MEDIA RAYS

What’s on today

Two of the fall season’s best shows premiere tonight, the terrifically funny and heartwarming “Speechless” at 8:30, and at 10, Kiefer Sutherland in

“Designated Survivor,” an action thriller about a low-level Cabinet secretary who becomes president of the United States. Both are on ABC. “Speechless” is about a family with a teenage son who has cerebral palsy. Minnie Driver stars as a fierce mom who is determined that her son will have a normal life and never be the object of pity. Micah Fowler delivers an Emmyworthy performance as J.J. without speaking a single word. And when he’s nominated and perhaps wins, it won’t be because he has cerebral palsy himself: It will be because he’s a terrific actor. The show is funny and honest.

“Designated Survivor” finds nerdy academic Tom Kirkman (Sutherland) cooling his heels at the White House while the “grown-ups” — the president, vice president and the rest of the Cabinet — are off to Capitol Hill

for the State of the Union address. But just like Cinderella, all of a sudden, he’s the belle of the ball when the Capitol explodes and the “designated survivor” — Kirkman — becomes president. The show is great and Sutherland is great. What else do you need?

Three of ABC’s powerhouse comedies return tonight: “The

Goldbergs ”at8,“Modern Family ”at9and“Black-ish” at 9:30. Wait. What’s missing? “The

Middle,” which ABC is moving to Tuesdays to make room for “Speechless.” The new TV version of “Lethal

Weapon” premieres on Fox at8 p.m. See my review elsewhere in today’s Datebook.

Season 33 of “Survivor”— not to be confused with Kiefer’s new show, of course — launches on

CBS at 8 p.m. with a 90-minute show. It will be followed at 9:30 with the 90-minute finale of season 18 of “Big Brother.”

“Blindspot” moves to its new time slot of 8 p.m. on NBC. Feels too early to me, but NBC is taking a chance. And, like Fox, it’s going for action drama to compete with the ABC comedies.

“Empire” kicks off season 3 on Fox at 9 p.m. Season 18 of “Law & Order:

SVU” begins on NBC at 9 p.m., followed by the season four kickoff of “Chicago PD” at 10. Something tells me “Chicago PD” is going to have it tough going up against “Designated Survivor.” And that something is that “Designated Survivor” is a better show. “India: Nature’s Wonderland,” a special, airs on KQED at 10 p.m.

USA will air a special preview of its forthcoming supernatural series “Falling Water” at 11 p.m. The show officially bows on Oct. 13. — David Wiegand David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle, and co-host of “The Do List” every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV