When Eli Manning put on a heavy disguise to take part in football tryouts at Penn State, he wasn’t just doing a fun comedy bit for ESPN, he was laying ground for the new series “Chad Powers” (Hulu, streaming), of which Manning is a producer. It’s Glen Powell this time who plays a goofy looking quarterback who wants to be a walk-on player at a school in South Georgia. Steve Zahn also stars.
The battling in 1970 New York City between students protesting the Vietnam War and the construction workers who hated them gets another look in “The Hard Hat Riot” on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
With Halloween season imminent, even nature shows get affected as a set of prey, including a mouse, raccoon and frog find themselves at the mercy of predators in “Nightmares of Nature: Cabin in the Woods” (Netflix, streaming), narrated by Maya Hawke.
The broadcast late night host who has been least affected by government intervention now has a new primetime reality competition that sounds a lot like “The Apprentice.” “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 10 p.m.) has aspiring marketing types competing with others to create the best ads, jingles and branding for companies for companies who will naturally benefit from the exposure. Bozoma Saint John, a former Netflix marketer who is one of the current “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” serves as a judge.
Corey Feldman has already been eliminated from the 34th season of “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Why go on? The remaining 12 will do popular TikTok dances tonight, something Len Goodman would never have stood for. We’ll be rooting for Andy Richter and not, say, the two cast members from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”
A second season has begun for the Canadian import “Murder in a Small Town” (Fox, 8 p.m.). Tonight, in episode two, Camryn Manheim guest stars in a story of feuding families at a local wedding
The second season of “Doc” (Fox, 9 p.m.) began Sept. 14 but is back with its own second episode tonight, with Felicity Huffman joining the cast led by Molly Parker.
The new season of the Kaitlin Olson procedural “High Potential” (ABC, 10 p.m.) is up to its third episode.
“The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.) continues its blind auditions.
The 13th season of “Homestead Rescue” (Discovery, 6 p.m.) has stories of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
“The Shining” (AMC, 7 p.m.) is celebrating its 45th birthday.
The 70th anniversary of James Dean’s death today brings a set of his work tonight on Turner Classic Moves, starting with “Life Sentence” (8 p.m.), an episode of TV’s “Campbell Summer Soundstage,” and continuing with his films “East of Eden” (8:45 p.m.), “Rebel Without a Cause” (11 p.m.) and “Giant” (1 a.m.), followed by a documentary on the “Giant” director, George Sevens, “A Filmmaker’s Journey” (4:30 a.m.).
During the day TCM has the films of director Nicholas Ray with “They Live by Night” (6 a.m.), “A Woman’s Secret” (7:45 a.m.), “Born to Be Bad” (9:15 a.m.), “On Dangerous Ground” (11 a.m.), “The Lusty Men” (12:30 p.m.), “Wind Across the Everglades” (2:30 p.m.), “Party Girl” (4:30 p.m.) and the documentary “Lightning Over Water” (6:15 p.m.).
Postseason baseball begins with a pair of Wild Card games, with Detroit at Cleveland (ESPN, 1 p.m.) and (ESPN, 6 p.m.) in the American League and San Diego at Cubs (ABC, 3 p.m.) and Cincinnati at Dodgers (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the National League.
It’s Indiana at Las Vegas (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.) in the deciding Game 5 in the WNBA playoffs.
Preseason hockey includes Vegas at Colorado (TNT, HBO Max, 8 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Lionel Richie, Charlie Hunnam. The View: Kate McKinnon, John Edward, Robert Hilland. Kelly Clarkson: Matthew McConaughey, Lily James. Drew Barrymore: Regina Hall, Teri Hatcher, Andrea Bowen, Emerson Tenney. Jennifer Hudson: Mariah Carey, Jake Shane. Tamron Hall: Nick Leighton, Leah Bonnema.
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Jimmy Kimmel, Sam Smith. Jimmy Kimmel: Stephen Colbert, Kumail Nanjiani, Renee Rapp. Jimmy Fallon: Dwayne Johnson, Henry Winkler, the Favors. Seth Meyers: Kate McKinnon, Charlie Hunnam, Chelsea Frei. Daily Show: Cristela Alonzo.