Three years after it was last on the air, “Fargo” (FX, 9 p.m.) returns in a different place and time (Kansas City, 1950), with a different cast, and almost a different sensibility, set up as beef between crime families led by Chris Rock and Jason Schwartzman. The central conceit – that warring families would trade sons to keep the peace – seems odd enough. But it seems to drift from the premise that kept the terrific “Fargo” seasons thus far connected — that a normal person attempts a crime and gets way over his head.
Under Noah Hawley’s direction, the story is soon packed with all kinds of side stories and interesting characters — all in fabulous period costumes and sets. Like HBO’s recent take on “Perry Mason,” you may enjoy the milieu more than the story. But there are some great individual scenes, and eventually a couple of characters that may remind you of “Fargo” seasons past: The Minnesota accent of the deadly nurse played by Jessie Buckley and the oddball Mormon marshall played by Timothy Olyphant.
The life of civil rights giant and congressman is covered in Dawn Porter’s documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” (CNN, 9 p.m.), making its debut on the news channel.
One strong survivor in the pandemic that’s otherwise kept fall tv tame is animation, and Fox’s full lineup is back tonight with “The Simpsons” (8 p.m.) — starting its 32nd season! — alongside “Bless the Harts” (Fox, 8:30 p.m.), “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox, 9 p.m.) and “Family Guy” (9:30 p.m.).
The first installment of the two-night iHeart Music Festival (CW, 8 p.m.) has virtual performances by BTS, Coldplay, Keith Urban, Migos, Miley Cyrus, Thomas Rhett and Usher, among others.
After winning another Emmy last week, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO, 11 p.m.) returns with a new episode.