joan go from helpless teen mom to master thief. Facing prison time, she now plans to have a major heist and flee. Sophie Turner (“Game of Thrones”) is excellent, as a complex – and sometimes brilliant – survivor.

4) “SWAT” and “Fire Country,” 8 and 9 p.m., CBS. Both episodes involve power outages. The SWAT team – usually doing special assignments – must help patrol the streets. The firefighters try a difficult elevator rescue.

5) Sports. “Inside the NFL” was dislodged from its usual spot, due to election-week shifts. It’s at 8 p.m. today, on a night that has pro basketball (7:30 and 10 p.m. ET, ESPN) and college football. At 9 p.m. ET, it’s Iowa-UCLA on Fox and Rice-Memphis on ESPN2; at 10:30, it’s New Mexico and San Diego State, on Fox Sports1.

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