What's On Tonight (Sunday): Beacon of light

Beacon 23

You stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, Nerf-herder!! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, November 12!

Our Top Pick tonight is the series premiere of Beacon 23 (MGM+, 9 & 10 p.m.). This new 23rd century-set sci-fi series sees Lena Headey finding herself in a galactic lighthouse with its keeper Stephan James. The question that's unraveled is if these two are to be friends or foes. The series is based on a short story series by Hugh Howey and was originally greenlit by Spectrum Originals. Remember that?? [*Mad About You theme starts playing*]

Elsewhere, Candace Parker gets documentary treatment, the opera is in an Age of warfare, Krapopolis and The Simpsons flip timeslots, Bob's Burgers goes to a cocktail party, the Kids are Baking, Bass Reeves goes on mission numero uno, and MSNBC ponders "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

(All times are Eastern. All listings are new unless otherwise stated. For more listings, visit The Futon Critic or Zap2it.)

ON THIS SITE

Cancellation League (Morning): One week you're up, the next week you're down.

EARLY STREAMING & EVENING

60 Minutes (CBS, 7 p.m. / Paramount+, Monday): Iran's use of proxy assassins to silence or eliminate critics of the regime in the U.S. and Europe... Russia's deliberate destruction and looting of Ukraine's museums, churches and monuments... The national regulator tasked with cleaning up horse racing.

🎥🎄 Christmas Time Capsule (UPtv, 7 p.m.): A chef goes on a Christmas holiday trying to get away from a series of disappointments both in his personal and professional lives, but there he gets into a clash with the resort's grumpy chef.

📺 The John Larroquette Show (Rewind TV, 6 p.m.): Trouble brews when cerebral John enlists Eggers as his personal trainer and fitness-freak Carly takes a literature course.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+, 3 a.m.): Bass is sworn in and embarks on his first mission as a US Deputy Marshal. The Underwood gang strikes after Bass is let in on a secret.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 p.m. / Hulu, Monday)✔️

🇰🇷 Castaway Diva (Netflix, 10 a.m.)

The Circus (Showtime, 7 p.m.): Season finale

The Earthshot Prize 2023 (PBS, 7 p.m.): Special

🇰🇷 Strong Girl Nam-Soon (Netflix, 9:30 a.m.)

America's Funniest Home Videos (via Giphy)

🕗 8 P.M. EASTERN / 🕖 7 P.M. CENTRAL

🎥 Black Girls Play (30 for 30 Shorts) (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.): An exploration of the origins of the hand games that have been played by young Black girls for generations, and their influence on music, dance, and community all across the American creative landscape.

🎥🎄 A Christmas Blessing (Great American Family): In Who culture, a blessing is seen as vital before a big event. For a newly formed rebel force, they are lacking a specific blessing as they begin to fight against their oppressors. It is the beginning of the War of Who Succession. After a century of growing oppression, the Who people are fighting for their independence from the Kingdom of the Elves, which was then ruled by the Heidelberg family. The first meeting of the opposing forces was on the Christmas River. After 2 days, the Elvish army retreats. As the rebels, now preparing to battle the full might of the Elvish Kingdom, regroup, their cleric brings them together and finds the words for a blessing that still lives on in who society.

🎥🎄 A Heidelberg Holiday (Hallmark Channel): The Snowflake reign of the Kingdom of the Elves is coming to an end. King Winterbolt has lost control within the military ranks and the Heidelberg state is no longer offering is monthly tribute to the crown. Instead, its head, Lady Borealis, has gathered some geographically-adjacent allies, including their armies, together to challenge the royals and hopefully take the crown. What she really needs is to win the money and influence of the societal elite.

Krapopolis (Fox / Hulu, Monday): When Hippocampus is ostracized for his unconventional appearance, Tyrannis takes him to a science convention where he is finally appreciated for his intellect.✔️

🎥 A Roommate to Die For (Lifetime): "A woman quickly learns there's something very strange about her new roommate." Her roommate has been dead the entire time.

The Simpsons (Fox, 8:30 p.m. / Hulu, Monday): When Marge's heart is broken by a bad birthday present, Bart and Lisa must dig into their mom's past to show that they really know her. Meanwhile, Homer becomes a neighborhood fearmonger.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

90 Day Fiancé (TLC / Max, Monday)

📡 Hotel Portofino (PBS / PBS Passport, now)

Kids Baking Championship (Food Network & Max): Special

Naked & Afraid (Discovery Channel / Max, Monday)

The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo / Peacock, Monday)

🏈 Sunday Night Football (NBC & Peacock, 8:15 p.m.): ✈️ at 🎰

🎥 The Wonderful World of Disney: The Empire Strikes Back (ABC / Disney+, now)

Krapopolis (via Giphy)

🕘 9 P.M. EASTERN / 🕗 8 P.M. CENTRAL

⭐ Beacon 23 (MGM+): SERIES PREMIERE. "In the farthest reaches of the Milky Way, a government agent and a stoic ex-military man find themselves trapped inside a beacon that serves as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers." Lena Headey and Stephan James star.✔️

Bob's Burgers (Fox / Hulu, Monday): Mr. Fischoeder enlists Bob to be his personal chef for a glamping trip on his exclusive club's secret island. Linda gives the kids a crash course on cocktail party etiquette.

🎥 Candace Parker: Unapologetic (ESPN): "Candace Paker's journey through basketball and life, balancing the personal and professional while becoming a mother as well."✔️

Family Guy (Fox, 9:30 p.m. / Hulu, Monday): Peter is emasculated when, on their anniversary, he abandons Lois amidst a shark attack. Stewie finds a mini fridge and lives the dorm lifestyle.

Fear the Walking Dead (AMC & AMC+): "A survivor is at odds with the rest of the island and is forced to turn to another for help."

The Gilded Age (HBO & Max): The opera war escalates as an unexpected guest attends Bertha's fundraising gala for the Metropolitan Opera while Agnes lends her support to Mrs Astor's fight for the Academy of Music.

 

WHAT ELSE IS ON

American Monster (Investigation Discovery & Max): Season premiere

📡 Fellow Travelers (Showtime / Paramount+ with Showtime, now)

Holiday Wars (Food Network / Max, Monday)

📡 Lawmen: Bass Reeves (CBS): Series premiere

Married to Medicine (Bravo, 9:15 p.m. / Peacock, Monday)

The Toys That Built America (History): Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

📡 World on Fire (PBS / PBS Passport, now)

Candace Parker (via Giphy)

🕙 10 P.M. EASTERN / 🕘 9 P.M. CENTRAL

⭐ Beacon 23 (MGM+): The episode is titled "Wreckers" but the synopsis from MGM+ reads the same as the first episode.✔️

The Turning Point: Serving in Secret (MSNBC): SPECIAL? Leading voices in politics, historians, civil rights activists, and retired military personnel tell the story of LGBTQ discrimination in the military, and the controversial compromise known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

WHAT ELSE IS ON

📡 Annika (PBS / PBS Passport, now): 

📡 The Curse (Showtime / Paramount+ with Showtime, now)

Good Cop, Bad Cop (Investigation Discovery / Max, Monday): Series premiere

The Garden: Commune or Cult (Discovery Channel / Max, Monday)

Sister Wives (TLC / Max, Monday)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo, 10:15 p.m. / Peacock, Monday): Toya Bush-Harris, Ashley Darby

💤😴 LATE NIGHT 😴💤

📺 Police Woman (Get TV, 2 a.m.): When a young girl murders herself after mailing a carton of drugs to police, Pepper is hot on the trail of a drug ring.

Rick and Morty (Adult Swim, 11 p.m.): "Unmortricken"

WHAT ELSE IS ON

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO & Max, 11 p.m.)

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Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
📡: Linear broadcast

🇰🇷: Korean Drama
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback

🎄: Holiday program

✔️: Video/gif/photo included

Happy watching, everyone!