1) “NCIS: Origins,” 9 p.m., CBS. This prequel series adds an early version of “Ducky” Mallard (shown here, left), the “NCIS” medical examiner. It also has a nod to David McCallum, who played Dr. Mallard for 20 years, until his death in 2023, at 90. McCallum was also a musician, son of the London Philharmonic’s top violinist. His instrumental is featured here. Read more…
1) World Series, 8 p.m. ET, Fox, with pre-game at 7. The Toronto Blue Jays (shown here) hosted the first two games. Now the best-of-seven series move to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for games today, Tuesday and (if needed) Wednesday. If needed, it returns to Toronto on Friday and Saturday. Today’s game collides with football on ABC, with the Commanders (3-4) and Chiefs (4-3). Read more…
1) “Talamasca” openers, 9 and 10:14 p.m., AMC; also 11:17 and 12:31. Far from her “Downton Abbey” world, Elizabeth McGovern plays a recruiter for a secret group that tries to control supernatural forces. Now she eyes a brilliant and tormented young man (they’re shown here). This Anne Rice spin-off evolves way too slowly, but it’s beautifully written, acted and filmed. Read more…
1) New Christmas movies, 8 p.m. Hallmark and 8 p.m. ET, Great American Family. Yes, Christmas films … six days before Halloween. Both channels rerun previous ones all ay, then have a new one. For “GAF,” it’s “A Royal Icing Christmas.” For Hallmark, “Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper” has a weatherman (Robert Buckley, shown here) return home, where (surprise?) he sees his former teen crush. Read more…
1) “Boston Blue,” 10 p.m., CBS. With his son (a Boston cop) out of the hospital, Danny Donnie Wahlberg, shown here with Gloria Reuben and Sonequa Martin-Green) plans to return to New York soon. Then a murder case drops in front of him … literally. This hour reflects the show’s strengths — good characters, twisty story, action — and a flaw: With so many regulars, it tries to include everyone; that requires a clumsy plot detour. Read more…
1) “Elsbeth,” 10 p.m., CBS. As a young widow, Raquel (Julia Fox, shown here) finds fame and fortune as a “grief influencer.” Things seem fine … until her husband turns out to be alive. It’s a clever hour, following a “Matlock” in which Matty and Olympia — once friends, now foes — must combine when the law firm probes its security breach. Read more…
1) “Anyone But You” (2023), 8 p.m., FX, rerunning at 10. Here’s a romantic comedy that gets it all right — clever plot (borrowing from Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”), sharp direction and skilled stars (Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, shown here). They have a great meet-cute and an arbitrary break-up, then keep bickering back toward love. Read more…
1) “Doc,” 9 p.m., Fox. Yes, TV is stuffed with Ozempic ads, forever hinting at weight-loss benefits. But here’s a smart and neatly calibrated story: One doctor hates the notion of eagerly prescribing these pills; another (Amy, shown here in a previous episode) is hesitant. Alongside that, we see patients at opposite extremes. There’s another good patient story and some so-so doctor ones Read more…
1) “DMV” (shown here in a different episode), 8:30 p.m., CBS. This episode, like last week’s debut, is fast and fun. On a scorching day (shown here), these Department of Motor Vehicles workers are banned from touching the air-conditioning. Naturally, Colette obsesses on it … and on making sure the cute guy doesn’t quit. Read more…
1) “The Simpsons,” 8 p.m., Fox. The 36th Halloween special arrives, a tad early. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes way too violent, but always with sharp satire. One portion points to the quality kids’ shows that have ended. Others view our obsession with greasy food and with plastic (shown here). Homer fighting lard or turning into plastic? It’s both ominous and entertaining. Read more…
