Rejoice, ashholes! The Good Place is back

Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Thursday, September 27. All times are Eastern.

Top pick

The Good Place (NBC, 8 p.m.): It’s not every day that the motherforking best show of 2017 returns, but it is a day, and that day is today. Frozen yogurt for all! What, you need more than that? Okay, here goes: Benevolent demon (or god, or whatever) Michael Schur and the folks at NBC have gifted us with a one-hour premiere, so we’ve got parts one and two of “Everything Is Bonzer!” tonight. That’s two parts in which to check in on Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason. Two parts in which to see how much meddling Michael and Janet can get away with. Two parts worth of irreverent world-building, big questions about existence, and puns, so many puns. Dennis Perkins has returned to earth and stands ready to rack up some points for the afterlife by guiding us through the finer parts of what’s sure to be a surprising evening. This is going to be some real good shirt.

Regular coverage

How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10 p.m.): Fifth-season premiere
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 p.m.): Twentieth-season premiere

Wild card

Murphy Brown (CBS, 9:30 p.m.): The first episode of Murphy Brown’s 11th season premiere—its first in 20 years, it should be noted—is called “Fake News.” If you’re wondering if the return of Candice Bergen’s sharp journalist and the groundbreaking series in which she dwells has anything at all to do with the current state of the world, that should be answer enough. Now Murphy hosts a morning show (Murphy In The Morning), while her son—remember her son?—is the left-leaning voice at the conservative behemoth Wolf Network (get it?). Whether or not both Murphy and Murphy can thrive in 2018 remains to be seen; look for Erik Adams’ pre-air review later today.