What's On Tonight (Sunday): Smoke gets in your Franchise

The Franchise

I had to wait 300 years for a virgin to light a candle! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, October 20!

Our Top Pick tonight is The Franchise (HBO & Max, 10 p.m.). This satirical comedy despicts the backstage drama and dealings of making a major superhero franchise movie — obvs similar to an MCU film. The director (Daniel Brühl) is a weird perfectionist, the lead actors are a lot (Billy Magnussen, Richard E. Grant), the first AD (Daniel Brühl) keeps most of the production together, his crush (Aya Cash) is now a studio producer, a studio rep (Darren Goldstein) is determined to reshape the movie to fit the evolving franchise, etc. It's a good ensemble show, but not really a funny haha show.

Elsewhere, the Tracker gets tracked, the Springfield downtown art scene is dark, Burger kids don't like a drone, 60 Minutes goes to Relief, Basic Guys love the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen takes us backstage, and the Ghoul Log is back.

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

ON THE SITE

Cancellation League (10 a.m.): Points, She Wrote. Pointy Brewster. Points in Charge. Points Do the Craziest Things. Miami Points.

EARLY STREAMING & EVENING

60 Minutes (CBS, 7 p.m. / Paramount+, Monday): First up in this 90-minute episode, in "Relief, N.C.," Sharyn Alfonsi surveys one of the hardest-hit areas by Hurricane Helene in rural western North Carolina. In "Navalny," Lesley Stahl sits down with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, for her first U.S. interview about Navalny's memoir. In "The Swingiest County," Jon Wertheim travels to Door County, Wisconsin, where residents have voted for the winning candidate in every presidential election this century. Finally, in "The Cap Arcona," Bill Whitaker reports on the bombing of the Cap Arcona, a little-known human tragedy in the closing days of World War II.

Tulsa King (Paramount+, 3 a.m.): Dwight has a sit-down with Kansas City and New York. Tyson tries to make his family proud but it comes at a price.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol (AMC+, 3 a.m. & AMC, 9 p.m.): "All hope feels lost as Genet begins an attack on the Nest." Carol and Daryl might finally reconnect! But will Carol kill Daryl? Of course not! His name is in the show's title.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

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

The Rise of the Ghoul Log (Shudder, 3 a.m.): Special

Serial Killer Capital (Oxygen, 7 p.m. / Peacock, Monday): Series premiere

America's Funniest Home Videos (via Giphy)

🕗 8 P.M. EASTERN / 🕖 7 P.M. CENTRAL

🎥 The Life I Can't Remember (Lifetime): You in danger, girl.

Ruby and the Well (BYUtv): Ruby and her friends search for a wisher who wants to be a kid again. When they find that it's another kid, they dig deep to find an extra special answer. Elsewhere, Dan starts his journey as a probationary volunteer fireman with an unlucky Emerald resident.

🎥🎄 Scouting for Christmas (Hallmark Channel / Peacock, Monday): Following the attack in Pine Valley, Leah Licorice and her team, known as the Roots, do a bit of scouting to find out how Koal Federation forces were able to get so deep in what was thought safe territory. Near the dividing line, the Lodgepole River, scouts Twizzler, Redz, Gustaf, and Wiley find a Koal stronghold. The Grinch is there with a few other bigwigs and several who can't be identified. However, their presence is noticed as hooded figures startle and chase the team. From a distance, Leah sees the scouting mission go sideways and rushes as backup. Twizzler disappears, possibly captured, and Gustaf is presumed killed in a brief exchange. The remaining team retreats. But Gustaf isn't dead. Surveying the scene afterward is Colin Twitchell, showing his allegiance to the Koal Federation, not Christmasia. Gustaf fakes unconsciousness, waiting for the perfect time to escape.

The Simpsons (Fox, 8:30 p.m. / Hulu, Monday): "Lisa has a misadventure in the dark world of Capital City's downtown art scene."

Tracker (CBS, 8:30 p.m. / Paramount+, Monday): The tracker disappears while tracking a missing father. Tracker's brother becomes the tracker to track the tracker.

Universal Basic Guys (Fox / Hulu, Monday): Mark buys himself a Superbowl ring and leverages it to get special treatment at the Eagles game. Hank has an adventure with cutting-edge mascot technology.✔️

WHAT ELSE IS ON

⚾ 2024 National League Championship Series, Game 6 (FS1): New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers

🏀 2024 WNBA Finals, Game 5 (ESPN): Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty

90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days (TLC & Max)

America First: A Fareed Zakaria Special (CNN): Special

🎥 Hocus Pocus (The Wonderful World of Disney) (ABC / Disney+, now)

Interview with a Killer (Court TV): Series premiere

📡 Ridley (PBS / PBS Passport, now)

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

Universal Basic Guys (via Giphy)

🕘 9 P.M. EASTERN / 🕗 8 P.M. CENTRAL

Bob's Burgers (Fox / Hulu, Monday): Linda agrees to drive Teddy to pick up Kathleen from her colonoscopy after he accidentally injures himself. Meanwhile, the kids concoct a scheme to prank an overhead drone which is set to film the school from above.

The Equalizer (CBS, 9:30 p.m. / Paramount+, Monday): SEASON PREMIERE. "McCall races to rescue two siblings who run into trouble after stealing a grocery truck carrying firearms."✔️

From (MGM+): Victor must face a painful reminder of his past. Julie looks for ways to cope with her trauma. Boyd struggles to keep the town safe as the residents begin to question his judgement. Tabitha tries to adjust to her new surroundings.

Krapopolis (Fox, 9:30 p.m. / Hulu, Monday): Stupendous goes to the underworld to visit her old fling Prack. Tyrannis tries to teach Deliria and Shlub the value of human life.

The Penguin (HBO & Max): Episode 5, and I don't anything to add because I haven't gotten to last week's episode. Yet.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🎃 Halloween Wars (Food Network & Max)

📡 Moonflower Murders (PBS / PBS Passport, now): Season finale

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo / Peacock, Monday): Snoop Dogg, Seth Meyers

Wildlife Rescue Australia (National Geographic Wild): Series premiere

Yellowstone Wardens (Animal Planet): Season premiere

The Equalizer (via Giphy)

🕙 10 P.M. EASTERN / 🕘 9 P.M. CENTRAL

Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets (ABC / Hulu, Monday): SPECIAL. "Bruce Springsteen offers insights on his career and personal reflections on the health challenges he and his wife, Patti Scialfa, have faced."✔️

⭐ The Franchise (HBO & Max): "After Maximum Studios is accused of having a woman problem, Anita must find ways to empower Tecto's sole female character."

WHAT ELSE IS ON

Sister Wives (Max & TLC)

📡 Van Der Valk (PBS / PBS Passport, now): Season finale

Vinyl Obsession (AXS TV, 10:30 p.m.): Melissa Jan Hart, Charles Esten

Bruce Springsteen (via Giphy)

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

🇰🇷: Korean Drama
🎥: Movie

🏈🏀⚾⚽🎾🏌️🏒🏎️: Sportsballs

📺: Throwback

✔️: Video/gif/photo included

Happy watching, everyone!