Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, October 29. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Lucha Underground (El Rey, 8 p.m.): It’s the series premiere of the newest sports entertainment (that’s “professional wrestling,” for those in the know) promotion, Lucha Underground. Featuring wrestlers from Mexican promotion AAA and the independent wrestling circuit—wrestlers such as Brian Cage, Chavo Guerrero, John Morrison, Ricochet, and Ivelisse—the promotion hopes to bring a little lucha flavor to the states as the roster battles for “lucha supremacy.” If it sounds a little like MTV’s failed Wrestling Society X, hopefully it’s only the best parts of that project. Sorry, Three 6 Mafia.
Also noted
Black-ish (ABC, 9:30 p.m): Ah, an episode of Black-ish all about the tried and true black American tradition of pulling tricks instead of treats. Or something like that. This time around, Dre gets bent out of shape about his kids outgrowing their family Halloween tradition of pulling escalating pranks on each other. You know what would get them back on board? A good-old fashioned whooping. Unfortunately, Dre and Rainbow decided they weren’t spanking people last week, so Dre will just have to try a different approach. Pilot Viruet is here to find the happy medium between it all.
The League (FXX, 10 p.m.): Taco in the morning, Taco in the evening, Taco at supper time. Translation: It’s a Taco-centric episode of The League with “Taco Standard Time.” David Kallison will be filling in this week to talk about all things Taco. Hopefully the catchiness of that Taco theme song doesn’t distract him too much. (Taco.)
Key & Peele (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.): This week’s episode is titled “Scariest Movie Ever,” which pairs nicely with the news of Jordan Peele’s horror movie. Brandon Nowalk just wants to make it safely through the night. Word of advice: Go out the front door, not up the stairs, Brandon.
Regular coverage
The Middle (ABC, 8 p.m.) / The Goldbergs (ABC, 8:30 p.m.)
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.)
Modern Family (ABC, 9 p.m.)
South Park (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.)
American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX, 10 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Lost (Classic) (1 p.m.): This week on the Lost slate are the Jack-centric “The Hunting Party” and the Charlie-centric “Fire + Water,” which means plenty of daddy issues. Myles McNutt is looking forward to playing armchair therapist for anyone who needs to work through their own daddy issues—that is a promise.
Elsewhere in TV Club
Emily Stephens offers up a For Our Consideration about the horror that is television, as depicted by film (Poltergeist, Videodrome, and Ringu, to be exact). Oh, film. It can be so dramatic, can’t it?
Also, Genevieve Valentine has a TV Club 10 (10 a.m.) dedicated to important television episodes that have one thing in common: vampires. May this piece live on forever, just like its subjects.
What else is on (that just got a full-season pick-up)?
The Mysteries Of Laura (NBC, 8 p.m.): Not only is Laura reconnecting with her estranged father—father-daughter relationships are a mystery, huh—in this episode, she’s going undercover. As a high-stakes poker player. I know what you’re thinking: A middle-aged woman can’t repair her relationships with any of the men in her life who have let her down! As usual, The Mysteries Of Laura is here to prove that line of thinking wrong, now with 100% more underground Koreatown gambling.
Stalker (CBS, 10 p.m.): The team is investigating haunted houses and ghosts now, because the show honestly ran out of straight up stalking topics back in episode four. With any luck, Stalker will become a retread of Supernatural (season seven) by season’s end.
What else is on?
Ghost Hunters (Syfy, 9 p.m.): What better way to get into the Halloween spirit—and the ninth season finale of Ghost Hunters—than to experience the very terrifying scenario of not encountering any ghosts. Best case scenario: The episode is a little like this sketch from the latest Saturday Night Live:
Couples Therapy (VH1, 9 p.m.): “Nikki and Juan Pablo hit a crossroads in their relationship.” They’re broken up now. It was all over the news (Us Magazine, that is) just the other day. That’s not really a crossroads, now is it? Get it together, Couples Therapy.
Nashville (ABC, 10 p.m.): “A backup singer helps Deacon.” Is no one involved with Nashville concerned that this is basically the same description as Scarlett’s plot from last week, only with “backup singer” replacing “homeless person”? Is Nashville essentially one big game of Mad Libs? Why are there so many questions when it comes to Nashville?
The Addams Family (ABC Family, 7 p.m.) / Addams Family Values (ABC Family, 9 p.m.): The fact that The 700 Club airs right after these movies is pretty beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the love between Gomez and Morticia Addams.
Psycho (TCM, 8 p.m.) / Touch Of Evil (TCM, 10 p.m.): If you want to live (or re-live) the experience of being a first year film student, this double feature is just the right fit for you. Don’t forget to develop some pedestrian opinions about French New Wave somewhere in between—it’s actually a prerequisite.
MLB Baseball: Giants at Royals (Fox, 7:30 p.m.): You might think you read something about SeaWorld, dogs, and Gordon Ramsay, but you would be sorely mistaken. Nope, nothing to see here but the seventh and final game of the World Series. Losing 10-0? Really, Giants? How do you even do that? I can barely even do that in Wii Baseball, and the AI in that game is like a proto-SkyNet.
NBA Basketball: Bulls at Knicks (ESPN, 8 p.m.): If you’re into “real” sports, then maybe the Bulls taking on the Knicks might tickle your fancy. According to Carmelo Anthony, “the preseason is over and it’s time to lock in.” Consider that a warning both to the Bulls and the fans watching at home.
Impact Wrestling (Spike, 9 p.m.): If you’re interested in another WWE alternative in all things sports entertainment, TNA’s Impact Wrestling might intrigue you with this week’s card. There’s a World Title match, a battle of the Bobbys (Lashley versus Roode), but the smart money’s on Samoa Joe and Low-Ki versus MVP and Kenny King being a much more entertaining match. That is, as entertaining as TNA can even be any more, even with geniuses like EC3 on the roster.
In case you missed it
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: In all the talk of Marvel’s latest features slate, no one thought about the very important question: What about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Thankfully, Oliver Sava is still around to ask and answer that question on a weekly basis.