An excuse for country stars to gather is the 2016 CMT Artists of the Year (CMT, 9 p.m.) with Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan all to be honored. Shania Twain, pictured left, will receive a lifetime honor and Kelsea Ballerini will be named breakout artist.
The comedy duo returns with a sports-minded special, the “Key & Peele Sportsball Spectacular” (Comedy Central, 9 p.m.).
In the new spin-off “Project Runway: Fashion Startup” (Lifetime, 10:30 p.m.) leans more to the business end of fashion, with entrepreneurs pitching fashion ideas to industry bigwigs, “Shark Tank” style. It comes after a new episode of the mother show, “Project Runway” (Lifetime, 9 pm.) that has Emily Ratajkowski as guest judge.
Maybe you’re sick of them by now, but the final time Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be in the same room before election day will be to deliver remarks at New York’s annual Al Smith Memorial Dinner (C-SPAN, 8:50 p.m.). They’re supposed to be self-deprecating, humorous remarks, but that will remain to be seen.
Thursday Night Football has Chicago at Green Bay (CBS, 8:25 p.m.). The Chicago team to watch tonight might be the Cubs as Game 5 of the National League Championship Series of Chicago at Los Angeles (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.) with the series tied 2-2.
An unusual episode of “Doctor Who” (BBC, 10:30 p.m.) on an unusual day, previews the impending Christmas special, which makes the show no better than department stores when it comes to jumping the calendar.
“Better Things” (FX, 10 p.m.) is hardly ever disappointing.
Meredith and Bailey have their eyes on the same liver on “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (The CW, 8 p.m.) meet the Justice Society of America in Nazi-occupied Paris.
“Chicago Med” (NBC, 9 p.m.) deals with a car accident at the marathon.
A killer is targeting tech inventors on “The Blacklist” (NBC, 10 p.m.).
They’re questioning their dreams on “Falling Water” (USA, 10 p.m.).
Facts about the fire at Annalise’s house emerge on “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
Lucifer takes the shape of a rock star on “Supernatural” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Cheyenne and Bo get parental advice on “Superstore” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ series on trailblazing women continues with a spotlight on actresses who later made a mark in public service, from future ambassador Shirley Temple in “Bright Eyes” (8 p.m.), future NEA head Jane Alexander in “The Great White Hope” (9:30 p.m.), future member of Parliament Glenda Jackson in “Women in Love” (11:30 p.m.), future first lady Nancy Reagan in “Hellcats of the Navy” (2 a.m.), and future photojournalist Gina Lollobrigida in “Hotel Paradiso” (3:30 a.m.).
College football tonight includes Miami at Virginia Tech (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Troy at South Alabama (ESPNU, 730 p.m.) and BYU at Boise State (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.).
Preseason basketball has New York at Brooklyn (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Matt LeBlanc, Dakota Fanning, John Leguizamo. The View: Tyler Perry. The Talk: Pitbull, Kevin Frazier, Duff Goldman. Chelsea Handler: Tyler Perry, Cobie Smulders, Alyssa Mastromonaco. Harry Connick: Gloria Estefan, Randall Park, Natalie Morales, Kit Hoover. Ellen DeGeneres: Rachel McAdams, Kym Douglas. Wendy Williams: Lance Bass, Jackie Miranne. The Real: Remy Ma.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Tiger Woods, Elijah Wood, Jorge Ramos. Jimmy Kimmel: Benedict Cumberbatch, Isla Fisher, Flatbush Zombies. Jimmy Fallon: Ben Affleck, Sarah Paulson, Green Day (rerun). Seth Meyers: Lena Dunham, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Thaddeus Dixon, Corey Glover, Vernon Reid (rerun). James Corden: Cher, Gal Gatot, Pet Shop Boys. Carson Daly: Ben Feldman, Explosions in the Sky, Kelly Overton. Trevor Noah: Mike Colter. Conan O’Brien: Mila Kunis, Will Greenberg, Local Natives (rerun).