Lewis Carroll has had the Disney treatment once before, in the 1951 animated feature of “Alice in Wonderland.” Some license was taken in that, but not nearly as much as the latest treatment on the Disney-owned network.
“Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” (ABC, 8 p.m.) comes from the people who made Sunday night’s “Once Upon a Time,” and serves the same purpose: providing a slate of ready made characters and familiar situations on which to contrive a modern series (why they don’t play back to back on the same night is a mystery similar to why “The Vampire Diaries” doesn’t play alongside its spinoff “The originals”).
At any rate, there’s lots to praise here, from the woozy psychedelic art direction to especially the alluring girl chosen to play Alice, Sophie Lowe. But there’s some whole inserted plot once she’s down the rabbit hole, meeting a genie and falling in love as if this was some CW fantasy. Though not quite as weird as Timothy Burton’s 2010 version, there are some casting oddities from an animated White Rabbit voiced by John Lithgow to a refugee from another Disney project, “Aladdin,” Jafar, played by Naveen Andrews, which might be the closest thing this thing gets to “Lost” despite the ads and two producers.
Three episodes into the new season “Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.) finally handles the July death of actor Cory Monteith by writing in the death of his character Finn Hudson. Instead of the Beatles, who they’ve been singing the past two episodes, they do Dylan, or at least one of his songs, “To Make You Feel Your Love.” Also to be sung: “If I Die Young,” “Seasons of Love,” “Fire and Rain,” “I’ll Stand By You” and “No Surrender.”
Something about the unsteady economy tells me it’s not quite the time for a reality series on personal shoppers for the rich, “Million Dollar Shoppers” (Lifetime, 10:30 p.m.).
Simon Cowell is the last to choose his final four on “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.) and since he’s doing groups, he’s free to form new groups on the spot from the discarded singles from the three other judges’ teams.
Two survivors tell their story on the Rainn Wilson-produced documentary “Life Continued: Defeating Depression” (MTV, 7 p.m.) airing in conjunction with World Mental Health day.
It’s part one of the finale of “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.), with contestants being sent home to work on their lines, and Tim Gunn offering suggestions and house calls.
It’s game five of the American League divisional series with Detroit at Oakland (TBS, 8 p.m.). Winner faces Boston for the pennant.
“Scandal” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is very popular this season. People are weird.
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 9 p.m.) reaches its 200th episode.
Since Pawnee absorbed Eagleton, there will be a lot more of Kristen Bell on “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Eliza Coupe of “Happy Endings” appears as Will Arnett’s ex on “The Millers” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
“Pawn Stars” (History, 9 p.m.) returns for a new season.
A new dynamic at work on “The Michael J. Fox Show” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.) comes when his rival played by Anne Heche is hired. He’s no longer playing directly across the Robin Williams sitcom “The Crazy Ones” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
The month-long Thursday night salute to Vincent Price on Turner Classic Movies continues with “The Baron of Arizona” (8 p.m.), “His Kind of Woman” (9:45 p.m.), “The Las Vegas Story” (midnight), “Dangerous Mission” (1:30 a.m.), “Son of Sinbad” (3 a.m.) and “Serenade” (4:45 a.m.).
In NFL action it’s Giants at Bears (NFL Network, 8:25 p.m.). In college football, it’s Rutgers at Louisville (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), South Carolina State at North Carolina Central (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.) and Arizona at Southern California (Fox Sports 1, 10:30 p.m.).
Game three of the WNBA finals has Minnesota at Atlanta (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Sandra Oh, David Boneanaz. The View: Cast of “Good Morning America,” John Legend, Giuliana Rancic. The Talk: Tim Allen, Rick Bayless. Ellen DeGeneres: Patrick Dempsey, Mike O’Malley, Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump. Wendy Williams: John Legend.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jack Hanna, Kunal Nayyar. Jay Leno: Lauren Graham, Chris Matthews, Tom Odell. Jimmy Kimmel: Owen Wilson, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Panic at the Disco. Jimmy Fallon: Katy Perry, Jessica Seinfeld, Brian Wilson, Jeff Beck. Craig Ferguson: Stephen Wright, Ginnifer Goodwin. Carson Daly: Matthew Weiner, Katie Dippold, Foals (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Danal Gurira. Jon Stewart: Brian Jay Jones. Stephen Colbert: Reed Albergotti & Vanessa O’Connell. W. Kamau Bell: Chris Rock (rerun). Arsenio Hall: Tyra Banks, Chris Spencer, Daymond John. Conan O’Brien: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Scheer, Twenty One Pilots (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Jennifer Hudson, Bobby Lee, Margaret Cho, Jo Koy.