Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, September 19. All times are Eastern.
Top picks
Kevin Can Wait (CBS, 8:30 p.m.): Please read this imagining the CBS voiceover guy (you know, the “next week, on an all new Accidentally On Purpose” guy) saying all of this copy: “Kevin’s retirement plans consist of chilling with his family and having epic adventures with fellow retirees Goody, his former partner and close friend, and Duffy, his oldest pal, as well as his brother, Kyle, a fireman whose closest encounter with a blaze would be a grease fire in the firehouse kitchen. However, Kevin’s dream is jeopardized when he discovers that Donna, his wonderful wife of 20 years, has shielded him from key family info while he worked overtime protecting the community. Their usually reliable eldest, Kendra, is dropping out of college so she can support her unemployed fiancé, Chale, while he designs the next ‘big app’; his teenage daughter, Sara, has budding anger-management issues; and their youngest, Jack, is a bit of a hypochondriac. For now, his plans for a cushy life will have to wait, because Kevin has work to do, and this time, his family is his beat.”
We guess all of this actually happens in the pilot and then the rest of the show is Erinn Hayes slowly transforming into Dr. Lola Spratt while still also playing this “Donna” character. Come on, you know you’d watch the hell out of that. Kevin Can Wait was ordered straight to series, so maybe Kevin James pitched it like that to CBS. We just don’t know.
Lucifer (Fox, 9 p.m.): Yes! “Everything’s Coming Up Lucifer!” It’s also all coming up LaToya Ferguson, as regular coverage for the series continues for the Devil’s favorite second season. So what’s the haps, Luci? “Lucifer is distracted by his mother’s escape from hell, as he and Chloe investigate the murder of a stand-in actress. Meanwhile, Chloe’s faith in Lucifer is tested by the new medical examiner, Ella. Also, Amenadiel hopes to rein in Lucifer’s wild side, as they both deal with the absence of Maze.” Let’s quash that Maze absence as quickly as possible, please.
The Good Place (NBC, 10/10:30 p.m.): “Thanks to some kind of error, Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), an ordinary woman, enters the afterlife and is sent to the Good Place—which is definitely not where she belongs. While hiding in plain sight from Michael (Ted Danson), the wise architect of the Good Place who is unaware that he’s made a mistake, she’s determined to shed her old way of living and discover the awesome person within.” That’s right—Kristen Bell is back on TV, and honey child, this ain’t no house of lies (or pies). Also, Ted Danson joins her, so hopefully we won’t be bored to death. (Do you see what we are doing here? Because it’s not all that complicated or clever.) Erik Adams is happy to hang out at The Good Place, according to his pre-season review.
Premieres and finales
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): Time to begin 10 seasons of The Big Bang Theory, folks. Bazinga and all that jazz. The Flash! (Your friendly neighborhood What’s On Tonight contributor would like the record to reflect she watched the first seven seasons of the series, so she’s pretty much an expert on all things TBBT. That’s what we call it in the biz.) There is a plot to this episode, as is the norm with television, but honestly, the selling point for this episode is the guest cast. So here we go: Christine Baranski, Laurie Metcalf, Judd Hirsch, Keith Carradine, Katey Sagal, Jack McBrayer, and Dean Norris. You’ve got to admit: That’s kind of impressive. 10 seasons!