A third season starts for “Mom” (CBS, 9 p.m.) with Allison Janney’s character meeting her own mother, and look: it’s Ellyn Burstyn. It could have been Oscar nominee June Squibb; she also guest stars in the season premiere.
It’s one of two shows settling into the schedule now that Thursday Night Football has flown the coop already.
On the fourth season premiere of “Elementary” (CBS, 10 p.m.), Holmes finds himself in legal trouble. Possibly: Impersonating a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character. John Noble joins the cast as his father, just in from London.
And “Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.) returns to its normal time slot Thursdays at 8 after pitching in on Monday nights all season, helping to launch “Supergirl” but not doing much to help “Life in Pieces” (CBS 8:30 p.m.), which is moving over from Mondays with it. (A “Big Bang” rerun plays at 9:30 p.m. as well).
She’s no Lucille Ball, but Kellie Pickler gets her own show called “I Love Kellie Pickler” (CMT, 10 p.m.), in which the country singer and former “American Idol” contestant gets things wrong and exasperates her husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs.
A new client on “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.) has been charged of harassing someone to the point of suicide.
Sal Vulcan and James Murray of “Impractical Jokers” also pop up on “Bones” (Fox, 8 p.m.) as garbagemen.
Greg Grunberg revives his Matt Parkman character in the sequel “Heroes Reborn” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
There are all those Halloween decorations to take down and candy wrappers to pick up on “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
I have no idea what “Nitro Circus: Crazy Town” (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.) could possibly be, but I think it was Insane Clown Posse’s last album.
The guys on “Benders” (IFC, 10 p.m.) fall for a new masseuse, while “Gigi Does It” (IFC, 10:30 p.m.) and goes to a sex therapist.
A timber wolf causes havoc on “Great Wild North” (History, 10 p.m.), but they know it’s a wild north, right?
On “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 8 p.m.), a pastor accidentally shares his sex tape
Greg Proops chooses the titles tonight on Turner Classic Movies. His choices: “Grand Illusion” (8 p.m.), “The Three Musketeers” (10:15 p.m.), “Out of the Past” (12:15 a.m.) and “Dog Day Afternoon” (2 a.m.)
Thursday Night Football has moved back to cable with Browns at Bengals (NFL, 8 p.m.).
College football includes Baylor at Kansas State (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.) and Mississippi State at Missouri (ESPN, 9 p.m.).
NBA action includes Thunder at Bulls (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Grizzlies at Trail Blazers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Daniel Craig, Harry Connick Jr., Bernadette Peters. The View: Bob Saget. The Talk: Shad Moss, Pati Jinich. Ellen DeGeneres: Will Smith, Greyson Chance. Wendy Williams: Kim Fields. Meredith Vieira: James Brolin, Giada De Laurentiis.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Bryan Cranston, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Shamir. Jimmy Kimmel: Hillary Clinton, Bob Odenkirk, David Cross. Jimmy Fallon: Martin Short, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Connick Jr., Stanley Jordan. Seth Meyers: Daniel Craig, Regina King, Donny Deutsch, Jon Theodore. James Corden: Bridget Moynahan, Paul Feig, Nicholas Hinter, the Charlatans. Carson Daly: Michaela Watkins, Metz, Lightning Bolt. Tavis Smiley: Austin Beutner. Trevor Noah: Regina King. Conan O’Brien: Ice Cube, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Adam Pally, Alabama Shakes (rerun).