NEW SHOWS
Curb Your Enthusiasm – “Foisted!” (B+) / season premiere
Could have been a little tighter, but don’t listen to the haters, because it doesn’t feel like Curb has lost a step.
The Mindy Project – “Leo’s Girlfriend” (B+)
Julie Bowen is perfect as the showy, condescending, over-involved school mom. Chris Messina re-integrates into the cast perfectly. All that was expected, but I was not expecting the twist of Morgan being the father of Tamra’s baby. I was not expecting to be emotionally involved in either of those characters at all.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “The Big House, Part 2” (A-)
Not quite as gut-busting as the premiere, but still frequently hilarious thanks to Tim Meadows’ scene-stealing work. It also sets up a potential season-long corruption arc for Captain Holt, which should let him flex his Emmy-winning dramatic chops again.
This Is Us – “A Manny-Splendored Thing” (B+)
A consistent episode that shows just how important it is to have just one other person to put their hands on your face and tell you, “It’s OK. We’re going to get through this.”
The Good Place – “Team Cockroach” (A-)
Confines most of the action to Eleanor’s house, but explores the nature of the characters, the office politics of the Bad Place and exposes Michael’s vulnerability. Plus, some more solid Florida jokes.
CURRENT SHOWS
The Good Place – “Dance Dance Resolution” (A)
A sharp, smartly constructed episode that upends everything yet again.
OLD SHOWS
Boy Meets World (Season 5) – “And Then There Was Shawn” (A)
Ah, the ’90s, when a show could air its Halloween episode right after Valentine’s Day instead of October, reference Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and South Park, and also be somewhat moving and scary, but still be funny after all these years.