A show that returns every season posing as a miniseries, and throwing much the same cast into yet another repellant situation is back a third time with a witch story.
It’s funny that “American Horror Story: Coven” (FX, 10 p.m.) pretty much plays like another more benign Lifetime series that started this week, “Witches of East End” in that involves daughters who learn with a shock that she’s a witch. In the case of Taissa Farmiga (the teen from the first season), she tends to kill boys when she has sex with them. “It’s a cliche I know,” she says, adding that cliches are cliches because they’re true. And sometimes they’re just overused.
For her own good, she is sent to Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, a witch finishing school run by Sarah Paulson, whose mother, played Jessica Lange, seems to be constantly replaying her role. The school was once the site of a 19th century mass murderer (Kathy Bates) who tortures slaves in her attic despicably until the local voodoo queen played by Angela Bassett, puts her down.
Overwrought, with skewed camera angles and lots of fisheye shots, lurid colors and queasy music (as well as Iron Butterfly’s biggest hit), Ryan Murphy series usually start big and then let you down. This one does so right off the bat.
The two big shows on The CW tonight both star a guy named Amell. Stephen Amell returns for season two of “Arrow” (The CW), with Oliver returning to Starling City. And on the new “The Tomorrow People” (The CW, 9 p.m.), Robbie Amell plays a teen who learns he is telekinetic. As if high school isn’t tough enough.
The playwright Neil LaBute comes up with his first series, for DirecTV. “Full Circle” (Audience, 9 p.m.) takes place each week at a restaurant table, where the drama unfolds in a dinner conversation, with a different couple each week. It stars with Tom Felton and Minka Kelly.
The final chapter of “Earthflight” on “Nova” (PBS, 8 p.m., check local listings) is also one of the most interesting. It shows how they’ve filmed such incredible footage worldwide alongside birds.
Hurricane Sandy occured a year ago this month; its devastation is covered on a second “Nova” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
“Modern Family” (ABC, 9 p.m.) reaches its 100th episode,
The season is set in New Orleans so of course the challenge is gumbo on “Top Chef” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
“South Park” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.) finally takes on the Trayvon Martin case.
Rachel Dratch guest stars on “The Middle” (ABC, 8 p.m.) as a school enforcer.
John Ratzenberger guest stars on “CSI” (CBS, 10 p.m.), reuniting briefly with Ted Danson on a case involving a club fire (not Cheers).
Wonder if they’ll be talking about the concussion crisis on “Inside the NFL” (Showtime, 9 p.m.). I’m guessing not.
Rayna’s divorce is finalized on “Nashville” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
A big power shift is expected on “Survivor” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
They’re not as dramatic as the real housewives — or are they? “Preachers of L.A.” (Oxygen, 10 p.m.) follows a half dozen men of the cloth in the city of angels.
Another new reality series, “Big Tips Texas” (MTV, 10 p.m.) tracks women who don’t just suffer the humiliation of waitressing, they have to be on TV now too.
Cannon gets a girlfriend on a new “Back in the Game” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.).
It’s “Duck Dynasty” (A&E, 10 p.m.) after all, so they make some duck jerky.
Groups still left to be reduced in the Four Chair Challenge on “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.) are Paulina Rubio’s boys and Simon Cowell’s groups.
Laughter may just be what you need, with a night of spoofs on Turner Classic Movies with “Love and Death” (8 p.m.), “Murder by Death” (9:30 p.m.), “Support Your Local Sheriff!” (11:15 p.m.), “This is Spinal Tap” (1 a.m.), “Where’s Poppa?” (2:30 a.m.) and “Enter Laughing” (4 a.m.).
There’s just one National League divisional game, Pittsburgh at St. Louis (TBS, 8 p.m.). Winner faces the Dodgers in the league championship.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Hayden Panettiere, Max Irons. The View: Kelly Clarkson, Sophie Lowe, Michael Socha, Bobby Flay. The Talk: Blair Underwood. Ellen DeGeneres: Jack Black, Lorde. Wendy Williams: Blair Underwoood, Jordi Lippe.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Lucy Liu, Mark Jacobson, the Weeknd. Jay Leno: Whitney Cummings, Ann Romney, Lissie. Jimmy Kimmel: Kanye West. Jimmy Fallon: Alan Rickman, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jeff Musial, Yivis, Cassadee Pope. Craig Ferguson: Sean Hayes, Tom Cotter. Cason Daly: Deon Cole, Kimbra (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Jimmy Carter. Jon Stewart: Michael Fassbender. Stephen Colbert: Tom Hanks. W. Kamau Bell: Jamie Killstein, John Fugelsang (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Bill Maher, Margo Martindale, MC Lyte. Conan O’Brien: Steve Martin, Edie Brickell, Leven Rambin (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Sofia Vergara, Ian Karmel, Jessimae Pelluso, Dov Davidoff.