Congress is a less entertaining place following the retirement of Barney Frank, whose final days are chronicled in the affectionate documentary “Compared to What? The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank” (Showtime, 9 p.m.). Softening his often tough approach in office as head of the Financial Services Committee was his marriage to his longtime partner in 2012.
Need more politics? Hillary Clinton talks Benghazi and Biden on “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC, 9 p.m.).
A London production of the musical “Billy Elliot” is featured on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), capped with a finale that features more than two dozen who have played Billy over the years.
Who will face the Mets in the World Series? It’s still being determined in the American League Championship Series, with game six of Toronto at Kansas City (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.).
Is Alaska losing its appeal? A new reality series, “Pacific Warriors” (Discovery, 10 p.m.) follows native Hawaiians fishing in kayaks.
Just in time for pre-Halloween binge watching, the third and final season of “Hemlock Grove” (Netflix, streaming0 drops online.
‘Dateline” (NBC, 9 p.m.) examines the case of a high profile New York subway stabbing that capped a violent 1990 in the city is revisited after one man convicted in the case was released after 25 years because of new evidence.
Dr. Thackery tries to return to the hospital on “The Knick” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.).
Tonight’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO, 10 p.m.) is actually old time: a repeat of last week’s episode.
The Halloween horror movies Fridays on Turner Classic Movies turn to literary adaptations, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (8 p.m.), “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (10:30 p.m.), “The Fall of the House of Usher” (12:45 a.m.), “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (2 a.m.) and “The Curse of Frankenstein” (4 a.m.).
College football tonight includes Yale at Penn (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Memphis at Tulsa (ESPN, 8 p.m.) and Utah State at San Diego State (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.).
Hockey includes Montreal at Buffalo (NHL, 7 p.m).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kate Hudson, Kat Dennings, Eric Rupert. The View: Barney Frank, Tony Bennett. The Talk: Danielle Pantbanker, Chi-Lan Lieu. Ellen DeGeneres: Oprah Winfrey, 5 Seconds of Summer. Wendy Williams: Whoopi Goldberg, Alex Martin, Lori Bergamotto. The Real: Chanda Walls. Meredith Vieira: Nicole Scherzinger, Mat Franco.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Lupita Nyong’o, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Christopher Wheeldon, Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Howard Stern, Public Enemy. Jimmy Fallon: Donald Trump, Terrence Howard, Pharrell Williams (rerun). Seth Meyers: Wesley Snipes, Randall Park, Martha Stewart, Stephen Perkins (rerun). James Corden: Mel Brooks, Jerrod Carmichael (rerun). Carson Daly: Danny Boyle, Aaron Sorkin, Melanie Martinez, Bryan Carberry, J. Clay Tweel (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Dick Van Dyke.