LORI’S LIST
The next talkers on the TV schedule
“BROOKLYN NINE-NINE” (7:30 p.m. Tuesday on WFLD-Channel 32): Out of a weak crop of new fall sitcoms, this ★★★ workplace comedy about a rag-tag group of New York Police Department detectives is the best of the bunch. Chicago’s own Andre Braugher nails it as (gay) straight man to Andy Samberg’s wacky antics. The talented comedic ensemble makes the most of the strong material from “Parks & Recreation” vets Dan Goor and Mike Schur (a.k.a. Mose from “The Office”).
“THE LEAGUE” (9:30 p.m. Wednesday on
FXX): Chicago Bears quarterback and wife Kristin Cavallari guest star in this bawdy cable comedy about fantasy football fanatics. Jay and Kristin are forced to interact with superfans Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) and Jenny (Katie Aselton) when both couples’ kids — Chalupa and the Cutlet — are enrolled in the same Winnetka preschool.
“THE BLACKLIST” ( 9 p.m. Monday on WMAQ-Channel 5): James Spader’s performance as an enigmatic FBI fugitive suddenly offering to play for the good guys is enthralling enough to make me overlook — for the time being — a few weak spots
in this ★★★ thriller reminiscent of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Spader’s character isn’t a serial killer, but his relationship with a rookie FBI profiler (Megan Boone) has Hannibal Lecter/Clarice Starling overtones. It could be the fall’s best new drama if it doesn’t veer off course and drive into the ditches of hokey predictability or outrageous implausibility.
“HOSTAGES” (9 p.m. Monday on WBBM
Channel 2): CBS is trying something different from its usual police procedural fare with this serialized, 15-episode ★★★ drama starring Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott. Collette plays a surgeon ordered to kill the president in order to save her family, who harbor secrets of their own. The audiencefriendly fate of their pet dog is a reminder that this is broadcast, not cable TV.