Here’s what’s up in the world of television for Sunday, October 19. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Manhattan (WGN, 10 p.m.): You might imagine The A.V. Club’s TV writers as pompous, self-involved twits isolated in a velvet-lined living room atop an ivory tower, handing down opinions like proclamations of truth and never listening to the voices of the readers. And you’d be right, to an extent—who would ever want to leave a velvet-lined living room?—but we do try to take some time off from amusing ourselves to address the wants and the needs of you, the reader. After fielding several requests for further Manhattan coverage, we’re heeding the call, dispatching Brandon Nowalk to Los Alamos to review the show’s first-season finale. What exactly happened out in that desert, anyway? It’s difficult to get historical accounts through the gilded mail slot of our velvet-lined living room.
Also noted
The Simpsons (Fox, 8 p.m.): “Treehouse Of Horror XXV” presents a period piece of a different kind: The Simpsons of today meet the Simpsons of yesteryear—specifically the Simpsons of The Tracey Ullman Show. Dennis Perkins will also face his 1987 self, finally forced to reconcile his passion for the Linda Hamilton-Ron Perlman version of Beauty And The Beast.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): In the 9-9, it’s Halloween, too—“Halloween II,” actually, but LaToya Ferguson doesn’t care for such numeric wordplay.
Hungry Games (Food Network, 10 p.m.): Newly minted Top Chef judge and always enviable head of hair Richard Blais attempts to fill the Good Eats-shaped hole in your heart with a cooking show that also delves into the science and psychology of why you want to eat what you want to eat. (Something to consider: Maybe sometimes food just tastes good?)
Regular coverage
The Walking Dead (AMC, 9 p.m.)
The Good Wife (CBS, 9 p.m.)
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 9 p.m.)
Homeland (Showtime, 9 p.m.)
The Affair (Showtime, 10 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
The Simpsons (Classic): And now, for the thousands reading at home and the dozens watching along on DVD, world heavyweight criticism champion Kyle Fowle takes on “The Homer They Fall.” Ladies and gentlemen: Let’s get ready to reviewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
“Are ghosts still fake?” A What’s On Tonight/Destination America investigation
Amish Haunting (Destination America, 9 p.m.): The first-season finale tells the chilling tale of a “goat baby” and a “evil taxi,” and while goats remain real (and have babies, humorously referred to as “kids”), ghosts are still fake.
Ghost Stalkers (Destination America, 10 p.m.): When’s there’s something strange / in a neighborhood that’s easily accessible by actor Chad Lindberg and paranormal expert John E.L. Tenney/ Who you gonna call? / Ghost Stalkers! (Even though ghosts are still fake.)
What else is on
90 Day Fiancé (TLC, 9 p.m.): The show about love without borders (with a title that makes it sound like a diet being advertised on late-night TV) returns for a second season.
Cutthroat Kitchen (Food Network, 10:30 p.m.): A What’s On Tonight public service: Enraged by the news that Richard Blais is jacking his style, the once-sane host of Good Eats, Alton Brown, has broken out of his regularly scheduled timeslot in order to deliver this special episode of highly entertaining culinary torture.
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO, 11 p.m.): Another What’s On Tonight public service: Last Week Tonight was off last week, but tonight Last Week Tonight is all new.
Wedding Planner Mystery (Hallmark Movie Channel, 9 p.m.): Because you can only show so many Murder, She Wrote reruns, Hallmark Movie Channel now traffics almost exclusively in original movies that sound like they could be Murder, She Wrote episodes.
Sunday Night Football: 49ers at Broncos (NBC, 8:20 p.m.): Peyton Manning is three touchdown passes away from an NFL record, a feat the 49ers defense will attempt to prevent with its signature “Tie the quarterback’s arm behind his back” defense.
In case you missed it
The Knick (Friday): And so ends the first 10 episodes of an artfully directed solo performance by legendary New York Knickerbockers center Patrick Ewing. Oh, Brandon Nowalk has informed us that this television program isn’t about that Knick. We regret the error.