One of the most unsung but effective political humorists this season has been Robert Smigel’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, whose latest special, “Triumph’s Election Watch 2016” (Hulu, streaming) includes a discussion with analyst Nate Silver, interviews on the Emmy red carpet and an interview with Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson that seems perfectly matched. (You can also watch an excerpt here).
Sports takeover prime time again with two college football games, Washington at Oregon (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) and Florida State at Miami (ABC, 8 p.m.), and a NASCAR race, the Bank of America 500 (NBC, 7 p.m.) from Charlotte.
Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay star in “45 Years” (Showtime, 7:15 p.m.). It’s followed by another film with nominated performances, “Carol” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) with cate Blanchett and Rooney mara.
Elsewhere, there is Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in “Ride Along 2” (HBO, 8 p.m.) and Nick Jonas and Isabel Lucas in “Careful What You Wish For” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
Among the new, made-for-TV movies tonight, Charisma Carpenter and Sarah Grey star in “Mommy’s Secret” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) in which a teenage girl finds her mother is behind a rash of bank robberies. In “Autumn in the Vineyard” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.) stars Rachael Leigh Cook and Brendan Penny as landowners who battle over a vineyard at first.
The 20th season of “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.) welcomes Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Daniel Radcliffe and Robbie Williams.
Paula Schargorodsky wonders about life as “35 and Single” (Pivot, 7 p.m.).
Teams create a haunted house on the “All-Star Halloween Spectacular” (Food, Travel, HGTV, 8 p.m.) which, oddly, runs simultaneously on three networks.
Wolves threaten the livestock on “Edge of Alaska: Legends of the North” (Discovery, 9 p.m.).
The crew on “Ghost Adventures” (Travel, 9 p.m.) are called to a saloon in Arizona.
Students await their internship assignments on “Life at Vet U” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.).
Grady and Josh look for a fresh water source in the Peruvian Andes on “Dual Survival” (Science, 10 p.m.).
“Real Life Hulks” (Discovery Life, 10 p.m.) profiles body builders who go too far.
Fergus Henderson, Eric Ripert and Pascal Barbot are featured on “The Mind of a Chef” (PBS, 9 p.m.).
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN, 10 p.m.) gives updates on 2008 “Biggest Loser” winner Ali Vincent, pop star Samantha Fox, and Tahj Mowry.
A trio of films listed as “feel good romances,” “Murphy’s Romance” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Crossing Delancey” (10 p.m.) and “Dear Heart” (TCM, midnight) are followed by some feel bad horror films about serial killers, “The Zodiac Killer” (2 a.m.), “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” (3:30 a.m).
College football today begins with Cincinnati at Connecticut (CBS Sports, 11:30 p.m.) and continues with the following games at noon: Oklahoma vs. Texas (Fox Sports 1), Notre Dame at North Carolina State (ABC), Iowa at Minnesota (ESPN2), TCU at Kansas (ESPNU) and East Carolina at South Florida (ESPNews).
Later, it’s Houston at Navy (CBS Sports, 3 p.m.) and these games at 3:30 p.m.: Virginia Tech at North Carolina (ABC), Indiana at Ohio State (ESPN), Tennessee at Texas A&M (CBS), BYU at Michigan State (ESPN2) and Iowa State at Oklahoma State (ESPNU).
Other night games include Alabama at Arkansas (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Michigan at Rutgers (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Texas Tech at Kansas State (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Arizona at Utah (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), Utah State at Colorado State (CBS Sports, 10 p.m.), Washington State at Stanford (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.), UCLA at Arizona State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.) and UNLV at San Diego State (ESPNU, 10:30 p.m.).
Baseball playoffs continue with Games 2 of Dodgers at Washington (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and San Francisco at Cubs (MLB, 8 p.m.) in the National League Divisional Series.
Preseason basketball includes Charlotte at Boston (NBA, 3;30 p.m.) and Philadelphia at Cleveland (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Preseason hockey has Philadelphia at Boston (NHL, 8 p.m.) and Colorado at Los Angeles (NHL, 10 p.m.).
James Bay and Rhiannon Giddens perform on a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
“Hamilton” star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11;30 p.m.) with Twenty One Pilots as musical guest. Here’s an interview I did with Twenty One Pilots in June.