The last network sitcom to premiere in the fall TV season, “The McCarthys” (CBS, 9:30 p.m., ) isn’t so bad. It shows how much a skilled cast can carry a comedy and here much of the work is being done by Laurie Metcalf as the needy mother. It’s one of two great comedy roles for her this fall — she’ll return next month on HBO’s underrated “Getting On.” Jack McGee of “Rescue Me” is the dad. The grown children include Joey McIntyre, Jimmy Dunn and Kelen Coleman but the star is Tyler Ritter as the gay one who is not as into Boston sports.
Thankfully, they don’t seem to dwell on his orientation; it isn’t the central point of each joke and the family all seems to accept him fine. Really, the oddest thing in the pilot is that the family gets so upset that the he’s considering moving to Providence — which isn’t exactly across the country; it’s about a half hour drive from Boston.
Metcalf also appeared a handful of times on “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.) which moves back to its regular time slot now that Thursday Night Football has moved back to cable with New Orleans at Carolina (NFL, 8:25 p.m.). Also returning for the first time this season — which is also its last — is “Two and a Half Men” (CBS, 9 p.m.) with Ashton Kutcher. In between is “Mom” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Back for its third season is “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.), with the additions of Gina Gershon and Ophelia Lovibond.
Ryan Murdock’s documentary “Bronx Obama” (Showtime, 7:30 p.m.) follows the odd career of Louis Ortiz who decides to make some money out of the fact that he vaguely looks like the President.
The oddest annual awards show may be the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) for the canine set. There, the concern on the red carpet is less for wardrobe malfunction than it is for accidents.
For years a finale meant the season’s end for “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.). Now they have to have their own post-finale reunion episodes to air remaining grievances and wring out the final sniping.
On the new “Slednecks” (MTV, 10 p.m.), adventuresome people try their hand at polar bear plunges and air boating on ice in the hometown of Sarah Palin, Wasilla, Alaska.
Nick Nolte is doing a pretty good job on “Gracepoint” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
The Thursday night series of ghost stories on Turner Classic Movies this month winds up with “House on Haunted Hill” (8 p.m.), “The Legend of Hell House” (9:30 p.m.), “13 Ghosts” (11:15 p.m.), “The Haunting” (1 a.m.) and “Burnt Offerings” (3 a.m.).
Your first Thursday night basketball doubleheader of the season has New York at Cleveland (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Oklahoma City at Clippers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey tonight includes Los Angeles at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.).
College football includes Florida State at Louisville (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.) and Troy at Georgia Southern (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Rene Russo, Sam Hunt. The View: Nelly, Alfred Enoch. The Talk: Anna Faris, Taylor Swift, Wendell Pierce. Ellen DeGeneres: Nicole Kidman, Noah Ritter. Wendy Williams: Fran Drescher. Meredith Vieira: Joey McIntyre, Nicky HIlton. Queen Latifah: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, R.I.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Brian Williams, Perfume Genius. Jimmy Fallon: Gordon Ramsay, Little Big Town. Jimmy Kimmel: Scott Foley, Smokey Robinson with Aloe Blacc and JC Chasez. Seth Meyers: Zooey Deschanel, Ken Marino, Brad Meltzer. Craig Ferguson: Cedric the Entertainer, Jayma Mays. Carson Daly: Dan Gilroy, Broods, Grant Cotter. Tavis Smiley: Robert Weissman, Jeremy Renner. Jon Stewart: Spoon. Stephen Colbert: David Miliband. Conan O’Brien: Jake Gyllenhaal, Judy Greer, the War on Drugs.