TV Top Picks This Week

Don’t Miss: The presidential debate — They’ve been throwing long-distance verbal jabs at one another for months. On Monday the candidates — Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump — finally come face to face on the same stage at New York’s Hofstra University in the first of three scheduled debates. Judging from the spiteful tone of the campaign, this could get ugly. NBC anchor Lester Holt will be the referee, er, moderator. 9 p.m. Eastern, on all the broadcast networks and cable news channels.

Sunday: What new twists can “The Simpsons” possibly deliver in the show’s 26th season? For starters, we’ll meet Mr. Burns’ mother in a childhood flashback and she’s voiced by none other than Amy Schumer. 8 p.m., Fox.

Monday: On “The Big Bang Theory,” the guys are in a tizzy when an Air Force big shot approaches them about their revolutionary guidance system project. Elsewhere, Penny accidentally leaks news of Bernadette’s pregnancy to the mom-to-be’s coworkers. 8 p.m., CBS. Tuesday: “Frontline” revives its excellent election-year series, “The Choice.” It’s a side-by-side biographical look at Clinton and Trump that delves behind the headlines to examine what life experiences shaped them, how they lead and why they covet one of the toughest jobs around. 9 p.m., PBS. Wednesday: “Criminal Minds” begins its 12th season needing to fill the void left by Shemar Moore, who quit, and Thomas Gibson, who was fired. In their place, Paget Brewster and Aisha Tyler were upped to series regulars, and Adam Rodriguez was brought on as a new agent.

9 p.m., CBS.