Sad that what was once network TV’s bright spot for smart comedies is now wallowing in the easy (and largely unfunny) waters of domestic sitcoms. Where once “30 Rock” and “The Office” reigned is now promoted as “NBC’s New Family of Comedies,” two of which premiere tonight.
One, “Welcome to the Family” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) starts with a father’s reaction to the fact that her daughter is pregnant and the father is from a Hispanic family he doesn’t like. Mike O’Mally, of “Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.) stars here as the mad dad in a comedy that isn’t as overtly racist as an earlier sitcom on the same topic, “Rob.” That Richardo A. Chavira of “Desperate Housewives” is the other dad makes him easier to dislike whatever the race. Overall, though: Not so funny.
Elsewhere,Sean Hayes, the live wire from “Will & Grace” may have waited to long to return to network sitcoms. By now his concept in “Sean Saves the World” (NBC, 9 p.m.) — a gay dad raising a teenage daughter with a wisecracking mom criticizing on the sidelines has been done a couple of times, most recently last season on “The New Normal.” So there’s not much new he can bring to this already tired and predictable formula, though Linda Lavin (“Alice”!) is the mom and Thomas Lennon is good as a bad boss. Perhaps sensing its need for something, Megan Hilty has been added as the bestie.
There’s been so many commercials for “The Millers” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.) you would have thought it had already started (and been canceled) by now. It’s yet another family sitcom involving the forced interaction of adults with their gross parents. In this case the parents are Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges, so it’s a little better than most, but not by much. Will Arnett proves another uncomfortable fit into network comedy as the son in charge. There’s not much here to bring you back every week.
For some reason, I pretty much like the new shows from The CW this season for the simple fact they know their audience and know what they’re doing: Casting pretty people doing dramatic things for potentially OMG results. With the success of its “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.), returning for a fifth season tonight, it’s natural to have a similarly vampiric spin-off, “The Originals” (The CW, 9 p.m.) involving a turf war between vampires, werewolves and witches in New Orleans. I won’t be watching much, but it’s entertaining enough for such fare.
Not buying into the idea that the ludicrous “Scandal” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is delicious guilty pleasure fare, even as Olivia Pope starts the season having been identified as the President’s mistress. Hope she gets what she deserves. They summarize the first two seasons on “Scandal: The Secret is Out” (ABC, 8 p.m.) but then insert a new “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.) before getting to the third season premiere.
Kristin Bell guest stars as a stuck-up official from neighboring Eagleton on “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8 p.m.). Her boyfriend Dax Shepard, meanwhile, can also be seen later tonight on the same network in “Parenthood” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
In the battle of stars returning to TV with comedies last week, Robin Williams vehicle “The Crazy Ones” (CBS, 9 p.m.) drew 15 million viewers, about twice that of “The Michael J. Fox Show” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.). That might be because of the huge lead-in last week of a one hour premiere of “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.), which drew its largest audience of more than 18 million, but is back to 30 minutes tonight.
Brutal eliminations continue, category by category, on “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.). Kelly Rowland began first on Wednesday, whittling her Top 10 of the Over 25s into four following the implementation of the new Four Seat Challenge. No longer will groups chill at coaches’ homes for boot camp. The eliminations will continue in the next three episodes for Demi Lovatos group of girls, Paulina Rubio’s boys and Simon Cowell’s groups.
Emmy Rossum of “Shameless” is guest judge for the avant-garde challenge on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
Jennifer Stone stars as a babysitter who reads scary stories on the new series “Deadtime Stories” (Nickelodeon, 8 p.m.).
A new investigative series “Society X with Lisa Ling” (E!, 10 p.m.) seems beneath that reporter. Her first report is on synthetic drugs.
TV’s most chaotic talk show, “The Eric Andre Show” (Cartoon Network, 12:30 a.m.) returns for a new season with Maria Menounos as guest.
In addition to Friday night Halloween fare all month, Turner Classic Movies is turning over Thursday nights this month to the work of Vincent Price, with 35 movies beginning tonight with one of his earliest works, as Sir Walter Raleigh in “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex” (8 p.m.), and continuing with “Leave Her to Heaven” (10 p.m.), “The Keys to the Kingdom” (midnight), “The Three Musketeers” (2:30 a.m.) and “The Bribe” (5:15 a.m.).
Bring out the bunting: The National League divisional series begins with game 1 of both Pittsburgh st St. Louis (TBS, 5 p.m.) and Dodgers at Braves (TBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Hockey action includes Los Angeles at Minnesota (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
And there’s one football game: Buffalo at Cleveland (NFL Network, 8:20 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Sandra Bullock, 50 Cent. The View: Kerry Washington, Andie MacDowell, Jason Biggs. The Talk: Will Arnett, J.B. Smoove, Margo Martindale, Beau Bridges, Jayma Mayes, Nelson Franklin, Sunny Anderson. Ellen DeGeneres: Sean Hayes, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest, Harry Connick Jr., D.L. Hughley, Travis. Wendy Williams: Nick Carter.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Brian Williams, performance from “Muscle Shoals.” Jay Leno: Julianne Moore, Billy Gardell, Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington. Jimmy Kimmel: John Mayer, Katie Lowes. Jimmy Fallon: Meredith Vieira, Mario Batali. Craig Ferguson: Diane Kruger, Ken Jeong. Carson Daly: Tom Brokaw, Kevin Russ, the Coup (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Gregory Porter. Jon Stewart: Kerry Washington. Stephen Colbert: David Finkel. Conan O’Brien: Jerry O’Connell, Lauren Cohan, Erin Foley. Arsenio Hall: Vivica A. Fox, Billy Ray Cyrus. Chelsea Handler: Nacho Figueras, Chris Franjola, Cameron Esposito, Gary Valentine.