1) Horror films. On the first weekend of October, cable is in Halloween mode. On the light side, Freeform has the clever “Beetlejuice” (1988, shown here) at 6:45 p.m. and the bland “Haunted Mansion” (2023) at 8:50. Heavier? AMC has “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” at 8 a.m. — then five films that followed it. The 1980 original is 8 p.m., with sequels at 10 and midnight. Read more…
1) “Mambo Legends, 10 p.m. , PBS. A propulsive sound emerged in 1940s and ’50s New York. It merged big-band horns with Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms, under the leadership of Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito. Now some of their musicians have revived the sound with the Mambo Legends band (shown here). This film has snatches of great music, plus a portrait of the era. Read more…
1) “Law & Order” season-opener, 8 p.m., NBC. Maura Tierney was at the heart of NBC’s must-see Thursdays, playing Abby for on “ER” for a decade. She dropped out of “Parenthood” in 2009 because of breast cancer, but her comeback includes “The Affair,” “American Rust” and this summer’s “Twisters.” Now, at 59, she’s the new homicide chief (shown here). Read more…
1) “Sullivan’s Crossing” season-opener, 8 p.m., CW. As the first season ended, Maggie returned to her life as a Boston surgeon. Then life crumbled at this little Canadian resort. A note from Cal (who’s shown here with Maggie) was intercepted before it got to her; her dad was hospitalized and forgot his foreclosure crisis. Now she rushes back, in an emotional hour. Read more…
Let’s thank some Aussies for filling our comedy void.
The second season of “Colin From Accounts” (shown here) has arrived in one bunch at Paramount+, with eight episodes. A couple of them are merely OK, but the rest are moving (occasionally) and funny (often).
Americans used to be known for comedy. We gave the world Lucy and Cosby and Bunker and Seinfeld, “Friends” and “Frasier” and the “Big Bang” gang.
But lately? The big-four networks combine for 81 primetime hours; but if you exclude cartoons, it goes like this: Read more…
1) Vice presidential debate, 9 p.m. ET, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and news channels. Onstage will be Tim Walz and JD Vance – both Midwesterners, both ex-military, yet opposite in almost every way. Margaret Brennan (shown here) and Norah O’Donnell will ask the questions and will be able to mute the microphones. Vance won the coin-flip and gives his conclusion last. Read more…
1) “Brilliant Minds,” 10 p.m., NBC. This second episode shows how good – and how demanding – this show can be. The first seemed heightened, trying hard to grab us. But it set the basics: Zachary Quinto as someone like Dr. Oliver Sacks, the brilliant and eccentric neurologist. Tonight’s episode throws a lot past us, but Quinto (shown here) helps make it feel human and tangible. Read more…
Waiting for the vice-presidential debate, some viewers might fidget.
The event starts at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday (Oct. 1). At 8 p.m., the choices include … well, political previews on ABC, CBS, NBC and news channels.
Alternatives? I’d recommend “Murder in a Small Town” (shown here), 8 p.m.on Fox; it might be the season’s best surprise. But let’s look at the others first: Read more…
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. Read more…
1) “American Music Awards 50th Anniversary,” 8-10 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS. Once a ratings powerhouse, this has stumbled, with no shows since 2022. Now it moves to CBS for a revival: New awards will be in May; first, this special has interviews, old clips and new performances from Mariah Carey (shown here in a previous performance), Kane Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Green Day, Brad Paisley and more. Read more…
Best-bets for Jan. 18: Chiefs, Chappelle, more 
Best-bets for Jan.17: a double-Sam night 
Best-bets for Jan. 16: “Law” returns, “Dutch” improves 
