Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, October 19. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): Oliver Queen, in all his political wisdom, really lucked out in not having to compete with the debate (that’s Frequency’s job). “Now that Oliver (Stephen Amell) has his new team, they are ready to hit the streets but Oliver doesn’t feel they are ready. Headstrong Wild Dog (guest star Rick Gonzalez) defies the Green Arrow’s orders and sets out on his own after a new drug dealer, Derek Sampson (guest star Cody Rhodes), who is terrorizing Star City.” “Headstrong” is certainly one way to describe Wild Dog, as he’s belonged in a Trapt music video since the moment he first appeared onscreen. But yes, in a rematch from last year’s SummerSlam, former WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes guest stars on this week’s Arrow. We wonder who at The CW has been reading Alasdair Wilkins’ dream journal.
The Third Presidential Debate (ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC/PBS, 9 p.m.): What more can we say at this point? Here we go again.
Lip Sync Battle (Spike TV, 9/9:30 p.m.): Lip Sync Battle is getting top pick status for two weeks in a row but only because the two best sisters from The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants—America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn, obviously—are facing off in said battle. That’s appointment television. That’s also so much the antithesis of what Spike TV’s brand initially was (supposedly still is?) that we just can’t help but point it out. Then, like last week’s Jimmy Fallon episode, the second episode has a competition where you just want to see the hopeful winner (Jane The Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez) crush the hopeful loser (Wilmer Valderrama). In lip syncing.
Premieres and finales
Chance (Hulu, midnight): The doctor is in. Again. Get it? Because Hugh Laurie was House on House? You get it. Now imagine him playing Chance on a show called Chance. Because that’s what’s happening here. Laurie plays a forensic neuro-psychiatrist “who reluctantly enters a dangerous and violent world of mistaken identity, police corruption, and mental illness.” You know, easy weekly viewing. And since everything always goes back to all eight seasons of House: Apparently House and Cuddy are now sharing custody of Paul Adelstein, as Adelstein has been stepping out on Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce to co-star in this.
People Of Earth (TBS, 8 p.m.): Oh yeah, we’ve got another new TBS sitcom on our hands. But here’s the thing: This is actually just a “sneak peak” of the Wyatt Cenac-led sitcom “about a support group for alien abductees and the skeptical journalist investigating them.” TBS has been doing a pretty great job with its sitcoms lately—say, have you seen The Detour yet?—so we’re looking forward to this one. If nothing else, maybe it’ll all end up like this, Ryan Gosling and all:
Little Women: Atlanta (Lifetime, 10 p.m.): The women had their second season hair show runway, and now it’s time to dish. It’s the Little Women: Atlanta “Reunion” part one, and that’s really all we’ve got. Clearly these women know how to keep a secret. Take notes, Real Housewives.
Regular coverage
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Frequency (The CW, 9 p.m.)
South Park (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
American Horror Story (FX, 10 p.m.)
You’re The Worst (FXX, 10 p.m.)
Streaming pick
House, “House’s Head”/“Wilson’s Heart” (Amazon Instant Video/iTunes/Netflix/YouTube): Everyone loves these two episodes of House, right? They’re like the complete opposite of the last three seasons of the series.