Halloween won’t come for another five days, but already here comes the onslaught of Christmas movies that will run nonstop until the end of the year. The forced cheer is reflected in the title of the season’s first original, “Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses” (Hallmark, 8 p.m.), based on the book by Jenny Hale, in which Jill Wagner, above, plays a decorator hired to decorate the estate of a businessman (Matthew Davies) for the holidays. Donna Millis is also part of the cast.
Predictable stuff, but something new this season may be real competition from Lifetime promising even more original Christmas movies than Hallmark. Their first is “The Road Home for Christmas” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), in which dueling pianists Marla Sokoloff and Rob Mayes find themselves without a gig on Christmas Eve (which is certainly understandable). So they decide to go to their nearby hometowns together. Maria Osmond also stars.
Other networks celebrate days that also do not coordinate with the calendar, such as IFC which brings an onslaught of the slasher series starting this morning with “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” (9 a.m.), “Friday the 13th Part IX: Jason Goes to Hell” (11:15 a.m.), “Friday the 13th” (1:15 and 3:15 p.m.), “Friday the 13th, Part 2” (5:30 p.m.), “Friday the 13th Part III” (7:30 p.m.), “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” (9:30 p.m.) and “Friday the 13th – A New Beginning” (11:30 p.m.).
The only prime time college football today is Notre Dame at Michigan (ABC, 7:30 p.m.). (The rest of the games are listed below).
More prominent, sportswise, is Game 4 of the World Series, with Houston at Washington (Fox, 7:30 p.m.). Nats still lead 2-1. And I’ll be in the nosebleed section.
A new special “Women of Impact: Changing the World” (National Geographic, 10 p.m.) celebrates the female explorers, journalists and photographers who have been part of the magazine over the years — also the subject of the current issue.
Neil Jordan’s psychological thriller “Greta” (HBO, 8 p.m.) with Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Moretz and Maika Monroe, makes its premium cable premiere.
Also on tonight: “Deadpool 2” (Cinemax, 8 p.m.),
Ms. Winfrey has a sit-down discussion on “Oprah at Home with Lupita Nyong’o and Cynthia Erivo” (OWN, 8 p.m.).
A baby rhino needs a vaccine on “Crikey! It’s the Irwins” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
“Pit Bulls and Parolees” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.) has a Halloween costume party for the dogs.
Seasonally-themed true crime includes “In the Shadow of Halloween” (Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.) and “Once Upon a Holloween Night” (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.).
And there is “Boo! A Madea Halloween” (USA, 6:30 and 8:45 p.m.) and “Hotel Transylvania” (Freeform, 9:45 p.m.).
“Amanda to the Rescue” (Animal Planet, 10 p.m.) is still in Hawaii.
Couples shift on “Ready to Love” (OWN, 10 p.m.).
An Ethel Waters double feature on Turner Classic Movies has “Cabin in the Sky” (8 p.m.) and “The Member of the Wedding” (10 p.m.). Then comes the 12’oclock noir, “Force of Evil” (midnight), followed by the comedies “The Young in Heart” (1:45 a.m.) and “The Reluctant Debutante” (3:30 a.m.).
College football begins at noon with Oklahoma at Kansas State (ABC), Iowa at Northwestern (ESPN2), Appalachian State at South Alabama (ESPNU), Miami at Pittsburgh (ESPN) and San Jose State at Army (CBS Sports).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Auburn at LSU (CBS), Penn State at Michigan State (ABC), Texas at TCU (Fox), Maryland at Minnesota (ESPN), Oklahoma State at Iowa State (2:30 p.m.), Florida International at Middle Tennessee (NFL) and Tulane at Navy (CBS Sports).
Then comes South Florida at East Carolina (ESPNU, 3:45 p.m.), Arkansas at Alabama (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Texas Tech at Kansas (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), UCF at Temple (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Memphis at Tulsa (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Colorado State at Fresno State (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), California at Utah (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), Utah State at Utah (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.), Washington State at Oregon (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.) and San Diego State at UNLV (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
NBA action includes Miami at Milwaukee (NBA, 5 p.m.), Boston at New York (NBA, 7:30 p.m.) and Clippers at Phoenix (NBA, 10 p.m.).
Hockey has St. Louis at Boston (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.) and Calgary at Winnipeg (NBC Sports, 10 p.m.).
A couple of FIFA U-17 World Cup soccer tames have Brazil vs. Canada (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) and Ecuador vs. Australia (Fox Sports 2, 7 p.m.).
The singer-songwriter H.E.R. plays a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
Chance the Rapper does double duty on a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.), both hosting and serving as musical guest. A compilation of past Halloween sketches precedes it at 10.