Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Sept. 27: Reality-show giants begin and end

1) “Survivor” opener, 8-9:30 p.m., CBS. This is the 45th edition, filled with people who obsess on the show. Indeed, there are three lawyers … and two of them lie about their profession, so they won’t be considered schemers. Returning is Bruce Perreault, who was seriously injured in the previous opener; now there’s another rough challenge (shown here) and another person needing medical attention. It’s a fun start, right up to the closing surprise. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 26: “Talent” leaves; “Stars” returns

1) “America’s Got Talent,” 9-11 p.m., NBC. After a summer of spectacle, the show has its 11 finalists. There are singers from Massachusetts and Indonesia, choirs from South Africa and North Carolina. There are two dance groups from Japan (including Avantgardey, the judges’ wild-card pick, shown here) and one from France, plus an Italian dog act, a Canadian comedian, a New Jersey magician and an acrobat duo from Tanzania. Now they perform and viewers vote; Wednesday has a recap at 8 and finale at 9. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 25: NBC scores with “Voice” and new drama

1) “The Irrational” debut, 10 p.m., NBC. After surviving a tragedy, Alec (Jesse L. Martin, shown here) began studying the criminal mind. Now he’s a behavioral science professor, working with the police, including his ex-wife. Tonight’s opening scene is a gem and the story that follows is quite good. After that, there are no guarantees; the second hour is so-so, the third bounces back. As one of the few new, scripted shows this season, this is worth trying. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 24: Costner vs. Krapopolis

1) “Krapopolis” debut (shown here), after football (about 8 p.m. ET), Fox. Tyrannis has this theory that people can live peacefully in cities. That’s viewed skeptically by his mom (a self-obsessed shapeshifter), dad (half-human) and sister (really macho). In tonight’s second episode, Olympic-type games implode. This is a broad comedy from the “Community” and “Rick and Morty” producer. It’s inconsistent, but a fun piece of the cartoon line-up that starts next Sunday. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 23: endless football … plus some laughs

1) Football, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC. Two top-10 teams collide, with Notre Dame (shown here) hosting Ohio State. That’s on the second Saturday this year (and the second one ever) when five broadcast networks have primetime games. Also at 7:30 p.m.. ABC has Texas at Baylor and CBS has Iowa at Penn State. CW has Georgia Tech at Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m.; Fox has Oregon State at Washington State at 7, then Southern Cal at Arizona State at 10:30. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 22: Streamers give us rock stars and assassins

1) “IHeartRadio Music Festival,” 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT), Hulu; continues Saturday. This used to give the CW network a vibrant start to its fall season. Now, instead, it’s livestreamed. Ryan Seacrest hosts from Las Vegas, with a line-up that has country (Tim McGraw, Kane Brown), rap and hip hop (Public Enemy, Lil Wayne) and waves of pop and R&B – Kelly Clarkson, Lenny Kravitz (shown here in a previous show), Sheryl Crow, Miguel, TLC, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters and more. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 21: on the brink of new season

1) “American Ninja Warrior,” 9-11 p.m., NBC. In two weeks, NBC will fill this spot with new episodes of “Transplant” (a fairly good Canadian drama) and reruns of “Dateline.” For now, it reruns the “Ninja” special (shown here) from Monday – a relay race involving people who are couples in real life. That’s preceded at 8 p.m. by a “Password” rerun that has Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 20: chefs conclude, horrors begin

1) “MasterChef” finale, 8-10 p.m., Fox. The South team has dominated all season. Last week, it had three people in the final six … but then two were ousted. That leaves Jennifer Maune (shown here), 42, a mother of six and lifestyle blogger who’s been a cheerleader, Junior Leaguer. real-estate salesperson and more. She faces people from the Midwest (Grant Gillan, 32, a brewery sales director) and West (Kennedy U., 26, a festival vendor). Each prepares a three-course dinner. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 19: “Frida” starts, “Talent” nears finish

1) “America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m., NBC. It’s time to fill the last spots in next week’s finals. Tonight’s contestants come from Russian Japan, Brazil, South Korea and Tanzania. They range from a 7-year-old dancer to a 61-year-old magician. There’s another magician, a dance group, an acrobat duo and a hula hoop aerialist, plus three solo singers, a duo (Trailer Flowers, shown here) and a chorus. Viewers will vote; on Wednesday, at least two acts will learn they’re in the finals. Read more…

Best-bets for Sept. 18: Country stars honored; daytime shows return

1) “Academy of Country Music Honors,” 8-10 p.m., Fox. This is a night to honor generations of country stars. There are the veterans – Clint Black, Tim McGraw, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the late Charlie Daniels – and newer arrivals, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton (shown here) and Breland. Carly Pearce hosts; the line-up has Keith Urban, Lady A, Lee Brice, Trisha Yearwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Priscilla Block, Chris Janson, Anne Wilson, and more. Read more…