At first it seemed the worst result of the corporate merging of Warner Bros Discovery with HBO — a heavy handed throwback to “The Sopranos” with Colin Farrell in heavy prosthetics aping the menacing stance of James Gandolfini’s character, as he reprises the comic boo villain he first portrayed in the 2022 “The Batman” emphasizing the other company’s intellectual property, DC Comics.
It’s so far from Burgess Meredith approach TV’s “Batman” that the name of the character doesn’t dome up in anything but the title of the dark series, “The Penguin” (HBO, 9 p.m.). And while it’s no “Succession” by any means, it has some dramatic appeal, coming from an even older aspect of the Warner Bros legacy — its gritty gangster flicks of the 1930s. Farrell is given some thoughtful speeches as he mentors a young mobster along the way, and for all the rubber-faced makeup, its the rival mob boss played by Cristin Millioti (yes, the mother from “How I Met My Mother” ) that goes over the top, doing a kind of twisted Talia Shire from “The Godfather.” Also in the cast of the not-bad yarn are Michael Kelly and, oddly, Clancy Brown.
The latest installment in the “Monsters” series that brought us “Dahmer,” here the one about those murderous brothers. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” (Netflix, streaming) starNicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper ooh as the convicted siblings, with Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny as their unfortunate parents. Nathan Lane pops up as Vanity Fair journalist Dominick Dunne.
The Japanese female wrestling hero of the 70s, Dump Matsumoto, gets a five episode series dramatic series with Yuriyan Retriever in the starring role of “The Queen of Villians” (Netflix, streaming).
The new animated series “Twilight of the Gods” (Netflix, streaming) dips into Norse mythology. It’s from Zack Snyder, who has directed a series of dark superhero movies including “Man of Steel,” “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and his director’s cut of “Justice League.”
The inaugural season of the game show “Lucky 13” (ABC, 9 p.m.) has its season finale after two episodes. It follows a new episode of another game show on tonight, “Press Your Luck” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
After a Janky Week, T’kor and Rubina are up for eviction vote tonight on “Big Brother” (CBS, ), leaving the remaining seven to compete to be the next head of household.
The fall TV season excitement isn’t what it used to be (just look at the flimsy fall edition of TV Guide). But what new and returning shows CBS, for one, will have is offered in the half hour special “CBS Fall First Look” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) head to St. Louis for a live show Shannon and Vicki are putting on.
Sammy takes big step on “Jersey Shore Family Vacation” (MTV, 8 p.m.).
“The Tailor of Sin City” (Sundance, 10 p.m.) gets Pablo Escobar as a client.
Archaeologists excavate the frontier of the Empire on “Lost Treasures of Rome” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.).
Turner Classic Movies’ two-part look at the effects of modern technology concludes with “Desk Set” (8 p.m.), “Modern Times” (10 p.m.), “Westworld” (11:45 p.m.), “Metropolis” (1:30 a.m.) and “THX1138” (4:15 a.m.).
During the day are flicks in which animals play a prominent role, “Challenge to Lassie” (6 a.m.), “Fearless Fagan” (7:30 a.m.), “Tarzan’s Savage Fury” (9 a.m.), “Room for One More” (10:30 a.m.), “Gypsy Colt” (12:30 p.m.), “The Gazebo” (2 p.m.), “Billy Rose’s Jumbo” (4 a.m.) and “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion” (6:15 p.m.).
Thursday night football has New England at Jets (Prime Video, 8:15 p.m.).
Baseball includes Philadelphia at Mets (Fox, 7 p.m.).
WNBA action has Atlanta at New York (NBA, 7 p.m.) and Indiana at Washington (Prime Video, 7 p.m.).
College football has South Alabama at Appalachian State (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Eva Mendes, Calum Scott. The View: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Will, Alexandra and Matthew Reeve. The Talk: Dr. Phil. Kelly Clarkson: Tiffany Haddish, Freya Allen, Jean Smart, Nicholas Galitzine, Jonathan and Drew Scott, Daniela Melchor, Melissa Rivers, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence. Drew Barrymore: Eva Mendes, Lucien Laviscount. Jennifer Hudson: Sofia Vergara. Tamron Hall: Sally LaPointe, K. Daniels, Matthew Williams.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Anderson Cooper, Sting. Jimmy Kimmel: Kristen Bell, Peter Krause, Hozier. Jimmy Fallon: Demi Lovato, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Twenty One Pilots. Seth Meyers: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart. Taylor Tomlinson: James Adomian, Lake Bell, Opey Olagbaju.