1) “Matlock” season-opener, 8:30 p.m., CBS (but 8 p.m. on the West Coast. Last season ended with Matty finding the key information: It was “Senior” (Beau Bridges) who ordered that the drug study be buried; his son Julian (Jason Ritter) did it. Now Julian’s ex-wife has the study and Matty (shown here) wants to go public. Tonight and Thursday, strong hours set the tone for this second season.
2) “Elsbeth” season-opener, 9:30 p.m., CBS. Here’s logical casting: Stephen Colbert plays a talk-show host, which he is …. Andy Richter plays a sidekick, which he was …. Amy Sedaris plays his wife (isn’t), a comedy writer (is). We quickly see a murder, then watch Elsbeth at work. It’s s fairly good episode; the next one (on Thursday) is brilliant.
3) “Maigret,” 9 p.m., PBS. The show’s first two-parter concludes as Maigret tackles opposite cases — a big-time, bank-heist crew and the murder of a good-hearted solo thief. It’s an excellent hour, despite so-so moments at the end. And it follows the “Brian and Maggie” finale, portraying a key interview, late in the era of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
4) “Haunted Mansion,” 3:40 p.m., Freeform (2003) and 8:30, ABC (2023). You can catch both versions — the original (with Eddie Murphy) and the so-so newer one. Freeform also has “Hotel Transylvania” films at 11:35 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., then “Addams Family” ones at 5:40 and 7:45.
5) Sports overload. Fox has the start of the American League championship play-offs, plus pro football. There’s more football on CBS and then NBC, with the Lions (4-1) at the Chiefs (2-3), at 8:15 p.m. ET. Also, ESPN has pre-season pro basketball, at 7 and 9:30.