What to Watch This Weekend: The Finales of The Knick and Manhattan, Transporter's TNT Debut, and The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror XXV"
What to watch on Friday, October 17...
12pm, Nick.com
The Legend of Korra
Prince Wu is ready to sit the throne of the Earth Kingdom in "The Coronation," but Kuvira spoils his party. Elsewhere, Toph learns Korra a thing or two, the airbenders search high and low for the absent Avatar, and Varrick cooks up another zany (read: probably dangerous) scheme.
7pm, MTV & Logo
Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word
The Orange Is the New Black star hosts this look at the lives of seven transgender youths from around the country. Following the premiere, Cox and SuChin Pak will host a live forum at MTV.com to answer questions from audience members and social media participants.
7pm, Syfy
Haven
Taking advantage of the town's latest shenanigans, Mara makes her play in "The Old Switcheroo, Part 2." Meanwhile, Duke and Nathan must make a risky counter-move to retrieve Audrey once and for all.
8pm, Disney
Girl Meets World
Riley, Maya, and Lucas come to Farkle's defense when bullying takes its toll in "Girl Meets Flaws."
9pm, PBS
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess from San Francisco Opera
Eric Owens and Laquita Mitchell are the leads in this production of George Gershwin's beloved show, featuring songs such as "Summertime" and "Bess You Is My Woman Now."
SEASON 1 FINALE, 10pm, Cinemax
The Knick
Thackery's paranoia and his dedication to the blood transfusion research both intensify in "Crutchfield." Meanwhile, Edwards and Cornelia hit a turning point, Barrow sinks deeper into financial trouble, and Robertson orders a vote as the hospital faces a crisis.
SERIES PREMIERE, 11pm, HBO
Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways
As they celebrate their 20th band-iversary, the venerable rockers embark on an eight-city tour to record their eighth studio album (one song per city) and to chronicle America's musical heritage. The journey commences in Chicago, where the band records with Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and explores the Windy City's history as a hotbed of the blues.
MID-SEASON PREMIERE, 11pm, IFC
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Scott hopes to court his dream girl, Ellie Kemper, which I would think violates some sort of professional talk-show hosts' code or something. In less amorous affairs, Scott decides to repair a dilapidated school.
SEASON 2 PREMIERE, 11:30pm, IFC
The Birthday Boys
A high-end fashion designer, a wayward indie rock band, and a man raised in the woods are among the subjects of social class-focused sketches in "Snobs and Slobs."
LATE-NITE:
– Bradley Cooper and Neil Diamond on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, 11:35pm, NBC
– Jessica Chastain and Foo Fighters on Late Show with David Letterman, 11:35pm, CBS
– Sean Hayes and Weird Al Yankovic on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 12:37am, CBS
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
What to watch on Saturday, October 18...
MOVIE PREMIERE, 8pm, Lifetime
Big Driver
Maria Bello, Olympia Dukakis, Ann Dowd, and Joan Jett star in this revenge thriller centering on a famous genre author from New England. Why yes, yes it is based on a story by Stephen King. How did you guess?
9pm, BBC America
Doctor Who
With the Doctor trapped and lives on the line, Clara goes toe-to-toe with an extradimensional enemy in "Flatline."
9pm, Starz
Survivor's Remorse
In "How to Build a Brand," Cam calls on a dying teenage fan who has a startling request. In less charitable endeavors, Reggie encourages Cam to foot the family's bills.
SERIES PREMIERE, 9pm & 10pm, TNT
Transporter: The Series
Chris Vance steps into Jason Statham's considerable shoes in this adaptation of the Transporter film franchise. "Trojan Horsepower" kicks if off with formidable courier Frank delivering a fancy new engine to the Paris Auto Show while battling hired goons. Then in "Dead Drop," Frank helps a former CIA agent come in from the cold in the City of Brotherly Love.
SEASON 2 PREMIERE, 10:30pm, Cartoon Network
Black Dynamite
"Roots: The White Album, or the Blacker the Community the Deeper the Roots!" greets the return of Black Dynamite and company for another round of adventures that Adult Swim may or may not choose to describe in advance.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
What to watch on Sunday, October 19...
8pm, ABC
Once Upon a Time
Emma asks Hook out on a proper date, so he seeks Mr. Gold's help in restoring his hand because accidental stabbings have a tendency to kill the mood. Elsewhere in "The Apprentice," Will Scarlet plans a heist at the Storybrooke library, Henry and Mary Margaret lend moral support to a frustrated Regina, and in the Fairy-Tale Land that was, Rumplestiltskin suspects that Anna may be the key to obtaining a magical box guarded by the Sorcerer's apprentice.
8pm, Fox
The Simpsons
Tales in "Treehouse of Horror XXV" include Bart and Lisa visiting an alternate universe lousy with demons, Moe rounding up a gang in the style of A Clockwork Orange, and the Simpson clan coming face to face with their Tracey Ullman Show-era antecedents.
8:30pm, Fox
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
"Halloween II" continues the (now apparently annual) tradition of Jake betting that he can swipe Capt. Holt's watch before the witching hour. In extracurricular activities, Gina fumes when her dance team gives her the boot.
9pm, Fox
Family Guy
Lois and Peter open a cookie store in "Baking Bad," but Peter's method of attracting business proves somewhat less than orthodox. It's drugs, right? Because of the title? Is it drugs? It's probably drugs.
9pm, Showtime
Homeland
In "Iron in the Fire," Carrie gets a tip, Saul cashes in a chip, and Fara unearths a conspiracy about dip. … Okay, fine, the conspiracy in question is most likely not about dip. I was in a rhythm, sue me.
9pm, CBS
The Good Wife
A sex discrimination case pits Alicia and Dean against Elsbeth and Rayna Hecht in "Shiny Objects," which also welcomes back Kyle MacLachlan's AUSA Josh Perotti and features, for some reason, penguins. With so much awesome to distract them, it's no wonder Florrick/Agos/Lockhart is vulnerable to a hacker who takes the firm's vital data hostage.
9pm, HBO
Boardwalk Empire
Willie and Eli are sucked into the battle against Luciano, even as Nucky's grip on Atlantic City seems to be slipping. Elsewhere in "Friendless Child," Gillian pens a missive from the hospital, Maranzano nears the end of his tenure at the top, and 1897 Nucky argues with Mabel about a young runaway from Trenton.
9pm, AMC
The Walking Dead
Provisions and trust are both in short supply in "Strangers," impelling Rick to lead a mission where the risk may outweigh the reward. Though pretty much every mission in the Walking Dead world could be described that way, up to and including "going to the bathroom" and "sitting quietly."
SEASON 1 FINALE, 10pm, WGN America
Manhattan
"Perestroika" presents Frank with an opportunity that could put him on a very different path. A less welcome shakeup may be in store for Charlie, who lands in hot water with the Army.
10pm, Showtime
The Affair
As their lives begin to intertwine, Noah and Alison must confront the inevitable. With so much on their plates, I'm not sure why they're worrying about the impending heat death of the universe, but I… hmm... I really don't get romance, do I?
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING TONIGHT?
And now, let's all vote to crown the What to Watch Tonight Episode Title of the Week!
