It’s amazing to think that Dave Chappelle has never hosted “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.), but he does so tonight on a new show where the big question may be: Did Alec Baldwin have to sign a long term contract as a result of the election? A Tribe Called Quest is musical guest.
Speaking of comebacks, here’s “All Def Comedy” (HBO, 10 p.m.), a one hour special in which Russell Simmons fires up the ideals of the old “Def Comedy Jam.”
The coming of the holidays may may remind you of last Christmas, immersed deeply in “The Making of a Murderer” on Netflix. The popularity of that series looked like it would change true crime storytelling forever. Now comes another new series looking at one set of murders on Long Island. “The Killing Season” (A&E, 9 p.m.) comes from Josh Zeman and Rachel Mills.
And crime continues on “48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.) which looks into the recent case of the woman chained in a shopping container in South Carolina, and the bodies found all around it. “Dateline” (NBC, 8 p.m.) spends two hours looking into the shooting of a police officer’s wife.
College football dominates prime time wth California at Washington (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) and Michigan at Iowa (ABC, 8 p.m.).
My Morning Jacket and Ben Harper play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
“The Mind of a Chef” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) turns to vegetables.
“The Divergent Series: Allegiant” (HBO, 8 p.m.) makes its premium cable premiere.
Elsewhere, “When I Live My Life Over Again” (Starz, 9 p.m.) stars Christopher Walken as a crooner who reconnects with his daughter, Amber Heard, who is also a struggling musician.
And there’s always the horror movie “The Other Side of the Door” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) with Sarah Wayne Callies and Jeremy Sisto.
Maria Bello and Callum Keith Rennie star in the made-for-TV horror movie “Little Girl’s Secret” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) about a haunted church in the country.
A series of crimes follow the chapters of a crime novelist’s serial in the made-for-TV “Best-Selling Murder” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) starring Vanessa Ray, Adam Korson and Tara Spencer-Nairn.
On the made for TV “Every Christmas Has a Story” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) Lori Laughlin plays a TV newscaster who makes an anti-Christmas remark then has to go to a town that celebrates it big time. Will she find Christmas spirt and romance with Colin Ferguson? Spoiler alert: Yes.
Also really rushing it: “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas” (Bravo 8:45, 10:50 p.m.).
It’s lawbreakers all night on three consecutive episodes of “Moonshiners: Art of the ‘Shine” (Discovery, 8 p.m.).
“Untold Stories of the E.R.” (TLC, 10 p.m.) focuses entirely on animal bites.
For those who wonder how things happen, there’s “Reagan: From Movie Star to President” (Reelz, 9 and 11 p.m.).
Ben Affleck, David Attenborough, Matt Smith, Claire Foy and Sting play a new “Graham Norton Show” (BBC America, 10 p.m.).
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” (OWN, 10 p.m.) tracks down Suze Orman, Alan Ruck and Kevin Eubanks.
A trio of adaptations of Noel Coward plays, “Blithe Spirit” (TCM, 8 p.m.), “Brief Encounter” (10 p.m.) and “Design for Living” (11:45 p.m.) make way for the female pirates of “The Muthers” (TCM, 2 a.m.) and the blaxploitation film “Melinda” (TCM, 3:30 a.m.).
NBA action today includes Detroit at Denver (NBA, 9 p.m.).
In hockey it’s Toronto at Pittsburgh (NHL, 7 p.m.).
College football begins at noon with Tulsa at Navy (CBS Sports), Mississippi State at Alabama (ESPN), Penn State at Indiana (ABC), Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPN2), West Virginia at Texas (Fox Sports 1), South Carolina at Florida (CBS), SMU at East Carolina (ESPNews) and Cincinnati at Central Florida (ESPNU).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Ohio State at Maryland (ESPN), Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech (ESPNU), Pittsburgh at Clemson (ABC), Illinois at Wisconsin (ESPN2), Auburn at Georgia (CBS), Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (Fox Sports 1) and Tulane at Houston (CBS Sports).
Night games include Wake Forest at Louisville (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Boise State at Hawaii (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), LSU at Arkansas (ESPN, 7 p.m.), South Florida at Memphis (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Colorado at Arizona (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), Colorado State at Air Force (ESPNU, 10:15 p.m.), New Mexico at Utah State (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m.), California at Washington State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.) and San Diego State at Nevada (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).