1) “The Resident,” 8 p.m., Fox. This strong hour starts with one crisis and ends with another. As last week’s season-opener ended, a blind man wandered into a room that had a gas leak, then collapsed; Devon (shown here, left, in a previous episode) found him there, at the end of his shift, then also collapsed. That’s where we start this hour – which ends by introducing a fresh jolt. In between is a so-so story about Billie’s secret past.
2) “La Brea” debut, 9 p.m., NBC, rerunning at 8 p.m. Saturday. Like “Lost,” our characters are plunged into a strange, new world. This time, however, it happens instantly. The ground opens up, buildings crumble, people plunge into a netherworld. They deal with mysteries and creatures … while their friends and family are topside, surrounded by soldiers with secrets. It’s a fascinating start … clouded by NBC’s tradition of canceling sci-fi shows before they can be resolved.
3) “American Experience: Citizen Hearst” conclusion, 9-11 p.m., PBS. In the first half of this terrific documemtary, William Randolph Hearst used family money to build a string of big-city newpapers and more. Now we see him revel in fame and power … until outside events intervene: The Depression shattered his big-spending style; World War II partly salvages it.
4) “Our Kind of People,” 9 p.m., Fox. Brash, soap-opera moments quickly consume this hour. Angela tries to get an incubator grant for her salon … and tries to get a place in upper-crust society. Leah tries to overthrow her father as head of the company. Then, of course, soapy secrets emerge. One of the few reasonable souls is Raymond – Leah’s husband and the head of the grant program. He’s played by Morris Chestnut, who left a good show (“Resident”) to be in a super-soapy one.
5) “FBI International,” 9 p.m., CBS. Last week’s series debut was at 10 p.m., to wrap up a three-show story. Now “International” moves to its regular spot, but does borrow Jeremy Sisto from “FBI” as a guest star. The story involves a young mom who loses a custody case in the U.S., then flees with her son to Hungary … where there’s a fresh complication.