1) “All Rise,” 9 p.m., CBS. At its best, this show does it all: It has a serious case-of-the-week, but has time for humor or human drama involving Judge Lola and her colleagues. That’s complicated, though: After rising to its best in its pilot film, it sagged for a couple weeks; now it’s back: A TV star is dead and her assistant is tried for murder. That draws a high-profile lawyer (Jere Burns, right in the photo here) and press coverage that calls Lola “fierce and fabulous.” She is, but this hour also has great moments for the show’s five co-stars.
2) “Prodigal Son,” 9:01 p.m., Fox. This is a story that peaks on Halloween – and is WAY too dark for even that night. As always, it focuses on Malcolm, whose father is in prison as a serial killer. Now Malcolm is a criminal profiler who sometimes imagines his dad; he’s also working on a case that has deep, wretched layers of agony. The story delivers fierce gut-punches. So do some of the characters.
3) Agatha Raisin & the Haunted House,” any time, www.acorn.tv. Not all Halloween-type stories are dark and dreary in the “Prodigal Son” mode. This one has Agatha, given to bright clothes and noisy emotions, Now – alongside real murders and a war re-enactment – she’s supposed to prove that a mansion isn’t haunted. This isn’t a great mystery, but it’s light, bright and entertaining.
4) “The Deuce” finale, 9 p.m., HBO. It’s the end of an era, alas. In this story, Times Square is being cleaned up and New York’s porno businesses are fading. Here’s the 75-minute finale, pushing the second episode of Helen Mirren’s “Catherine the Great” to 10:15.
5) “Independent Lens,” 10-11:30 p.m., PBS. Somehow, Boise, Idaho, became an international hub of surrogate childbirth. Why? People offer reasons: Costs are low … Women are healthy … Many are Catholic or Mormon, with traditions of large families. We follow four, ranging from a low-income single mom who needs the money to the head of the surrogacy agency, now carrying her fourth surrogate child. This film leaves way too many questions, but will stir strong emotions and arguments.