ST. DENIS MEDICAL -- "Pilot" -- Pictured: Allison Tolman as Alex -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

Best-bets for Nov. 12: crisp comedy, strong “Murder”

1) “St. Denis Medical” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. In a slow year for comedy, this is just what we need – a sleek, smart workplace show from the “Superstore” people. This time, the setting is a hospital, with an overstressed nurse (Allison Tolman, shown here, of the first “Fargo” mini-series) and an underskilled administrator (Wendi McLendon-Covey of “Goldbergs.”). David Alan Grier, 68, offers droll counterpoint of an older doctor.
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1) “St. Denis Medical” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. In a slow year for comedy, this is just what we need – a sleek, smart workplace show from the “Superstore” people. This time, the setting is a hospital, with an overstressed nurse (Allison Tolman, shown here, of the first “Fargo” mini-series) and an underskilled administrator (Wendi McLendon-Covey of “Goldbergs.”). David Alan Grier, 68, offers droll counterpoint of an older doctor.

2) “Murder in a Small Town,” 8 p.m. Fox. After a potent episode, with Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk) kidnapped, this had a two-week break for baseball and elections. Now we find Cassie shattered and her boyfriend, the police chief, facing a new crisis and a slick-talking psychiatrist (Paula Patton). The result, as usual, is a well-crafted drama

3) “Accused,” 8 p.m., Fox. The beauty of an anthology is that gifted actors can keep returning in new roles. The series opened with Michael Chiklis as the dad of a troubled teen; now it has Chiklis as the coach of an overwhelmed teen. Like the previous one, it’s beautifully acted and written; like many “Accused” episodes, it’s often painful to watch.

4) “American Experience,” 9-11 p.m., PBS. Here’s another rough show to watch, albeit an important one. It goes back to 1898, when a biracial coalition had been elected in Wilmington, N.C. White supremacists formed a coup, also destroying Black businesses and the Black newspaper. Estimates of those killed have ranged from 14 to 300.

5) “The Voice,” 9-10 p.m., NBC. It’s the second night of knockouts and the first of the season with only one hour on Tuesdays. “Dancing With the Stars” – with its 500th episode at 8 p.m. on ABC –remains at two hours.

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