What to watch WEDNESDAY
October 18, 2023
All times Central. Start times can vary based on cable/satellite provider. Confirm times on your on-screen guide.
Quantum Leap
NBC, 7 p.m.
In “Closure Encounters,” now a government agent, Ben (Raymond Lee) investigates unexplained extraterrestrial activity; after a mysterious incident in New Mexico, two young girls’ lives are on the line. Ben also meets Hannah Carson (new cast member Eliza Taylor), who may be more than she appears.
Nature PBS, 7 p.m. (WTTW Chicago, 7 p.m.)
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Season Premiere
The acclaimed natural history series returns for its 42nd season with “The Platypus Guardian,” which tells the story of Pete Walsh, a Tasmanian man who befriends a platypus he names Zoom. With the help of experts, Pete learns more about the platypuses’ secret world in a mission to protect them from the dangers of urban development.
Tyler Perry’s Sistas New Episodes
BET, 8 p.m. ■
New episodes of this comedy/drama’s sixth season return starting tonight with “Daydreams,” which finds Gary (Chido Nwokocha) giving Hayden (Chris Warren) a stern warning to be careful with Tamara’s (Joi Simone) mysterious motives, and Sabrina (Novi Brown) learning that Bayo’s (Ellis E. Fowler) help with her and Maurice’s (Brian Jordan Jr.) legal situation has strings attached.
The Spencer Sisters The CW, 8 p.m.
In “The Coder’s Calamity,” Darby (Stacey Farber) and Victoria (Lea Thompson) investigate stolen intellectual property for a trio of Silicon Valley-style tech developers.
Magnum P.I. NBC, 8 p.m.
In “Appetite for Danger,” Magnum (Jay Hernandez) and Higgins (Perdita Weeks) enlist Katsumoto (Tim Kang) to go undercover when a chef at a high-end restaurant goes missing. Meanwhile, Kumu (Amy Hill) works with Cade (Martin Martinez) at the Cultural Center, confronting one of America’s darker chapters — the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
NOVA: Ancient Earth
PBS, 8 p.m. (WTTW Chicago, 8 p.m.) For billions of years, life teemed in Earth’s oceans while the land was desolate and inhospitable. In “Life Rising,” see how life eventually made the leap to land, transforming a barren, rocky landscape into the lush, green world we call home.
Ms. Pat Settles It New Series
BET, 9 p.m. ■
Comedian/author/actress Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams brings her sharp wit to the bench in this series, presiding as judge over real cases where genuine relationships hang in the balance. Ms. Pat has assembled a jury comprised of her closest friends, family members and guest stars to help decide the cases. The series kicks off with back-to-back half-hour episodes.
American Horror Story: Delicate
FX, 9 p.m. ■ Midseason Finale
The first part of the American Horror Story: Delicate season concludes with “Preech.” Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne star.
Secrets of the Dead PBS, 9 p.m. (WTTW Chicago, 9 p.m.)
In “Jurassic Fortunes,” discover the world of dinosaur fossil collecting and hear perspectives on this controversial hobby from private collectors, paleontologists and others as “Big John” — the largest Triceratops fossil ever found — is assembled in Italy and auctioned in France.
Ghost Adventures: Screaming Room
Discovery Channel, 10 p.m. ■ New Series Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley, the paranormal investigative team from Ghost Adventures, look back on some of their favorite episodes from past seasons and comment on the scariest, funniest and most exciting moments.