1) “The Resident,” 8 p.m., Fox. The two-week baseball break was perfectly timed for this show’s transition. It returns by jumping ahead a few years; the widowed Conrad has changed his life, so he can be with his pre-school daughter. Now, at least for a day, he’s back in his old hospital (shown here, right). With one exception (out-of-character behavior for Bell and Austin), it’s a terrific episode. Read more…
1) “Dexter: New Blood” debut, 9 p.m., Showtime. In its eight seasons, “Dexter” drew four best-drama Emmy nominations, plus five best-actor ones for Michael C. Hall (shown here), as a police technician who secretly killed bad guys. Now here’s the solid start of a 10-part mini-series: For a decade, Dexter has been hiding in upstate New York. In public, he’s cheerful, dating the police chief; in private, he argues with images of his late sister. He meets someone from his past and worries that his old ways may return. Read more…
1) “The Lost Symbol” opener, 10 p.m.. NBC. In three Ron Howard movies, Tom Hanks played Robert Langdon, a master of ancient symbols and codes. Now this prequel has young Langdon (Ashley Zukerman, shown here) trying to save his mentor (Eddie Izzard). The nine-week first season concludes Thursday on Peacock, where you can find the other episodes. To get us in the mood, NBC shelved a rerun of “Ordinary Joe” (which returns next week) and inserted this hour, a robust blend of peril and mystery. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Kieran Culkin’s “SNL” debut may have gone unnoticed. He was 9 then and cast as Froggy in a sketch; his brother Macaulay, 11, hosted. Now, 30 years later, Kieran is the host, with Ed Sheeran as music guest. Once merely the brother of the “Home Alone” kid (they’re shown here with their movie parents), he did indie films, getting awards for “Igby Goes Down” (2002). As the troubled Roman in “Succession,” he’s drawn praise, an Emmy nomination … and this belated eturn to “SNL” Read more…
1) Magnum P.I.” 9 p.m., CBS. After reruns last Friday, CBS is back to new hours. That includes “S.W.A.T.” – staying here, after CBS scuttled a plan to move it to Sundays — at 8 p.m. and “Blue Bloods” at 10. And it includes this episode, with a tricky twist: People usually hire a private eye when a marriage goes bad; now a guy wants his bride-to-be (shown here, right, with Higgins) investigated before the wedding. Read more…
1) “Queen Family Singalong,” 8 p.m., ABC. Back in 1971, the band Queen formed. With Freddie Mercury as lead singer, it would blast epic anthems, from “We Are The Champions” to “We Will Rock You.” Now its 50th anniversary is being celebrated this week – Monday on “Dancing With the Stars” and again here. Adam Lambert (who often takes the late Mercury’s spot) will perform; he’s shown here. Also performing: Darren Criss, Derek Hough, Fall Out Boy, Pentatonix, JoJo Siva, JimmieAllen and two Broadway casts. Read more…
1) “Dopesick,” any time, Hulu. As the sixth (of eight) episode begins, coal country has been shattered by OxyContin. An earnest doctor (Michael Keaton) has lost his license and is in rehab; his young patient (Kaitlyn Dever) is deeply addicted. Some federal officials in Virginia face resistance from the Purdue Pharma drug company and indifference from Department of Justice leaders. It’s s stunning episode, including great work from Keaton, Dever and (as an intense drug official, shown here) Rosario Dawson. Read more…
1) “Queens,” 10 p.m., ABC. The first two episodes brought extremes: A four-woman rap group (shown here) re-united after 20 years, soared during a TV-show song… then crashed in its first concert. Now it must repair the damage or quit again. Several scenes are brilliantly done, but wildly unbelievable – a rap battle (involving real-life music stars Eve and Brandy), a parent-teacher conference, a conservatory audition. Beautifully directed by Shiri Appleby, it’s excessive at times … then ends with a major jolt. Read more…
1) “The Big Leap,” 9 p.m., Fox. This show tries to do it all – comedy, drama and, at times, zesty dance moves. The previous episode was all-out drama; we learned that Gabby’s high school teacher fathered her son, then ignored them. Tonight, surprisingly, goes the other way. Gabby seethes, seeking revenge on the dancer who spilled her secret; Nick (Scott Foley), the producer, savors the notion; also, his choreographer has gone hallucinogenic. There are serious moments, too, but this one is mostly for fun. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., FXX. This is a rarity – a Sunday with no “Simpsons” on Fox. (Barring a four-game sweep, Fox has the World Series at 8:15 p.m. ET, with preview at 8.) Fortunately, there’s something better: FXX reruns the first 30 years of “Treehouse of Horror” episode (shown here), in order, from 9 a.m. to midnight. That’s followed by two other episodes – “Halloween of Horror” and “Thanksgiving of Horror” — at midnight and 12:30 a.m. Read more…
