Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, October 22. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Awkward. (MTV, 10:30 p.m.): This teen comedy wrapped the first half of its third season by putting a major kink in its central romantic relationship. Judging by the minimal amount of information that’s been made available about this midseason premiere—“Jenna hooks up with Collin”—What’s On Tonight can only guess that Myles McNutt is in for a half-hour where that particular complication happens over and over again. Sounds like an uncomfortable situation, if one that’s rife with comedic potential.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 8 p.m.): Is this the episode in which Agents confronts that frustrating decision to make Skye a double agent for Rising Tide, the one that makes her every action suspect and vulnerable to eventual undermining? David Sims can’t say, which only raises suspicions about his motivations and loyalties.
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): They did the mash! / They did the Liars Mash! / The Liars Mash! / It was a Halloween bash! / Caroline Siede subbed in with panache / She watched some Liars trash
30 For 30 (ESPN, 8 p.m.): Big Shot follows entrepreneur John Spano and his attempt to buy the New York Islanders with money that didn’t exist. Still, Kevin McFarland considers this less scandalous than the Gorton’s Fischerman the Isles wore on their chest the season before Spano’s abortive buyout.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): With the World Series due to begin tomorrow night, Fox’s primetime lineup needs to get its Halloween episodes in early. Molly Eichel joins the 99th precinct’s All Hallow’s Eve festivities in the guise of “TV reviewer pretending this episode is actually airing a week from tonight.”
New Girl (Fox, 9 p.m.): The celebration in Apartment 4D, meanwhile, involves Jess, Nick, and Winston teaming up to assume the role of Schmidt’s childhood hero: American hero and second-best screen Batman Michael Keaton. Erik Adams dons his finest Beetlejuice stripes for the occasion.
Trophy Wife (ABC, 9:30 p.m.): This week in “Taking an episode synopsis literally”: “Pete and Kate spice things up inside a janitor’s closet,” which, taken at face value, suggests a scene of Bradley Whitford and Malin Akerman mixing cleaning supplies with Tabasco sauce. Brandon Nowalk is more of a Cholula man, himself.
The Mindy Project (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): Former Mindy Project correspondent Katherine Miller is moving on to greener journalistic pastures, and we’ve yet to settle on her replacement. Not that we could ever truly replace you, Katherine—but we can find someone to comment on The One Where Mindy Goes to an MMA Bout in your stead.
Person Of Interest (CBS, 10 p.m.): The Machine does some scouting for potential future operators, pulling the number of a 10-year-old girl who just so happens to be something of a surveillance wiz. In other words: Yet another obstacle keeping Phil Dyess-Nugent from hanging out with Michael Emerson.
Sons Of Anarchy (FX, 10 p.m.): Heads up: Sons Of Anarchy will require an additional 15 minutes of your time tonight. Zack Handlen suggests planning accordingly by taking 15 1-minute naps throughout your workday.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Mother Of All Talent (TVGN, 8 p.m.): The channel formerly known as the TV Guide Network branches further into Bravo/Lifetime territory, introducing a mother-daughter team of talent scouts who are sure to scream their way into your heart.
Ravenswood (ABC Family, 9 p.m.): Pretty Little Liars’ eventual takeover of ABC Family’s entire lineup begins in earnest, with the premiere of the supernaturally tinged spin-off Todd VanDerWerff says “forgot to be stupid.” Unfortunately, in the “down is up” world of crummy teen soaps, that’s a bad thing.
American Daredevils (History, 10 p.m.): Critics of History’s ongoing channel drift get some new cannon fodder, which they can load into a cannon behind the stunt performers whose lives form the basis of this new docuseries.
Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host (TBS, 10:30 p.m.): Contestants compete for fame and glory (read: money) by attempting to correctly guess whether D.L. Hughley or Michael Ian Black is the man with the right answer. Word to the wise: If Black says that cheese is on the phone, choose Hughley—BECAUSE CHEESE CAN’T DIAL A PHONE.
Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (AMC, 8 p.m.): Warning: Should you choose to watch the Halloween franchise’s one-off detour from Michael Myers’ reign of terror, don’t do so while wearing your super cool Silver Shamrock ask. Unless, that is, you want to end up with a squishy head full of poisonous snakes.
The Andromeda Strain (Encore, 8 p.m.): In a more unorthodox pick for the witching season, Encore presents the conclusion to A&E’s 2008 adaptation of Michael Crichton’s apocalypse-by-epidemic saga. At the very least, it provides the opportunity to simultaneously watch Andre Braugher battle a deadly virus and station-house high jinks.
NHL Hockey: Predators at Wild (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.): A.k.a. “When a Western Conference matchup reads like the title of a National Geographic special.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Mom: Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer expands her sitcom portfolio by following her 30 Rock guest shot with a stopover in Anna Faris’ neck of the woods. If a CBScomedywas ever to stage an acting-off for Todd VanDerWerff’s personal enjoyment, it’d be the showdown between Spencer and Allison Janney seen here.