CBS has already been pushing the Millennials vs. Gen. X thing a little hard this season on “Survivor,” laying the stereotypes pretty heavily on the arbitrary demographic groupings. Now it happens in comedy too.
“The Great Outdoors” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) stars the formerly fresh faced Joel McHale as a grizzled Gen Xer who returns from the wild to take a desk job at an outdoor magazine whose office if full of millennials.
There is room for some insult trading, and some pretty strong cast members to do it (in addition to McHale, Christopher Mintz-Plasse — McLovin’ himself. But is it enough to hang an entire series?
Either way, it gets a popular lead-in, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.) that may add numbers but invite unwanted comparison.
The new comedy is at least better than the network’s new drama.
“Pure Genius” (CBS, 10 p.m.) stars Dermot Mulroney as a surgeon who joins forces with an annoying tech guy played by Augustus Prew to solve medical mysteries. Jason Katims of “Parenthood” fame is one of the producers, but mostly this falls into the trap of most CBS procedurals, with an over-reliance on computer screens and pat solutions.
In between the new shows is the fourth season return of “Mom” (CBS, 9 p.m.) and the second season start for “Life in Pieces” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
In the new six-episode “The Living and the Dead” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) a young couple take over a rural Victorian estate that turns out to be haunted.
Designers look to be inspired by a trip to Universal Studios Orlando on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.). Then “Project Runway: Fashion Startup” (Lifetime, 10:30 p.m.), they hear a pitch that combines accessories with clean drinking water.
Nate and Ray find themselves in Feudal Japan on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.).
On “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.) Catherine pressures Bailey to make a decision about Alex.
There’s a Halloween party on “Superstore” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Not sure the episode of “Better Things” (FX, 10 p.m.) is about Halloween, but the title is “Scary Fun.”
Rick Springfield returns as Lucifer on “Supernatural” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
It’s Jacksonville vs. Tennessee (NFL, 8 p.m.) on Thursday Night Football.
There’s no World Series game tonight, but there is a new episode of “Pitch” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
Eleanor has been discovered as an unintended placement in “The Good Place” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.).
On a new “Rosewood” (Fox, 8 p.m.), a man pays in advance for his own autopsy and is found dead the next day.
Youth invades “Chicago Med” (NBC, 9 p.m.).
Take takes a closer look at the cult in “Falling Water” (USA, 10 p.m.).
On “How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.), a veteran is charged with assault.
The new “Notorious” (ABC, 9 p.m.) hasn’t exactly been canceled, but has had its initial episode order trimmed to ten. Tonight is episode six. Still it’s the closest anything has come to cancellation this season.
Red and Liz try to infiltrate Alexander Kirk’s organization on “The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Even “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” (VH1, 8 p.m.) gets a reunion episode.
Tension rises on the final days of “60 Days In” (A&E, 9 p.m.).
They endeavor to beat Bobby Flay on both “Chopped” (Food, 9 p.m.) and “Beat Bobby Flay” (Food, 10 p.m.).
trailblazing women spotlights actresses who became activists, including Jane Fonda in “The China Syndrome” (8 p.m.), “The Way We Were” (10:15 p.m.), Barbra Streisand in “The Way We Were” (10:15 p.m.), Myrna Loy in “The Thin Man” (12:30 a.m.), Susan Sarandon in “Joe” (2:15 a.m.) and Cicely Tyson in “Sounder” (4:15 a.m.).
NBA action includes Boston at Chicago (TNT, 8 p.m.), Clippers at Portland (TNT, 10:30 p.m.) and San Antonio at Sacramento (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
College football has Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Ohio at Toledo (CBS Sports, 7:30 p.m.), Appalachian State at Georgia Southern (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.) and California at Southern Cal (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Uzo Aduba, Daniel Sunjata, Joel McHale. The View: Nathan Lane, John Goodman, John Slattery. The Talk: Dermot Mulroney, Augustus Prew, Piers Morgan. Chelsea Handler: Ron Howard, Felicity Jones, Craig Venter, Norah Jones. Harry Connick: Robin Roberts. Ellen DeGeneres: Miley Cyrus, Niall Horan. Wendy Williams: Eva Longoria. The Real: Phaedra Parks, Jeezy.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Mary-Louise Parker, Pusha T, the Record Company. Jimmy Kimmel: Miles Teller, Science Bob Pflugfelder, Alessia Cara. Jimmy Fallon: Martin Short, Steve Martin, Ruth Negga, Common. Seth Meyers: Joel Egerton, Evan Rachel Wood, Ina Garten. James Corden: Andrew Garfield, January Jones, LL Cool J. Carson Daly: Gretchen Mol, DJ Shadow, Samuel Barnett. Trevor Noah: Jeezy. Conan O’Brien: Steven Yeun, Chris Martin.