What's On TV Tonight? - 10/24/2012
Looks like a decent night of TV, with ABC loading up their comedy bloc with Halloween specials, while The CW looks to extend the success of Arrow. Meanwhile, on FOX, we have game 1 of the World Series, and an all-new American Horror Story: Asylum on sister network FX. What will you be watching?
7:30 PM ET2012 World Series ("Game 1: Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants") - October Fever is in full swing, and while some would prefer to remedy their ailment with a variety of pumpkin-flavored nourishment, many more prefer the comfort of fanatical baseball obsession. Good times. (FOX)
8:00 PM ET
The Middle ("Halloween III: The Driving") - Sue accidentally runs over Axl's foot while practicing driving; Brick binges on Halloween candy. Man, I've been there. (ABC)
Survivor: Philippines ("Down and Dirty") - Things get dirty, in more ways than one, at a challenge; an unprecedented move is made. I hope it's someone voting out Abi-Maria, in an unprecedented show of good sense. (CBS)
Animal Practice ("The Two George Colemans") - Jill's presence at the hospital threatens George; Dorothy judges a Halloween pet costume contest. Doesn't look like this series is long for this world. (NBC)
Arrow ("Lone Gunmen") - When someone kills one of Oliver's targets, he searches for the person responsible; Tommy and Laurel are caught in an awkward situation. That could mean almost anything. So I'm deciding it means a Pants-off Dance-Off. (The CW)
8:30 PM ET
The Neighbors ("Halloween-ween") - ABC's Halloween comedy lineup continues with the Weavers introducing the aliens to Halloween. Good on them, since any attempt on my part to explain Earth customs to aliens would invariably result in the total destruction of Earth. (ABC)
Guys With Kids ("Apartment Halloween") - Nick goes to war with the new co-op board president, Lydia (Marissa Jaret Winokur), when she forbids his annual Halloween decorations. The temerity! (NBC)
9:00 PM ET
Modern Family ("Open House of Horrors") - Phil decides to hold an open house on Halloween, which sounds like it could be the worst idea in the history of ever. So expect it to turn out beautifully. Oh, and Cam and Mitchell throw a Halloween party. Fingers crossed for the return of Fizbo. (ABC)
Criminal Minds ("God Complex") - The BAU team pursues an amateur surgeon who amputates limbs from his victims; Reid's calls to a mystery woman create intrigue. Better that than restraining orders. (CBS)
Law & Order: SVU ("Manhattan Vigil") - SVU reaches a huge milestone with their 300th episode tonight, in which the kidnapping of a young boy reminds Cragen, Munch and Benson of a unsolved case from 13 years earlier. Hard to believe it's been fourteen seasons. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if SVU overtook the 20 seasons of the flagship L&O (well, it might surprise me a little). (NBC)
Supernatural ("Bitten") - As Dean and Sam investigate a strange murder in a college town, they discover two dead bodies and disturbing video footage. Probably the pilot of CW's Beauty and the Beast. (The CW)
9:30 PM ET
Suburgatory ("The Witch of East Chatswin") - Tessa convinces Dalia and her friends to think up feminist-inspired Halloween costumes, which attracts the attention of the Chatswin witch. Really, every town should have a designated town witch. (ABC)
10:00 PM ET
Nashville ("Someday You'll Call My Name") - Rayna learns her family is facing financial ruin; Juliette asks Deacon to write and tour with her exclusively; Juliette's mother re-enters her life. The ratings for this show aren't looking all that great, which shows what I know when it comes to picking out hits. That said, the show is still damn good. Still don't know why everybody keeps comparing Juliette Barnes to Taylor Swift though. They have about as much in common as I've got with Clive Owen. (ABC)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ("It Was A Very Good Year") - The murder of a famous music historian has an emotional impact on Sanders. I've heard of music historians, but are there actually famous music historians? (CBS)
Chicago Fire ("Professional Courtesy") - Casey must decide whether to turn in a cop's son who paralyzed a teen in a drunken-driving accident; Severide learns he has a fractured vertebra; Mills is torn between his mother and the job. You'd think a show about hot firefighters would be more successful than the dismally-rated series. I blame the timeslot. Also its questionable quality. (NBC)
American Horror Story: Asylum ("Tricks and Treats") - An exorcist is called to Briarcliff to help save a troubled farm boy; Sister Jude's darkest secret is revealed. Because, really, Halloween is the best time of year to air dirty laundry, right next to Thanksgiving dinner and the office Christmas party. (FX)
South Park ("A Nightmare on FaceTime") - Randy's big plans for Halloween night keep Stan from trick or treating with his friends. Randy-centric episodes tend to be hit or miss, but they're usually a hit when pairing him with perpetually-embarrassed Stan. His face-palm animation is worth the price of admission alone. (Comedy Central)
10:30 PM ET
Key & Peele ("Season 2, Episode 5") - Sketches include a dog scaring a news reporter; Harriet Tubman free running. Don't let the synopsis dissuade you, this is one of the funnier shows on TV right now. (Comedy Central)
LATE NIGHT
Conan has actors Rainn Wilson, Elisha Cuthbert, and music by Two Door Cinema Club. (11:00 PM ET, TBS)
Chelsea Lately features actress Helen Hunt. Other guests include: Michael Yo; Arden Myrin; Matt Braunger.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart features author Dakota Meyer. (11 PM ET, Comedy Central)
The Colbert Report features author Anthony Everitt. (11:30 PM ET, Comedy Central)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes President Barack Obama, and features music by No Doubt. (11:30 PM ET, NBC)
The Late Show with David Letterman has TV host Bill O'Reilly; reality-TV star Nicole ``Snooki'' Polizzi; music by The Lumineers. (11:30 PM ET, CBS)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has musician Axl Rose; actress Ana Gasteyer; musical guest The Whigs. (12:00 AM ET, ABC)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has Singer Rod Stewart; actress Jennifer Morrison; actor Chris D'Elia. (12:30 AM ET, NBC)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson welcomes Actress Susan Sarandon; author David Benioff; comic Thomas Dale. (12:30 AM ET, CBS)
