Showtime Beyond, 8:00 p.m. ET
Mia Farrow, starring in this 1968 horror movie by Roman Polanski, commands sympathy throughout, even as you’re not sure, watching her, whether her fears and concerns are well-founded, or whether she’s just paranoid. But she’s not paranoid. Ira Levin’s story is sort of like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but without pods – and this movie is beyond creepy. Which makes it a great thing to watch tonight, on Showtime Beyond.
CBS, 8:30 p.m. ET
Wade, the widower father played so winningly in this sitcom by Walton Goggins, gets to act happier than he probably in his combined previous TV roles altogether – and that’s taking into account his work, in toto, on The Shield, Justified, and Sons of Anarchy. Tonight, Wade, who has been reluctant and wary when urged by friends to re-enter the dating pool, experiences his first crush since his wife died. Remember the big deal, when Greta Garbo went from silent films to sound? There was that famous tagline, preceding her next movie: “Garbo talks!” Well, tonight on The Unicorn, there’s another pop-culture rarity: “Goggins smiles!”
CBS, 10:00 p.m. ET
MIDSEASON FINALE: This show, by the creators of The Good Wife, has been so good, and so sneaky, about doling out its surprises and treats, that I’ll follow suit and reveal a somewhat teasing reason to watch tonight’s fall finale: Evil, this freshman supernatural drama series on CBS, will make my Top 10 list this year as one of the Best TV Series of 2019.