One of the last returning shows to start this fall is “Nikita” (The CW, 9 p.m.) who has been laying low after she was framed for assassinating the president.
Bad timing on all that. It is, of course, the 50th anniversary of the last presidential assassination. It’s marked on a whole variety of things including “JFK Assassination: The Definitive Guide” (History, 8 p.m.), “Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live” (History, 10 p.m.) and “Where Were You: The Day JFK Died” (NBC, 9 p.m.) anchored by Tom Brokaw.
A second assassinated President is celebrated in the 2012 movie “Lincoln” (TMC, 9 p.m.).
As part of the week-long celebration of the show whose debut in this country was undercut by by its own bad timing, there’s a documentary “Doctor Who: Explained” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) leading into a movie about the first doctor, with David Bradley (familiar from “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones” and “Broadchurch”) as William Hartnell in the period piece “An Adventure in Space and Time” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
The 2013 finale for “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) features Dan Savage, Paul Begala, Bob Erlich, Katty Kay and Wendell Pierce.
On “The Carrie Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.), Carrie is mad that Weaver has read her diary, but little does she know that as a grown up she’ll be paid to have people read it.
There are new episodes of both “Shark Tank” (ABC, 9 p.m.) and “Tanked” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
New episodes of “Raising Hope” (Fox, 8 and 8:30 p.m.) come in twos.
College basketball includes Monmouth at St. John’s (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.).
College football includes Navy at San Jose State (ESPN2, 10 p.m.).
NBA action includes San Antonio at Memphis (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
The month-long Friday night salute to screwball comedies on Turner Classic Movies continues with “My Man Godfrey” (8 p.m.), “Bringing Up Baby” (10 p.m.), “Ball of Fire” (midnight), “You Can’t Take It With You” (2 a.m.) and “Joy of Living” (4:15 a.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Hudson, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWoww” Farley. The View: Kurt Russell, Pitbull, Demi Lovato. The Talk: Larry King, Hill Harper, Marcela Valladolid. Ellen DeGeneres: Simon Cowell, Fifth Harmony. Wendy Williams: Don Lemon, Siggy Flicker, Jane Velez-Mitchell.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Howard Stern, Adrienne Iapalucci. Jay Leno: Jim Parsons, John Downer, Cassadee Pope. Jimmy Kimmel: Sarah Silverman, David Blaine, Charlie Wilson (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Sarah Silverman, Lenny Kravitz, Chef Michael Anthony. Craig Ferguson: Tim Meadows, Helen Fielding. Carson Daly: Pete Holmes, Foals (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dave Stewart. Arsenio Hall: Babyface, Toni Braxton, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Chelsea Handler: Kerry Washington, Ben Gleib, Cameron Esposito, Julian McCullough (rerun).