As edgy as cable TV gets, network consistently gets it wrong in trying to convey the same mood. Take the new “Wicked City” (ABC, 10 p.m.), an anthology series in the way “True Detective” or “Fargo” is, with a new story every season. In this case the constant is Los Angeles and serial killers. But the already smarmy Ed Westwick of “Gossip Girl” is the obvious offender on the Sunset Strip in the hair metal heyday of 1982. Erika Christensen is the oddball who loves him for it. Taiga Farming plays kind of the role she played in the similarly mark-missing “Aquarius,” this time as a journalist and Jeremy Sisto and Gabriel Luna are detectives on the case. Off-putting is the result.
The 111th World Series begins its best of seven game in Missouri with New York at Kansas City (Fox, 8 p.m.) and pitcher Matt Harcey vs. Edison Volquez.
Correspondent Martin Smith finds his way into war-torn Syria for his eye-opening report on “Frontline” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings). There, he finds things going surprisingly normal in Damascus, at least until his contact is killed by mortar fire. And with Syrian public relations working overtime to whip up tourism despite bombs from Russia and an overthrow of Palmyra by ISIS, a man is also hit by shrapnel outside his hotel room.
The 15th season of “Secrets of the Dead” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) begins with an investigation to the reality of vampires, including an interview with the great-grandnephew of “Dracula” author Bram Stoker.
Neve Campbell joins the cast of “Manhattan” (WGN America, 9 p.m.), playing Robert Oppenheimer’s wife, and Mamie Gummer also joins the cast.
Attempts are made to mend mother-daughter relationships on the new series “Fix My Mom” (Oxygen, 9 p.m.).
Bradley Cooper is finally back on “Limitless” (CBS, 10 p.m.).
The Huangs celebrate Halloween on “Fresh Off the Boat” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
And on “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC, 8 p.m.), Ray Parker Jr. is persuaded to sing “Ghostbusters.” Killy Ripa also is a guest.
Yet another new spinoff of the original cooking competition, now using young chefs is “Chopped Junior” (Food Network, 8 p.m.).
Simmons is saved from another planet on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Miss Piggy and Reese Witherspoon are rivals on “The Muppets” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
There’s a death to deal with on “Being Mary Jane” (BET, 10 p.m.) and it’s not the one on “The Walking Dead.”
International women directors are the focus on Turner Classic Movies with Jacqueline Audry’s original French “Gigi” (8 p.m.), Agnes Varda’s “Cleo From 5 to 7” (9:30 p.m.), Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!” (11:15 p.m.), Lina Wertmuller’s “Love and Anarchy” (1:15 a.m.) and Chantal Ackerman’s “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quad du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles” (3:30 a.m.).
The 70th NBA season officially begins with a double header Cleveland at Chicago (TNT, 8 p.m.) and New Orleans at Golden State (TNT, 10:30 p.m.)
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Adam Levine, Mike Tyson. The View: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hayes Grier, Emma Slater. The Talk: Dick Van Dyke, Nancy O’Dell, Elle King. Ellen DeGeneres: Carrie Underwood, Will Forte. Wendy Williams: Laurie Feltheimer, Carly Steel. The Real: Melissa Joan Hart. Meredith Vieira: Wendi McLendon-Covey.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Hillary Clinton, Anthony Bourdain, Carrie Brownstein, Lianne La Havas. Jimmy Kimmel: Julie Bowen, Carrie Underwood. Jimmy Fallon: Drew Barrymore, Stephen Moyer, 5 Seconds of Summer. Seth Meyers: Blake Shelton, Eve Hewson, Jeremy Gara. James Corden: Rebecca Romijn, David Kouchner, Kyo. Carson Daly: Terry Gilliam, Goldroom, Phoebe Robinson. Tavis Smiley: Kevin Costner, Jon Baird. Trevor Noah: Seth Rogen (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Kate Bosworth, Michael Carbonaro, Jack Garrett.