1) “Chicago P.D.,” 10 p.m., NBC. Some classic questions re-surface here: Can two wrongs make a right? Are there times for a cop to look the other way? Are there any moral certainties on the mean streets? This solidly crafted episode (shown here) has no answers, but offers a stark and startling conclusion. Read more…
1) “The Conners,” 8 p.m., ABC. Back when “Roseanne” was in its prime, the sisters (Roseanne and Jackie) opened the Lunch Box diner. A lot has changed since then – the Roseanne character died, the show changed its name – but now Jackie wants to re-open the diner. Also, Darlene (Sara Gilbert, shown here in a previous episode with John Goodman) tries to straighten out her own life: After secretly dating both David and Ben, she now has neither. Read more…
1) “All Rise,” 9 p.m., CBS. At its best, this show does it all: It has a serious case-of-the-week, but has time for humor or human drama involving Judge Lola and her colleagues. That’s complicated, though: After rising to its best in its pilot film, it sagged for a couple weeks; now it’s back: A TV star is dead and her assistant is tried for murder. That draws a high-profile lawyer (Jere Burns, right in the photo here) and press coverage that calls Lola “fierce and fabulous.” She is, but this hour also has great moments for the show’s five co-stars. Read more…
1) “The Walking Dead,” 9 p.m., AMC, rerunning at 11:04 p.m. and 1:08 a.m. “Our real enemy is outside,” someone argues. That’s an understatement. Outside Alexandria’s make-shift walls, there are zombies and “Whisperers,” pretending to be zombies. But inside, more hatred builds. It’s aimed at young Lydia, who was once (shown here a Whisperer with her parents; and it’s aimed at her friend Negan, former head of the evil Saviors. It’s a strong, tense hour, spiced with moments of high-octane action. Read more…
1) World Series, 8:07 p.m. ET, Fox; pre-game at 7:30. The fourth game of the best-of-seven series has the Houston Astros in Washington, D.C. (shown here) — a place that’s not used to this. Teams were based in Washington during 85 previous seasons, but they only reached the Series three times … most recently in 1933. Until this year, only 10 Series games had been played in Washington – four in 1924 (when the Senators won their only championship) and three each in ’25 and ’33. Now the Nationals are having their turn. Read more…
1) “Charmed,” 8 p.m., CW. As the final seven days of October begin, Halloween themes fill our TV sets. Few shows fit as perfectly as this smart-but-weird tale of three witches and their mentor. Chased by demons, they reached an alternate world, where only Macy still has her powers. Tonight, she ends up imprisoned alongside an intriguing new character (shown here). Also, Mel and Harry visit exotic dimensions. And Macy must find a new way to get a key card, after the one she swiped becomes useless. Read more…
1) “Evil,” 10 p.m., CBS. A week before the holiday, here are four Halloween-night plotlines, including two compelling ones for Kristen and her kids (shown here). She’s at an exorcism gone bad; they’re at a party with a scary newcomer … and Ben is trying to debunk a ghost-hunter show. Mixed in are some scenes that are brilliantly played by two gifted Emmy-winners — Michael Emerson as the creepy/crafty Leland and Christine Lahti as Kristen’s mom. Blend these together and you have a great hour. Read more…
1) “Moana” (2016) and “The Simpsons,” 5:30 p.m. and 8-11 p.m., Freeform. Here are the opposite extremes of animation: “Moana” (shown here) is light, bright and family-friendly, with appealing songs (co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda) sung by Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and others. Then comes dark – and sometimes gory – wit from Bart Simpson and family in six “Treehouse of Horror” reruns. Read more…
1) World Series, 8:08 p.m. ET, Fox; pre-game at 7:30. It’s a match-up no one expected. The Washington Nationals’ franchise (which started 50 years ago in Montreal) had never been to the Series; two other franchises spent 70 years in Washington and got there three times – most recently in 1933. After starting this season at 19-31, the Nationals won 66 per cent of their games … won the wildcard game … beat the Dodgers three-out-of-five … and swept the Cardinals; now they face the Houston Astros. Read more…
1) “Catherine the Great” opener, 10 p.m., HBO, rerunning at 11. Helen Mirren has been three queens – Charlotte and both Elizabeths; now it’s her turn to be a Russian empress. Catherine – previously played by Marlene Dietrich and Catherine Zeta-Jones – was 32 when her husband became the Russian emperor in 1762 … and 33 when she ousted him via a coup. She ruled for 34 years, amid modernizing and conquest. This four-part mini-series was filmed in palaces in Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. Read more…
