Another day, another smackdown. What should you watch and does it line up with what we’re watching?
8pm
DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
America’s votes are in and the nine remaining celebrities will switch professional dance partners on “Dancing with the Stars.” International pop superstar Jessie J will guest judge alongside Julianne Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli in addition to kicking-off the night with a medley of her hit songs “Bang Bang” and “Burnin’ Up” featuring the Pros. For the first time this season couples will dance to new styles of dance including Hip-Hop, Burlesque, and Flamenco among others. Celebrities will perform one routine with their “switch up” partner and return to their original dance partners the following week.
VS.
GOTHAM (FOX)
“Arkham” — As a contentious city council vote on the future of the Arkham district approaches, politicians from both sides are in danger. Gordon and Bullock must race to protect the council and an old friend visits Gordon.
WINNER: GOTHAM takes the prize for the second week in a row. The show just earned a full-season pickup from Fox, which means you might as well keep watching. It’s not going anywhere this year. And to be quite honest, I’d like to keep it around a little bit longer.
Honorable Mentions: THE ORIGINALS (THE CW), THE VOICE (NBC), THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
9pm
JANE THE VIRGIN (THE CW)
PREMIERE “Chapter One” — Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) is a driven young woman studying to become a teacher, nursing a dream to be a writer, and supporting herself with a job at a hot new Miami hotel. All the years of watching telenovelas with the two women who raised her – her sexy, young-at-heart mother, Xiomara (Andrea Navedo) and her still-devout grandmother, Alba (Ivonne Coll) – have given Jane a slightly unrealistic view of romance, but her wonderful fiancé, Michael (Brett Dier), is supportive and even understands her decision to “save herself” until marriage. All of Jane’s meticulous life plans are turned upside down, however, when she sees her doctor for a routine check-up and is accidentally artificially inseminated with a specimen meant for someone else. Now, Jane is faced with the most important decisions of her life – a life that has suddenly become as dramatic, complicated and unpredictable as the telenovelas she has always loved.
VS.
SLEEPY HOLLOW (FOX)
“Go Where I Send Thee” — Abbie (Nicole Beharie) and Crane’s (Tom Mison) search for a missing Sleepy Hollow child reveals a creature akin to the Pied Piper, whose legacy with the child’s family extends back to a centuries-old curse.
WINNER: Another week where my favorite show (SLEEPY HOLLOW) from last year loses out to its competition. Tonight’s premiere for JANE THE VIRGIN is charming, delightful, and completely in the warm spirit of ABC’s UGLY BETTY. It has a terrible title, yes, but the actual product is fun and flirty. Enjoy it. It is going to be a break out this year. Mark our words.
Honorable Mentions: SCORPION (CBS), THE AFFAIR (SHOWTIME, repeat from 10/12), and MANZO’D WITH CHILDREN (BRAVO)
10pm
THE BLACKLIST (NBC)
“DR. LINUS CREEL” — After a series of seemingly nonviolent citizens become killers, Red (James Spader) tips off Liz (Megan Boone) that a dangerous social-psychological experiment may be underway. Elsewhere, Red tries to convince, Naomi (Mary-Louise Parker) and her husband into accepting a complicated proposition.
VS.
Nothing. Mondays are just the day that brings us new episodes of THE BLACKLIST. Let’s rename Monday Spaderday.
Honorable mentions: CASTLE (ABC), HOMELAND (SHOWTIME, Repeat from 10/12)
