“Scandal” has given a bad name to the woman in political power saga, turning it into another exaggerated soap opera, so it is up to “Madam Secretary” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.), one of two such new network series this fall to resurrect the genre. And it has a lot going for it, including the smart and striking Tea Leoni as a college professor suddenly tapped to become U.S. secretary of state by a president (Keith Carradine) last scene running a diner on “Fargo,” and the writing of Barbara Hall, who has brought some smarts to TV on series from “Joan of Arcadia” to “Homeland.”
The network has the money to pack the cast with familiar names, including Tim Daly, Bebe Neuwirth and the omnipresent Zeljko Ivanek. But the series hangs (and may well hang itself) on international situations that are solved in 44 minutes by a single woman. With the world situation in its current corner, it seems impossible to replicate the real drama with any credibility; that the pilot has hostages in Syria seems to only diminish the actual tragedy; making some turns seem trifling as a result. But it has the goods to right itself and a strong role model in the accompanying “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
That series, featuring broadcast TV’s only dramatic Emmy winner in Julianna Margulies, is at its own nifty crossroads, with her character having left her old firm for a rival, even as she considers her own run for political rival. It’s all building up, maybe, for a crossover episode with the secretary of state.
DVRs beware: A firm start time for these series is put in question, as they will be all season, by the unreliable end times of late afternoon football, including tonights Denver at Seattle (CBS, 4:25 p.m.). Prime time Sunday Night Football has Pittsburgh at Carolina (NBC, 8:30 p.m.). Earlier NFL action includes Washington at Philadelphia (Fox, 1 p.m.), Baltimore at Cleveland (CBS, 1 p.m.) and San Francisco at Arizona (Fox, 4 p.m.).
CBS is the only network starting its new season tonight; the rest kick in tomorrow. So there’s reruns of “Once Upon a Time” (ABC, 8 p.m.), “Resurrection” (ABC, 9 p.m.), “Revenge” (ABC, 10 p.m.). But it is the 47th season start for “60 Minutes” (CBS, 7:30 p.m.) with Scott Pelley traveling to northern Iraq and Steve Kroft on a tax refund scam.
Hey, what’s wrong with PBS? There’s no Roosevelts on TV tonight. It’s a real mystery, so Miss Marple is on the case on “Masterpiece Mystery” (PBS, 8 and 9:30 p.m.) with back to back cases of the Agatha Christie crime solver, portrayed by Julia McKenzie. In the first, she investigates the death of a guest at a Caribbean resort; Sir Antony Sher guest stars. In the second, death comes at the botanist’s place; Fiona Shaw is guest star.
For the final network appearance of “American Dad” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.) before it moves to TBS next month, they’ve acquired Kim Kardashian to give voice to an alien. It’s also the only new episode among the animated fare on the network tonight.
Nucky gets along famously with a fellow liquor importer from Boston named Joe Kennedy on “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO, 9 p.m.) and Chalky engages in a chilling break-in. It’s been fun to see a replay of “True Detective” (HBO, 10 p.m.) on Sunday nights.
The early days of secual study meets the early days of television on “Masters of Sex” (Showtime, 10 p.m.).
Mickey’s heist doesn’t go as planned on “Ray Donovan” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).
Back in the pool: It’s a double feature of Esther Williams, with “Neptune’s Daughter” (TCM, 8 p.m.) and “Zigfield Follies” (TCM, 10 p.m.).
Baseball includes Detroit at Kansas City (TBS, 2 p.m.) and Cincinnati at St. Louis (ESPN, 8 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power. CBS: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Mike Rogers. NBC: Power, Sens. Ron Johnson and Chris Murphy, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Michael Mullen. CNN: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Fox News: Reps. Peter King and Adam Schiff.