The first new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) in more than four months must have a lot of pent up material to address. Alec Baldwin is the designated Trump, at least for the debate sketch, opposite Kate McKinnon’s rather manic Hillary Clinton.
Gone from the cast in its 42nd season are the versatile Teran Killam, the underused Jay Pharaoh and the hardly ever seen Jon Rudinsky.
New “featured players” include Mikey Day, who had been a writer and was seen on “Maya & Marty”; Alex Moffatt of Second City and Melissa Villasenor, who is somehow the show’s first Latina performer.
Leslie Jones, Pete Davidson and Michael Che have all been promoted to full cast members (they had been featured players). Also returning to the cast are Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett, Colin Jost, Kyle Mooney, Bobby Moynihan, Cicily Strong, Kenan Thompson and Shasheer Zamata.
The best thing about the season is the announced plan for 30 percent fewer commercials. Margot Robbie hosts tonight’s opener; The Weeknd is musical guest.
The palace itself was used in the setting of the lavish French-Canadian-British series “Versailles” (Ovation, 10 p.m.), which begins its U.S. run tonight. Nine other castles were used in the filming as well for the historical series that stars George Blagden as Louis XIV and features Alexander Viahos, Tyg Runyan and Amira Casar.
The case of an assistant funeral director who confessed to killing his wealthy elderly companion and putting her in a freezer was made into the 2011 movie “Bernie.” Now it’s the basis of a two hour “48 Hours” (CBS, 9 p.m.), reported by Peter Van Sant.
College football crowds primetime schedules with Louisville at Clemson (ABC, 8 p.m.) and Arizona State at Southern California (Fox, 8:30 p.m.).
The self-mocking superhero movie “Deadpool” (HBO, 8 p.m.), with Ryan Reynolds in the cape, makes its premium cable premiere.
Marvel fare for a younger crowd might be “Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister 6” (Disney XD, 8 p.m.).
The fifth season premiere of “The Mind of a Chef” (PBS, 9 p.m.) looks at various egg preparations.
“Sebastian Maniscalco: What Would You Do?” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) is a standup comedy special that has nothing to do with the ABC News show of the same name.
On the new series “Life at Vet U” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) six students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine await their internships.
On the new made-for-TV “Love on a Limb” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.), Ashley Williams plays a woman who chains herself to a tree to save it unexpectedly falls in love with the guy (Trevor Donovan) hired to cut it down. Marilu Henner also stars.
In “My Husband is Missing” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) a woman who helps police investigate her husband’s abduction finds herself in danger. It stars Daphne Zuniga with Aaron Pearl and Nicole Munoz.
There’s a new movie on Syfy, too, but not having anything to do with sharks. “The Crooked Man” (Syfy, 9 p.m.) involves a demon who can be summoned when kids sing a certain song. Angelique Rivera stars.
With the start of October, time to start up another round of competitive decorating in “Halloween Wars” (Food 8 and 9 p.m.), back for its fifth season.
“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN, 9 p.m.) finally wraps up its “angry black woman” series.
Verne Troyer, the Snapple lady and Naughty by Nature are rounded up on a new “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
As it apparently falls apart abroad, enjoy “The Great British Baking Show” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) while you can.
“Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) returns to a Virginia City, Nev., mine.
To mark its 10th anniversary, they’re showing the 10 best episodes of “Dexter” (Showtime, noon) as voted by fans.
Who remembers this comedy pair from the 40s? Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan star in “Two Guys from Milwaukee” (TCM, 8 pm.), “Two Guys from Texas” (TCM, 9:45 p.m.) and “It’s a Great Feeling” (TCM, 11:30 p.m.). Later comes two wildlife adventures set in Africa, “Roar” (TCM, 2 a.m.) with TIppi Hedren and her daughter Melanie Griffith, and “Born Free” (TCM, 3:45 a.m.).
Too early? Here’s “Elf” (CMT, 9 p.m.).
There’s also “Wonder Boys” (Flix, 8 p.m.) directed by Curtis Hanson, who died last week.
College football today includes, at noon: Baylor at Iowa State (Fox Sports 1), Miami at Georgia Tech (ESPN2), Texas at Oklahoma State (ABC), Notre Dame vs. Syracuse (ESPN), Northwestern at Iowa (ESPNU), Central Florida at East Carolina (CBS Sports) and SMU at Temple (ESPNews).
Then at 3:30 p.m., it’s Navy at Air Force (CBS), Wisconsin at Michigan (ABC), Tennessee at Georgia (CBS), North Carolina at Florida State (ESPN), Illinois at Nebraska (ESPN) and Kansas State at West Virginia (ESPNU).
Later comes Oklahoma at TCU (Fox, 5 p.m.), Kentucky at Alabama (ESPN, 7 p.m.), South Florida at Cincinnati (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Western Michigan at Central Michigan (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), San Diego State at South Alabama (ESPNews, 8 p.m.), Utah State at Boise State (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m.), Wyoming at Colorado State (ESPNU, 10:15 p.m.), Arizona at UCLA (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.) and Fresno State at UNLV (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Mets at St. Louis (Fox, 1 p.m.) and Cleveland at Kansas City (Fox Sports 1, 4:15 p.m.).
Ready for preseason basketball? Here’s Golden State at Toronto (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Paul Simon performs for the full hour on a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).