Wednesday TV: Mr. Mercedes, SEAL Team Series Premiere, Designated Survivor S.2 Premiere & More

News & Notes

Tonight, ABC has the fifth season premiere of The Goldbergs, the second season premiere of Speechless, the ninth season premiere of Modern Family, the second season premiere of American Housewife and the second season premiere of Designated Survivor, CBS has the 35th season premiere of Survivor, the series premiere of SEAL Team and the 13th season premiere of Criminal Minds, FOX has the fourth season premiere of Empire and the second season premiere of Star, and NBC has the fifth season premiere of The Blacklist, the 19th season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the fifth season premiere of Chicago PD.

Over on cable, BET has the series premieres of Face Value and 50 Central, Food Network has the series premiere of Best Baker in America, OWN has the second season finale of Greenleaf, Pop has the first season finale of Swedish Dicks, and SundanceTV has the series premiere of Liar.

In late night, SundanceTV has the series premiere of Rosehaven.

Prime Picks

Mr. Mercedes (Audience): New. “From the Ashes.” Plays again later two times.

SEAL Team (CBS): Series Premiere. Follows the lives and missions of an elite Navy SEALS team led by Jason Hayes, played by David Boreanaz (Bones, Angel). This is a very solid action drama that comes off a bit more realistic than NBC’s The Brave, which is highlighted by the fact that they both have the same basic plot in their opening episodes. This one comes off a bit more like The Unit in that it shows both mission and how their jobs affect them and their home life. Will you be watching tonight?

Designated Survivor (ABC): Season Premiere. The president deals with the hijacking of a plane.

Solid Selections

The Blacklist (NBC): Season Premiere. Red has a plan that can get the task force another Blacklister while lining his pockets to begin rebuilding his empire.

Modern Family (ABC): Season Premiere. The whole family vacations on a house boat. Runs 31 minutes.
Room 104 (HBO2): Repeat. This past Friday night’s episode, “Boris,” replays. Runs 30 minutes.

Criminal Minds (CBS): Season Premiere. Agent Matthew Simmons, played by Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders), joins the BAU team to help put an end to Mr. Scratch and save a member of the team.

Other Options

• The Goldbergs (ABC): Season Premiere. Beverly causes problems for Emily as she starts college. Adam attempts to build the perfect girlfriend like in Weird Science. Runs 30 minutes.
• Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus (Cinemax): Repeat. This past Friday night’s series premiere episode, “Johnny Paycheck,” replays. Runs 30 minutes.
• Speechless (ABC): Season Premiere. The family decides to put change on hold for a family road trip for JJ. Runs 30 minutes.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has MLB action today with the Houston Astros at the Texas Rangers and later tonight has doubleheader action the Chicago Cubs at the St. Louis Cardinals followed by the San Diego Padres at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• MLB Network has a game today.

Late Night

• The Deuce (HBO): Repeat. This past Sunday night’s episode, “The Principle Is All,” replays. The previous week’s episode, “Show and Prove,” replays right before.

Wednesday TV Marathons

CSI: Miami (WEtv): Eight episodes tonight into late night.
Law & Order (ION): Has 13 episodes.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (WEtv): Five episodes today.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (USA Network): Nine episodes.
NCIS (Oxygen): Has 11 episodes.