“The Disappeared,” a new documentary on “Fault Lines” (Al Jazeera America, 7 p.m.) examines the alarming rise of kidnappings in Mexico, with more than 22,000 people since the government’s war on cartels in 2006. Teresa Bo’s report begins in Veracruz, where 31 people were found on a ranch in June. The focus then moves to Tamaulipas, headquarters of the violent cartel the Zetas, and finally to Mexico City, for a government response.
College football completely dominates primetime network TV with Stanford at Oregon (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) and Notre Dame at Navy (CBS, 8 p.m.) and Illinois at Ohio State (ABC, 8 p.m.). And there’s sports on the fourth network, too: the 2014 Breeders’ Cup (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Nov. 1 means Christmas blitz, as the first new holiday movie of the season debuts, “One Starry Christmas” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.). Sarah Carter stars as an astronomer who meets a man, Damon Runyan. George Caynon and Paul Popowich also appear.
Tomorrow’s hyped high wire act between Windy City skyscrapers by Karl Wallenda is previewed on “Skyscraper: Road to Chicago” (discovery, 10 p.m.).
Both Anna and Shane start editing their films on “The Chair” (Starz, 10 p.m.) and they both face criticism.
The Doctor has to make a tough choice in the Nethersphere on “Doctor Who” (BBC America, 9 p.m.).
Cam and Reggie reconnect with an ex-con on a new “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
“Winter’s Tale” (HBO, 8 p.m.) with Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, William Hurt, Jessica Brown Findlay, makes its premium cable debut.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Timothy Spall, Miranda Hart and Maroon 5 are guests on “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC, 10 p.m.).
Earlier college games today include Air Force at Army (CBS, 11:30 p.m.) and the following games at noon: Oklahoma at Iowa State (Fox Sports 1), East Carolina at Temple (ESPNews), Duke at Pittsburgh (ESPNU), Maryland at Penn State (ESPN2), Wisconsin at Rutgers (ESPN) and Central Florida at Connecticut (CBS Sports).
Then, at 3:30 p.m., TCU at West Virginia (ABC), Georgia vs. Florida (CBS), Purdue at Nebraska (ESPN2), Virginia at Georgia Tech (ESPNU), BYU at Middle Tennessee (CBS Sports), and at 4 p.m., Kansas at Baylor (Fox Sports 1) and Houston at South Florida (ESPNews).
Other games tonight include Auburn at Mississippi (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Old Dominion at Vanderbilt (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Colorado State at San Jose State (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Arkansas at Mississippi State (ESPN2, 7:15 p.m.), Texas at Texas Tech (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.), Arizona at UCLA (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.), San Diego State at Nevada (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.), Wyoming at Fresno State (ESPN2, 10:45 p.m.) and Utah at Arizona State (Fox Sports 1, 11 p.m.).
Basketball tonight includes Chicago at Minnesota (NBA, 8 p.m.) and Lakers at Golden State (NBA, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Chicago at Toronto (NHL, 7 p.m.) and Islanders at San Jose (NBC Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.).
Three movies with titles from lines in “Hamlet” play Turner Classic Movies tonight: “To Be or Not to Be” (8 p.m.), of course, but also “Murder Most Foul” (10 p.m.) and “North by Northwest” (11:45 p.m.).
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings.
Looks like potentially stellar “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) hosted by Chris Rock and with musical guest Prince.
On “SNL Vintage” (NBC, 10 p.m.) it’s the Oct. 18 2008 episode hosted by Josh Brolin with Adele in which Sarah Palin invaded to get a control on her satire. It’s not as good as other episodes that season that had Tina Fey playing Palin, but it was certainly weird.