I suppose it’s hard to say no to Will Ferrell’s production team, in hope that they’ll give you something better someday. That’s the only reason I figure “Bad Judge” (NBC, 9 p.m.) made its way to network TV. Kate Walsh stars as an irresponsible, hard drinking, not very good criminal court judge, whose unlikely life is presented to us as a comedy. Nary a laugh is to be found. But like the previously axed “Bad Teacher,” it lets you know what you’re in for from the very title.
A little more palatable is the romantic comedy “A to Z” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.) in which Ben Feldman, who last played a troubled copywriter on “Mad Men” pursues Christin Milioti, who was the doomed mom in the final season of “How I Met Your Mother.” They’re cute, but the series struggles too hard to stay up to date. And the fact I saw the pilot the night after Feldman’s character famously sliced off his nipple on “Mad Men” gave the whole thing a creepier tone than it should have.
Postseason baseball is in full bloom as the American League divisional series begin with Detroit at Baltimore (TBS, 5:37 p.m.) and Kansas City at Los Angeles (TBS, 9:07 p.m.).
One of the more troubling signs of a flagging career is a reality show, so here is “Jean-Claude Van Damme Behind Closed Doors” (Reelz, 11 p.m.) in which the action star drives around his old haunts, talks to the camera men and doesn’t show you a thing he doesn’t want you to see. The image he wants to project? He loves stray dogs and wants to save the world.
October means Halloween, so a month’s worth of Thursday night movies about ghosts begins on Turner Classic Movies with “Topper” (8 p.m.), “The Time of Their Lives” (10 p.m.), “The Canterville Ghost” (11:30 p.m.), “A Place of One’s Own” (1:15 a.m.), “The Cockeyed Miracle” (3 a.m.) and “Beyond Tomorrow” (4:30 p.m.).
The sixth season of “The Vampire Diaries” (The CW, 8 p.m.) begins with Elena going back to college. Also back is a second season of “Reign” (The CW, 9 p.m.) with the plague advancing.
“How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.) drew big ratings for its premiere, probably because it followed the season premiere of “Scandal” (ABC, 9 p.m.) which actually brings up the issue of gun control this week, something the actual government would never dream of doing.
Earlier the newbie Maggie (Kelly McCreary) tries to find her way on “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
Thursday Night Football has Minnesota at Green Bay (CBS, 8:25 p.m.).
A conspiracy must be solved in “Bones” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Flea markets are scoured for the week’s creation on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
The school needs some tinkering on “Parenthood” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jennifer Garner, Blake Shelton. The View: Melissa Etheridge. The Talk: Kenny Chesney, Valentine, David LeFevre. Ellen DeGeneres: Mario Lopez, Ma’ake & Chris Kemoeatu. Wendy Williams: Lara Spencer. Meredith Vieira: 50 Cent. Queen Latifah: Big & Rich, Tom Arnold, Freddie Prinze Jr.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Johnny Galecki, Andre Benjamin, Delta Spirit. Jimmy Fallon: Derek Jeter, James Marsden, 5 Seconds of Summer. Jimmy Kimmel: Ellen Pompeo, Norman Reedus, Disclosure with Mary J. Blige. Seth Meyers: Sarah Silverman, John Mulaney. Craig Ferguson: Joe Theismann, Lauren Cohan. Carson Daly: Melissa Fumero, the Front Bottoms. Tavis Smiley: Martin Wolf, Sharna Burgess. Jon Stewart: Ben Steele. Stephen Colbert: Lynn Sherr. Conan O’Brien: Martin Short, Camilia Luddington, Ryan Adams.