Not since “Boardwalk Empire” has there been such a meticulously detailed, brutally entertaining portrait of the American past as “The Knick” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.), certainly the best series ever associated with that channel.
As the second season begins for the saga of a surgeon and city hospital at the turn of the last century, Stephen Soderbergh still directs every episode on sets that are authentic for 1901 and realistically lit for the era, in gas or candlelight. Of course, there is a solid cast led by Clive Owen and interesting interlocking stories that more than make up for the tough to watch scenes of early surgery.
As the new season starts, the hospital is about to break ground on a new site on the upper east side, Owen’s addicted character is undergoing his own attempt at renewal.
The first fictional feature film from the streaming service, Idris Elba stars in the West African tale “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix, streaming), written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who directed the first season of “True Detective.”
New fall comedies are still being rolled out, although by now with much less fanfare, which is certainly understandable int he case of “Truth Be Told” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.), a supposedly hip new sitcom about a pair of couples who not only freely talk about race, they rarely talk about anything else. Except maybe porn. And the child actor has two lines, both of which involve the word vagina. Charming.
It accompanies the new season of “Undateable” (NBC, 8 p.m.), which is trying to add a little excitement by being presented live each week.I’m thinking they just don’t want to waste good video tape on it. So far, things haven’t worked out quite as planned; the production has been shakier than usual.
The league championship series get under way with game 1 of Toronto at Kansas City (Fox, 8 p.m.) in the American League.
A third season starts for “Please Like Me” (Pivot, 10 p.m.), Aussie Josh Thomas semi-autobiographical comedy on the hard-to-find channel.
A revival of the 1927 production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Show Boat,” including several rarely heard songs, is performed on a new “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) with Julian Ovenden, Vanessa Williams, Norm Lewis and the New York Philharmonic.
Contrary to the title, “Continuum” (Syfy, 11 p.m.) ends its run, as the crew tries to return back to 2077.
Also ending its run: “Jessie” (Disney, 8 p.m.).
If the self-styled miners haven’t struck it rich quite yet on “Gold Rush” (Discovery, 9 p.m.), the network has. It’s its top rated series, returning for its sixth season accompanied by the spinoff “The Dirt” (Discovery, 8 p.m.).
The strange cheating and gigolo series “Satisfaction” (USA, 10 p.m.) returns for a new season.
“True Monsters” (History, 10 p.m.) tells of the North Carolina banshee, among others.
It’s off to Argentina and the Pope’s birthplace on “The Amazing Race” (CBS, 8 p.m.).
Bernie Sanders, Lawrence Lessig, John Feehery, Johann Hari and Katrina vandal Heuvel are on a new “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.).
If you didn’t see it earlier this week, here’s another chance: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW, 9 p.m.).
Julianne Moore’s Oscar winning performance as a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s, “Still Alice” (Starz, 9 p.m.), makes its premium cable debut.
Sometimes the scariest things in horror films can be kids. So there’s a whole night of such flicks on Turner Classic Moviews with “The Nanny” (8 p.m.), “The Bad Seed” (9:45 p.m.), “Children of the Damned” (midnight), “Village of the Damned” (1:45 a.m.), “The Curse of the Cat People” (3:15 a.m.) and “Valerie and her Week of Wonders” (4:30 a.m.).
College football includes Cincinnati at BYU (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Houston at Tulane (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Boise State at Utah State (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and UNLV at Fresno State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
Preseason basketball includes Boston at New York (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Jack Black, Amy Brenneman. The View: Ann Coulter, Alan Alda. The Talk: Colin Hanks, Ellen K, Linda Perry. Ellen DeGeneres: Ellen Page, Miley Cyrus, Linda Perry. Wendy Williams: Ali Wentworth, Don Lemon, Amy Robach. The Real: Chris D’Elia, Ron Bunches, Rick Glassman, Brent Morin. Meredith Vieira: Amy Brenneman, Alfonso Ribeiro.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Jimmy Kimmel, Jessica Chasten, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Guillermo Del Toro, Beach House, Vance Joy. Jimmy Kimmel: Viola Davis, Michael Pena, Slightly Stoopid (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Bruce Willis, Sienna Miller, Borns. Seth Meyers: Anne Hathaway, Ben McKenzie, Francis Garcia & Sal Basille, Stephen Perkins (rerun). James Corden: Jenny Renner, Alison Brie (rerun). Carson Daly: Eliza Gonzalez, Shlohmo, Kristen Kish & Kyle Martino (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Twyla Tharp.