Week’s top-10 for Aug. 31: Summer reality shows end; fall mysteries begin

1) “Marble Hall Murders” opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, PBS. For the third time, Anthony Horowitz has written a six-part mini-series on two levels: A book editor (Lesley Manville) probes a murder, while imagining chats (shown here) with a fictional detective … whom we see in a related novel. Like the others, this is a wondrously clever blend of character and mystery. Read more…

1) “Marble Hall Murders” opener, 9 p.m. Sunday, PBS. For the third time, Anthony Horowitz has written a six-part mini-series on two levels: A book editor (Lesley Manville) probes a murder, while imagining chats (shown here) with a fictional detective … whom we see in a related novel. Like the others, this is a wondrously clever blend of character and mystery.

2) “9/11 United We Stand: 25 Years Later,” 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Two former New York sports stars, Derek Jeter and Michael Strahan, produced this view of sports and entertainment after the Sept. 11 attacks. It has Jon Bon Jovi, Pete Davidson, Jon Stewart and more. That streams (Disney+ and Hulu)
Wednesday, the day Netflix debuts “Generation 9/11.”

3) “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” finale, 8 p.m. today, ABC. By the end of the hour, someone will win a spot as one of the pro dancers on “Stars.” Two Los Angeles women — Selena Hamilton, 21, and Adele Zaikman, 24 — remain, alongside a London guy, AJ Pritchard, 31. They dance tonight with Adam Rippon, Nev Schulman and Charli D’Amelio.

4) “American Ninja Warrior” finale, 8-10 today, NBC. It’s time to find the 18th champion. In most years, there was a $1 million prize — but only for someone who finished the entire course on time; that only happened four times. Starting last year, that changed: The finish is a straight, head-to-head race, with the winner getting $250,000.

5) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. This quarter-finals line-up is a varied bunch. There are five singers (one who’s also a poet), two aerial acts (one that includes sword-swallowing), a comedian, a contortionist, a magician and, of course, dancing dogs. Viewers will vote and learn Wednesday who reaches the semi-finals Sept. 15.

6) “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” Wednesday, Disney+. This opened the summer in theaters, doing fairly well ($345 million) at the box office. Now it streams, alongside three “Mandalorian” seasons and a related Lego special. Also streaming: “Scary Movie,” Thursday, Paramount+; Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in “Mayday,” Friday, Apple.

7) “The Nation’s Dumbest,” 9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox. The final four keep trying to elude the title of “dumbest.” Three — JoJo Siwa, 23; Chase Hudson, 24; Anthony Michael Hall, 58 — were distracted by show-business during their school years; the fourth is Hilaria Baldwin, 42. With a clever host (Jack Whitehall), the show has had fun seeing them almost escape.

8) “Adults,” 9 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, FX and FXX. The first episode is funny; the second is wildly hilarious. It’s not for everyone — there’s LSD, sex, etc. — but it has five odd (and oddly likable) souls in their mid-20s, dealing with things they’re not ready for … including, a raccoon. You can also catch the full, eight-episode season (and last season) on Hulu.

9) “Sheriff Country” and “Boston Blue,” 9 and 10 p.m. Friday, CBS. After being bumped by football last week, both are back with reruns. First, the sheriff is wedged between the DEA and loyalty to her people. Then the Silvers mark the anniversary of their patriarch’s death, but also tackle cases, including the murder of a beloved shop owner.

10) MORE: The first full weekend of college football wraps with two games at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday: Notre Dame (ranked No. 4) hosts Wisconsin on NBC; Mississippi (No. 9) hosts Louisville (No. 24) on ABC. Also Sunday, “The Marlow Murder Club” (8 p.m., PBS) opens its season with a good two-parter, eyeing a possible poison-plant homicide.

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