The endless predicting, pontificating and poll-watching that’s served as political coverage for two years makes way for something potentially substantive: The first Presidential Debate (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, Fox News, C-SPAN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox Business, 9 p.m.) in which Donald Trump faces Hillary Clinton for the first time in the election cycle. The event at Hofstra University on Long Island will be endlessly parsed, excerpted and analyzed afterwards, at least until the next political debate Oct. 9. But it would be best to see the whole thing, in its entirety, as it happens. Lester Holt has a lot of pressure on him as anchor, the question being whether he should correct obvious untruths as they happen (that’s usually his job as an NBC anchor). I’m thinking the spotlight won’t often be on him though.
There is already pre-debate analysts going on as we speak, talking the debate as if it were “WWE Monday Night Raw” (USA, 8 p.m.). My advice is to watch none of it, before or after.
Might be fun to tape a version of the debate in Spanish, where it is known alternately as “El Debate: Clinton vs. Trump” (Univision, 8:55 p.m). and “La Gran Batalla, Clinton vs. Trump” (Telemundo, 9 p.m.).
But the debate definitely gives a reason to watch “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS, 11:35 p.m.) doing a rare live show to comment directly on the debates. (Tonight’s Samantha Bee, accordingly, has been bumped to Wednesday for her own reaction show on TBS).
One good thing about the debate: It keeps “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.) to a manageable one hour. Its resident politician, Rick Perry, somehow managed to survive the first elimination though he had the fewest judges’ points. It was kid actor Jake T. Austin who had to go. Fitz and the Tantrums and Florida Georgia Line perform.
After her dance tonight “The Amber Rose Show” (VH1, 11 p.m.) has a “slutwalk” special.
Also at a manageable hour tonight: “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.), still in its blind audition phase.
Wolfowitz gets all military on “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Later, Mayim Bialik is guest on “StarTalk” (National Geographic, 11 p.m.).
Jada Pinkett Smith’s character Fish Mooney has unexpectedly become a major character of season two of “Gotham” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
A1 and Lyrica’s housewarming doesn’t go all on “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” (VH1, 8 p.m.).
Kevin rearranges his house on the second episode of “Kevin Can Wait” (CBS, 8:30 p.m.).
Vicki shoots a commercial for charity on a new “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Anna comes home on “Too Close to Home” (TLC, 9 p.m.).
Janee throws a 90s-themed party on “Mary + Jane” (MTV, 10 p.m.).
Nicole learns about being a mistress on “Loosely Exactly Nicole” (MTV, 10:30 p.m.).
Delia goes bow hunting for the first time on “Live Free or Die” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.).
The guys on “Regular Show” (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m.) go to space.
A Thanksgiving murder is investigated on “Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
The second season premiere of “The Mind of a Murderer” (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.) features a 2008 triple murder at Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
“Wicked Tuna: North vs. South” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) reaches its finale.
Farrah moves to L.A. on “Teen Mom OG” (MTV, 9 p.m.).
Back in happier times, Brangelina in “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (FX, 8 and 11 p.m.).
Robert Osborne picks the titles on Turner Classic Movies tonight. His choices: “Torch Song” (8 p.m.), “Torch Song Trilogy” (9:45 p.m.), “Tonight and Every Night” (midnight), “The Sea Hawk” (7 a.m.) and “The Sea Wolf” (4:`5 a.m.).
The NHL preseason begins with Columbus at Boston (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Monday Night Football has Atlanta at New Orleans (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.).
Baseball includes Yankees at Toronto (MLB, 7 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Rob Lowe, Will Forte, Elle King, Josh Groan. The View: Adam Glassman. The Talk: Michael Sheen, Kit Hoover. Harry Connick: Whoopi Goldberg. Ellen DeGeneres: Bill O’Reilly, Lea Michele, X Ambassadors. Wendy Williams: Ellie Lee, Mally Roncal. The Real: Kofi Siriboe.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Rob Lowe, Kal Penn. Jimmy Kimmel: Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Kristin Wiig, the Lumineers. Jimmy Fallon: Samuel L. Jackson, Gina Rodriguez, the Lemon Twigs. Seth Myers: Will Forte, Mandy Moore, David Ortiz, Danny Carey. James Corden: Lea Michele, Norm MacDonald, Nothing But Thieves. Carson Daly: Sterling K. Brown, Radical Face, Johnny Pemberton. Tavis Smiley: Kurtis Lee, Janet Napolitano. Trevor Noah: Alicia Melendez. Conan O’Brien: Patton Oswald, Joe Walsh, Tall Heights.