TV Top Picks This Week
DON’T MISS: “Fargo” _ The long wait is over. After a three-year hiatus, the critically acclaimed Midwestern anthology finally returns. This one stars Chris Rock, who plays Loy Cannon, the head of an African American crime family that, for now, has struck a fragile truce with an Italian syndicate in 1950 Kansas City. The period and setting may keep changing, but “Fargo” remains a thrilling saga packed with visual verve, dark humor, surprise twists and oddball characters. Speaking of the latter, keep an eye on Jessie Buckley, who steals scenes as the deceptively sweet-natured nurse Oraetta Mayflower. (10 p.m. Sunday, FX).
Other bets:
SUNDAY: Fall TV gains some semblance of normalcy as the “Animation Domination” lineup returns to action. As usual, “The Simpsons” leads things off with an episode that has Mr. Burns going undercover as “Fred” at the nuclear power plant and becoming friends with Homer and the gang. (8 p.m., Fox).
MONDAY: “Emergency Call” is a new unscripted series that documents the first few crucial minutes of real-life emergencies as conveyed by America’s 911 call takers. Actor Luke Wilson is our host. (10 p.m., ABC).
TUESDAY: Are they ready to rumble? Donald Trump and Joe Biden meet in the fall’s first U.S. presidential debate. Chris Wallace of Fox News serves as moderator of the 90-minute event, with topics including the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic and unrest over racial issues. (6 p.m. PT; 9 p.m. ET, various networks and cable news channels).
WEDNESDAY: Need a few laughs? “South Park” returns with an hourlong “Pandemic Special,” which has Randy coming to terms with his role in the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, the kids return to school, but nothing resembles the normal they once knew _ not their teachers, not their homeroom, not even Eric Cartman. (8 p.m., Comedy Central).
THURSDAY: “Let’s Be Real” is the electionthemed puppet special no one asked for, but got anyway. We’re told that it will cover politics, pop culture and the 2020 election through topical sketches featuring celebrities and, yes, puppets. (9 p.m., Fox).
FRIDAY: Lily Collins plays the charming title character in the sparkly romantic comedy “Emily in Paris.” She’s an ambitious young Chicago marketing exec who is thrilled when she lands a job in the City of Light. But it comes with major challenges, including boyfriend hassles, a language barrier and stunningly rude coworkers. (Netflix).
SATURDAY: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in the dark comedy “Downhill.” They play a couple forced to reevaluate their marriage after a near-death experience during a family ski outing in the Alps. (8 p.m., HBO).