The dour, deadpan Nathan Fielder returns help people by suggesting crazy ideas with a straight face, one one of TV’s most unusual shows, the hilarious “Nathan for You” (Comedy Central, 10 p.m.). In tonight’s season opener, he volunteers to help a struggling Pasadena electronics store compete with Best Buy with a crazy plan to undercut prices that involves tiny doors and alligators.
Fielder thinks big. He’s the guy who became famous for trying to use the fair use rules to ironically brand a coffeeshop Dumb Starbucks. Later in this season’s eight episodes, he’ll also try to start a nationwide fitness craze with people exercising and training and using stenabolic supplements to help with this.
The focus on female filmmakers on Turner Classic Movies moves to documentarians, with Margot Benacerraf’s “Araya” (8 p.m.), Barbara Kopple’s “Harlan County, U.S.A.” (9:30 p.m.), Connie Field’s “The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter” (11:30 p.m.), Shirley Clarke’s “Portrait of Jason” (12:45 a.m.) and Penelope Spheres’ “The Decline of Western Civilization” (2:45 a.m.).
The last remaining divisional playoff game goes to a decisive game five with Mets at Dodgers (TBS, 8 p.m.).
Thursday Night Football has Atlanta at New Orleans (CBS, 8:25 p.m.).
Arizona gets romantic advice from a patient on “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
On “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 9 p.m.), Pandora uses a mysterious object to turn humans into monsters. I’m thinking box.
Liz and Red try to clear her name and bring down the cabal on “The Blacklist” (NBC, 9 p.m.), which of course they’ve been trying to do from the start.
The former Scary Spice, Mel B is guest judge on “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) which involves 3D printers.
The extent of the prosthetic makeup on “Gigi Does It” (IFC, 10:30 p.m.) is apparent on tonight’s episode, in which the elderly grandmother poses nude for an art class.
Paul tries to stop drinking on “Benders” (IFC, 10 p.m.) and it’s not so easy.
One “Billy on the Street” (truTV, 10:30 p.m.) is usually better than a night full of “Impractical Jokers” (truTV, 10 p.m.).
College football has Auburn at Kentucky (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Western Kentucky at North Texas (CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.), Alabama State at Arkansas Pine Bluff (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), and UCLA at Stanford (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
In preseason basketball it’s Indiana at Cleveland (NBA, 7 p.m.) and Houston at Golden State (TNT, 10 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Tom Select, Jennifer Carpenter, Andra Day. The View: Alex Martin Dean, Leisa Rachal, Matthre Broderick. The Talk: Jeff Daniels, Aaron Sorkin, Keltie Knight, Craig Susser, Kirsten Kizer. Ellen DeGeneres: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Shaping Sound Dance Company. Wendy Williams: Erica and Tina Campbell, Dr. Gadget. The Real: Big Freedia. Meredith Vieira: Kristin Chenoweth, Nicholas Sparks.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Oprah Winfrey, Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, Judith Hill. Jimmy Kimmel: Justin Theroux, Scott Foley, Duran Duran. Jimmy Fallon: Tom Hanks, Jessica Chastain, Pentatonix. Seth Meyers: Zooey Deschanel, Dominic West, Nathan Fielder. James Corden: Cindy Crawford, Matt Bomer, Maury. Carson Daly: Jeff Daniels, Handsome Ghost, Colin Hanks. Tavis Smiley: Tim Wise. Trevor Noah: Jack Black. Conan O’Brien: Jane Lynch, Conor McGregor, John Roy (rerun).