The Collider Weekly TV Guide is a rundown of notable episodes, premieres, returns, finales, and opportunities to catch up on great shows (or cast an eye to the occasional TV train wreck). Check out our picks for the week of September 28th:
Monday, 9/28
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah(Comedy Central, 11 p.m.) – The venerable news-comedy program returns with contributorTrevor Noahtaking the helm from the legendaryJon Stewart. Noah has described the first week of the show as a sort of mini-series, catching up with recent news and settling into the new format, which promises to wrangle in more internet-based reporting.
Tuesday, 9/29
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Season 3 Premiere, “Laws of Nature” (ABC, 9 p.m.) - In the Season 3 premiere, Coulson (Clark Gregg) finds a new Inhuman with help from the team, leading to S.H.I.E.L.D. coming face-to-face with a similar organization that seeks to find people with special powers. Meanwhile, Fitz (Iain De Caestecker)goes to extreme measures to find out what happened to his disappeared colleague.
Drunk History, “Cleveland” (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.) – One of the most underrated and original comedy series on television takes on the great traditions of Cleveland, with sauced local comedians and historians loosely recounting major moments in the history of Ohio’s greatest city.
Wednesday, 9/30
Empire, “Without a Country” (FOX, 9 p.m.) – In the second episode ofEmpire’s ludicrously entertaining Season 2, Lucious (Terrence Howard) begins to plan his comeback, but runs into some trouble from an angry prison guard, played byChris “Ludicrous” Bridges. Meanwhile, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) plan to start their own record label, looking into creating a Hispanic girl-group.
Code BlackSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (CBS, 10 p.m.) - Tell me if this sounds familiar: a melodrama based in a hospital, involving the doctors and nurses who are in charge of the nation’s busiest emergency room. At least this one is top-lined by heavy-hitters likeMarcia Gay HardenandLuis Guzman. Check back for Allison’s review.
Chicago P.D.Season 3 Premiere, “Life is Fluid” (NBC, 10 p.m.) - In the Season 3 premiere of this loathsome procedural-melodrama, an off-shoot of the equally risibleChicago Fire, the head of a heroin empire kidnaps a detective and the central characters deal with the fall-out of last season’s predictably ridiculous drama.
Thursday, 10/1
Sleepy HollowSeason 3 Premiere, “I, Witness” (FOX, 9 p.m.) - New enemies and evil forces begin to show up to make Crane and Abbie’s (Tom MisonandNicole Beharie) life a living hell when a mysterious tablet surfaces in the Season 3 premiere of this amiable fantasy series.
The BlacklistSeason 3 Premiere, “The Troll Farmer” (NBC, 9 p.m.) - As Season 3 opens, the FBI is on the hunt for Liz (Megan Boone), in response to the death of an attorney general, while Red (James Spader) and her seek help from a Blacklister named the Troll Farmer to get out of the country. Tune in to get an unconvincing reason for any man or woman to be nicknamed the Troll Farmer.
Friday, 10/2
Dr. KenSeries Premiere, “Pilot” (ABC, 8:31 p.m.) - Actual former doctor and hugely talented comedianKen Jeongfinally gets his own half-hour series, playing a cynical, beleaguered doctor and family man. In the opening episode, he seeks therapy to deal with his frustration over his patients' never-ending complaints and worries over his daughter getting her license.
Sunday, 10/4
Madam SecretarySeason 2 Premiere, “The Show Must Go On” (CBS, 8 p.m.) - When the President’s plane disappears over the Pacific, Elizabeth (Tea Leoni) must take the oath of office, as Henry (Tim Daly) is asked by the Defense Intelligence Agency to recruit a Russian student to help the U.S. government. Always something going on in this patently dull political melodrama.
The Good WifeSeason 7 Premiere, “Bond” (CBS, 9 p.m.) - Alicia (Julianna Marguiles) locks horns with attorney Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo) in the Season 7 premiere of this smart, entertaining melodrama, competing over clients. Meanwhile, Peter (Chris Noth) brings in a national strategist to help with his campaign for the Presidency, putting him in a strange situation with Eli (Alan Cumming).
Fear the Walking DeadSeason Finale, “The Good Man” (AMC, 9 p.m.) - The dead rise up in the season finale of this increasingly gripping and brilliantly written series, forcing Madison and Travis (Kim DickensandCliff Curtis) to rethink how they’ll raise their children and survive in the new world. Expect a tumultuous end to arguably one of the best spin-offs to ever see release on television.
HomelandSeason 5 Premiere, “Separation Anxiety” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) – The sensational Season 5 premiere ofHomeland, Showtime’s flagship political drama, finds Carrie (Claire Danes) in Berlin, working for a wealthy philanthropist looking to give money to refugees in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Sal (Mandy Patinkin) and Dar (F. Murray Abraham) must deal with the fallout from a data breach that reveals a covert spying relationship between Germany and America. Check back for Allison’s review.
The LeftoversSeason 2 Premiere, “Axis Mundi” (HBO, 9 p.m.) - HBO’s grim, occasionally fascinating fantasy-drama returns in a new town, Miracle, where there were zero departures during the event. Longtime resident of the town, John Murphy (Kevin Carroll), however, is suspicious of false prophets and carpetbaggers. When Kevin (Justin Theroux), Nora (Carrie Coon), and Jill (Margaret Qualley) arrive, taking off from New York, they are welcomed, but things are not as they seem in Miracle. Check back for Allison’s review.
The StrainSeason 2 Finale, “Night Train” (FX, 10 p.m.) - The shockingly strong second season ofGuillermo Del Toro’s horror-drama series comes to a close as Setrakian (David Bradley) and Fett (Kevin Durand) join up with an unexpected colleague to gain control of the Lumen, while Eph, Nora, and Zack (Corey Stoll,Mia Maestro, andMax Charles) struggle to escape from New York. Prepare for some major surprises.
The AffairSeason 2 Premiere (Showtime, 10 p.m.) - Divorce is in the air at the top of Season 2 of this intermittently thrilling marital drama when Noah (Dominic West) and Helen (Maura Tierney) begin proceedings to end their marriage, which brings out surprising emotions and reactions from Helen.
