The comedian Albert Brooks, the product of a showbiz family, created a totally original absurdist approach to standup comedy that he brought to indelible comedy films like “Modern Romance” and “Lost in America.” And generations know his distinctive voice through “Finding Nemo.” At 76, he sits down with his high school classmate Rob Reiner to reminisce about his career in the entertaining profile “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” (HBO, 8 p.m.), a film that’s full of choice career clips and enthusiastic endorsements from fellow comics.
Anyone remember the days when he was just Cake Boss? A new reality series “Buddy Valastro’s Cake Dynasty” (A&E, 10 p.m.) follows not only the cake making but the family relationships of the successful Hoboken baker. It comes after another new series hosted by Valastro in which he samples top restaurants across the country, “Legends of the Fork” (A&E, 9 p.m.).
Primetime college football dominates Broadcast schedules with West Virginia at Oklahoma (Fox, 7 p.m.), Michigan State at Ohio State (NBC, 7:30 p.m.), Texas at TCU (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) and USC at Oregon (Fox, 10:30 p.m.).
A surprising sport on the networks is the National Women’s Soccer Championship game with the NY/NY Gotham FC vs. OL Reign (CBS, 8 p.m.) from San Diego.
David Attenborough presents animal behavior in the oceans on a new “Planet Earth III” (BBC America, 8 p.m.).
Oprah Winfrey talks with actor Courtney B. Vance and Dr. Robin Smith, who eco-authored the book “The Invisible Ache: Black Man Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power” on “OWN Spotlight” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
Sir Walter Scott’s tale gets a twist in the animated series “The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Ivanhoe” (Cartoon Network, 9 a.m.) from the creators associated with “Gumball,” Christian Boving-Andersen and Eva Lee Walberg. The 24 episodes in the Danish-UK co-production had previously aired in pretty much every corner of the world since they were created in 2017 before today’s U.S. debut.
The aftermath of an accident has left the staff shocked on “Pets & Pickers” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.).
“NFL Icons” (MGM+, 10 p.m.) profiles Charles Woodson in its season finale.
Montel Williams hosts the fourth annual “Variety Salute to Service” (History, 7 p.m., spotlighting those who have served their communities after serving in the military. It’s followed by “Beyond the Battlefield” (History, 8 p.m.), a two hour Veterans Day Weekend special that follows the day-to-day operations at various branches of the armed forces, hosted by Remi Adeleke.
The Fletchers have a dancing date on “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” (OWN, 8 p.m.).
On “All Rise” (OWN, 9 p.m.), Luke and Carver are on opposite ends of a three-strikes case.
Rachel Skarsten plays a pilot who is diverted to “Christmas Island” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.) and meets up with an air traffic controller played by Andrew Walker.
Another premature holiday romance film is “Christmas Keepsakes” (Great American Family, 8 p.m.), about a man who meets a woman while tracking down the original owner of a Yuletide time capsule.e. Daniel Lissing and Jillian Murray star.
For something different, in the made-for-TV thriller “Devil on My Doorstep” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), a delivery driver becomes obsessed with a social media influencer.
A pair of Bruce Lee movies are on Turner Classic Movies tonight, “Fists of Fury” (8 p.m.) and “The Way of the Dragon” (10 p.m.). The 12 o’clock noir is “Cry Terror!” (midnight), followed by two films with blind protagonists, “Cat O’ Nine Tails” (2 a.m.) and “Eyes in the Night” (4 a.m.).
Basketball has Cleveland at Golden State (NBA, 8:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Columbus at Detroit (NHL, 1 p.m.) and Boston at Montreal (NHL, 7 p.m.).
College football begins at noon with games that include Georgia Tech at Clemson (ABC), Michigan at Penn State (Fox,), Alabama at Kentucky (ESPN), Texas Tech at Kansas (Fox Sports 1), Tulsa at Tulane (ESPN2), Holy Cross at Army (CBS Sports,) and Maryland at Nebraska (Peacock).
After NC State at Wake Forest (CW, 2 p.m), games at 3:30 p.m. include Miami at Florida State (ABC), Tennessee at Missouri (CBS), Oklahoma State at UCF (ESPN), Minnesota at Purdue (NBC), Northwestern at Wisconsin (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.) and UAB at Navy (CBS Sports).
Then comes Washington State at California (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), Ole Miss at Georgia (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Georgia Southern at Marshall (NFL, 7 p.m.), San Diego State at Colorado State (NBC, 7:30 p.m.), Mississippi State at Texas A&M (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.), Rice at UTSA (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), New Mexico at Boise State (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), Iowa State at BYU (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.) and Fresno State at San Jose State (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Newly Grammy-nominated Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit return to play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
Timothée Chalamet hosts a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with musical guest boygenius.