Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, October 29. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Bones (Fox, 8 p.m.)/ Sleepy Hollow (Fox, 9 p.m.): Some network crossovers make sense: Sure the detectives of New York’s SVU sometimes share cases with the Chicago P.D. And naturally the superheroes of Arrow and The Flash would join forces when they need to battle a particularly tough foe. But its hard to imagine what Fox was thinking when it decided to combine it’s fairly realistic procedural show with its over-the-top supernatural series. Tonight’s Bones/Sleepy Hollow Halloween crossover special will certainly be, well, something. On Bones, Brennan and Booth find a 200-year-old headless corpse, which attracts the interest of FBI agent Abbie Millies and resurrected Revolutionary War hero Ichabod Crane. Then on Sleepy Hollow, Abbie and Ichabod search for supernatural reasons to make their case to Brennan and Booth. Zack Handlen hopes this is also the episode in which Booth reveals he’s actually a 300-year-old vampire named Angel. Hey, now that magic is real in the world of Bones, anything’s possible.
Also noted
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8 p.m.): Those who can’t handle the idea of two very different shows colliding over on Fox can enjoy this far less complex Halloween special instead.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): Tonight Damon gets some unwanted attention from Mary Louise and Nora; Stefan and Caroline attend Whitmore College’s Heaven and Hell ball; and Alaric and Bonnie set up a dangerous plan. Unlike Fox, which is just airing its fanfic on TV tonight, Carrie Raisler has decided to keep her Vampire Diaries/Crazy Ex-Girlfriend crossover fic to herself… for now.
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, 11 p.m.): Following a controversial (to say the least) episode of The Walking Dead, creator Robert Kirkman stops by Scott Aukerman’s couch just in time for Halloween. Emily L. Stephens can’t wait to [REDACTED] what Kirkman will [REDACTED] about [REDACTED].
Regular Coverage
Heroes Reborn (NBC, 8 p.m.)
Scandal (ABC, 9 p.m.)
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10 p.m.)
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
Elsewhere in TV Club
TV Club is a little quiet today, so be sure to check out all of our Horror Week coverage: Becca James and Alex McCown debate whether Cabin In The Woods is actually a horror movie in a brand new Crosstalk; Kyle Daly takes a stand against psychological horror; Dan Caffrey argues that the best Halloween movie of the past 35 years is a comic book; and we chat with John Carpenter about all things Halloween and Halloween.
What else is on?: Halloween Themed!
There are only two more sleeps until Halloween so get in the spooky mood with this (kind of) Halloween-themed programming:
Teen Titans Go! (Cartoon Network, 6:30 p.m.): The Titans throw a Halloween party, but it’s interrupted when the Hive Five rob a candy factory. Egads!
The This Old House Hour (PBS, 8 p.m.): Old houses are spooky, right? So see if you can withstand a whole hour of them! Mudrooms! Attic insulation! Dream-kitchen cabinets! THE HORROR!!!!
The Originals (The CW, 9 p.m.): The Originals rings in the Halloween season by introducing an ancient group of vampires called the Strix who decide to throw a gala. Our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.
Grantchester (PBS, 9 p.m.): While this British Masterpiece Mystery series isn’t exactly Halloween themed it does involve… murder! It’s also a surprisingly solid show buoyed by James Norton’s captivating performance and its willingness to critique 1950s society. So jump on board with this episode set at a jazz club.
Halloween Marathon (AMC, 10 a.m.): AMC is marathoning the Halloween franchise in a rather strange order today. Things kick off at 10 a.m. with the sixth film (Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers) followed by the eighth film (Halloween: Resurrection). Then at 2 p.m. the channel begins airing the franchise in order with Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween III: Season Of The Witch, Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael, and Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers. That means the seventh film—Halloween H20: 20 Years Later—is nowhere to be found nor are either of the Rob Zombie directed entries, although that’s probably a good thing.
The Little Shop Of Horrors (TCM, 6:45 p.m.): This 1960 black comedy would go on to inspire a 1982 Broadway musical which in turn would inspire a 1991 musical movie. Here a clumsy skid row florist finds himself in possession of a blood-thirsty plant. Oh and Jack Nicholson plays a masochistic dentist’s patient.
The Addams Family/ Addams Family Values (ABC Family, 7/9 p.m.): For those who prefer their Halloween movies to be more fun than spooky, ABC Family has you covered with an Addams Family double feature. First up is the perfectly cast 1991 film, which is followed by its even better sequel. We hear the family really is a scre-am.
Thursday Night Football: Dolphins at Patriots (CBS, 8:25 p.m.): Unfortunately football is not onboard with this spooky What’s On Tonight theme. Instead its airing a game featuring two of the least-scary mascots in the league. Thanks a lot NFL.
In case you missed it
Black-ish: After killing the Halloween-game last year with a Jackson 5 family costume, Black-ish takes a second stab at Dre’s favorite holiday. LaToya Ferguson weighs in on the episode’s tricks and treats.