OK, this documentary actually premiered yesterday, but I forgot to mention it — and there’s very little else to write about today anyway. “The Alabama Solution” (HBO Max, streaming) takes a deep look into the brutal Alabama penal system, in part by slipping prisoners cellphones in which to videotape what actually happens. It’s from filmmakers Andrew Jarecki (“The Jinx”) and Charlotte Kaufman.
Primetime college football includes Michigan at USC (NBC, 7:30 p.m.), Kansas at Texas Tech (Fox, 7:30 p.m.) and Georgia at Auburn (ABC. 7:30 p.m.). The day’s other games are listed below.
A variation on the Lacey Chabert franchise “Haul Out Holly” gets an autumnal turn with “Haul Out the Halloween” (Hallmark, 9 p.m.), in which the block goes all out to decorate for Oct. 31. starring Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Melissa Peterman, Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta and Stephen Tobolowsky return, joined by Kimberly J. Brown and Daniel Kountz.
Elisha Cuthbert plays a woman who survives childhood abuse only to learn her brother has killed their parents in the made-for-TV film “Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.), based on a true story.
The most overdone movie to make Oscar contention “The Substance” (HBO, 8 p.m.) finally makes its premium cable debut.
“48 Hours” (CBS, 10 p.m.) looks at the death of a man found at the foot of the stairs. His wife is charged.
The death of a mother and a daughter in Las Vegas gets the attention of “The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher” (Oxygen, 9 p.m.).
Kara Swisher and Zainab Johnson are guests on a new “Have I Got News for You” (CNN, 9 p.m.).
“Inside Airport Lost & Found” (National Geographic, 9 p.m.) finds a Rolex watch and a prosthetic eye.
Jamie Lee Curtis picks a pair for Turner Classic Movies tonight. Her choices: “The Manchurian Candidate” (8 p.m.) and “Sweet Smell of Success” (10:15 p.m.). The 12 o’clock noir is “New York Confidential” (midnight), followed by the family dramas “The Great Santini” (2 a.m.) and “East of Eden” (4 a.m.). The midday musical is “Oklahoma!” (noon).
Baseball divisional championships have Cubs at Milwaukee (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, 8 p.m.) in a deciding Game 5.
Hockey has Montreal at Chicago (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Preseason basketball has Oklahoma City at Indiana (NBA, 7 p.m.).
College football begins at noon with Ohio State at Illinois (Fox), Alabama at Missouri (ABC), Stanford at SMU (CW), Houston at Oklahoma State (TNT), Pittsburgh at Florida State (ESPN), Toledo at Bowling Green (ESPNU), Louisiana Lafayette at James Madison (ESPN2), UCF at Cincinnati (Fox Sports 1) and Charlotte at Army (CBS Sports).
Games at 3:30 p.m. include Oklahoma vs. Texas (ABC), TCU at Kansas State (Fox), Wake Forest at Oregon State (CW, Indiana at Oregon (CBS), Iowa State at Colorado (ESPN), Alabama State at Jackson State (ESPNU), Northwestern at Penn State (Fox Sports 1, 3:30 p.m.) and Air Force at UNLV (CBS Sports).
Then comes Florida at Texas A&M (ESPN, 7 p.m.), Iowa at Wisconsin (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.), San Jose State at Wyoming (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Rice at Texas San Antonio (ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.), BYU at Arizona (ESPN2, 8 p.m.), New Mexico at Boise State (Fox Sports 1, 9:45 p.m.), Arizona State at Utah (ESPN, 10:15 p.m.) and San Diego State at Nevada (CBS Sports, 10:30 p.m.).
Auto racing includes the Petit Le Mans (NBC, noon), and the Focused Health 302 (CW, 7:30 p.m.).
Soccer includes Andorra at Latvia (Fox Sports 2, 9 a.m.) and Georgia at Spain (Fox Sports 2, 2:45 p.m.).
Women’s college volleyball has USC at UCLA (NBC, 3 p.m.).
The Los Angeles band the Marias play a new “Austin City Limits” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings).
Amy Poehler returns to host a new “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with musical guest Role Model.