Rueben's Ramblings

Here is the list of the programming options to expect on TV this coming week:

On October 13, the season finale of The Crow Girl will air online on Acorn TV while that same night, the 8th season premiere of FBI followed by the second season of Watson, now on a new night, will premiere on CBS at 9 and 10 PM respectively.

The season premieres of NCIS, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney will all air on CBS at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively on October 14.

On October 15, the first three episodes of the new Hulu limited series Murdaugh: Death in the Family will air online. Maggie and Alex (Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke) enjoy a lavish life of privilege as members of one of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasties. But when their son Paul (Johnny Berchtold) is involved in a deadly boat crash, the family is faced with a test unlike any they’ve ever encountered. As details come to light and new challenges emerge, the family’s connections to several mysterious deaths raise questions which threaten everything Maggie and Alex hold dear. The series also stars Brittany Snow, Will Harrison and J. Smith-Cameron.

The third season of The Diplomat will premiere online on Netflix on October 16 while that same day, the finale of Karen Pirie will air online on Britbox; and also that night, the timeslot premiere of Matlock and Elsbeth will air on CBS tonight at 9 and 10 PM respectively,

On October 16, the limited series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy will debut online on Peacock. From 1972-1978, thirty-three young men were kidnapped, murdered, and buried in a crawl space beneath their killer’s house. And no one was the wiser. Not for all those years. Why? He was charming and funny. I had a good, All-American job. Was a community leader. He even volunteered to entertain sick kids while dressed as a clown. This limited series peels back the twisted layers of John Wayne Gacy’s (Michael Chernus) life while weaving in heartrending stories of his victims; exploring the grief, guilt, and trauma of their families and friends; and exposing the systemic failures, missed opportunities, and societal prejudices that fueled his reign of terror. The cast includes James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Chris Sullivan, Gabriel Luna and Michael Angarano.

The linear TV debut of Mistletoe Murder, the Hallmark+ series which debuted on Halloween day last year, will premiere on Hallmark Channel at 8 PM on October 17; meanwhile that same night, the season finale of The Rainmaker will air on the USA Network at 10 PM.

Also on October 17, the season premiere of Fire Country will air on CBS at 8 PM followed by the debut of the spin-off series Sheriff Country at 9 PM and the debut of the Blue Bloods spin-off series Boston Blue at 10 PM. Sheriff Country stars Morena Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr from Fire Country). She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter. The series also stars Matt Lauria, Christopher Gorham and Michele Weaver. While Boston Blue is the spin-off series that stars Donnie Wahlberg as NYPD officer Danny Reagan, who takes a position with the Boston PD. Once in Boston, he is paired with detective Lena Peters (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family. The series also stars Ernie Hudson, Gloria Reuben, Maggie Lawson, Marcus Scribner and Mika Amonsen.

The Hallmark Channel movie A Royal Montana Christmas, the first of this year’s Countdown to Christmas, will debut on October 18 at 8 PM. Overwhelmed by her royal duties during the Christmas season, Princess Victoria of Zelarnia (Fiona Gubelmann) is ready for a change of pace. Looking to decompress in the days leading up to Christmas, she decides to take a vacation to Peaceful Pines Ranch in Montana where she celebrated Christmas as a child with her late father. Upon arrival, she meets her dashing guide Huntley Blaylock (Warren Christie) who presents her and the other guests at the ranch with a rustic experience that is far from the royal treatment.

On October 19, the third season premiere of Tracker will air on CBS at 8 PM while that same night, the season finale of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will air online on AMC+ as well as on AMC at 9 PM; and also that night, the season finale of Task will air on HBO at 9 PM.

The UPtv movie Five Date Rule will debut on October 19 at 7 PM. Hattie, a happily single children’s author receives a subscription to an online dating app for her birthday, resulting in a series of hilarious mismatches and convincing her more than ever she’s meant to be single. That is, until she meets a widower named Henry who insists it’s impossible to really get to know someone until you’ve had at least five dates. Janelle Arthur and Jason Burkey co-star.

Lastly also on October 19, the Hallmark Channel holiday movie A Christmas Angel Match will debut at 8 PM. Monica (Meghan Ory) and Michael (Benjamin Ayres) are Christmas Angels tasked with bringing destined soulmates together during the most magical season of all. Typically, Angels work alone, but when the Christmas Connection Department faces the threat of downsizing, Monica and Michael are unexpectedly paired to ensure Daisy and Patrick fall in love before Christmas. The partnership isn’t without its challenges: Monica is a by-the-book traditionalist who follows every heavenly rule, while Michael embraces spontaneity and delights in earthly joys like hot chocolate, snowball fights, and holiday dancing. Their clashing styles – and the undeniable spark growing between them – complicate their mission. As Christmas Eve draws near, Monica and Michael worry that their differences will keep them from completing their mission in time. But just when it seems all hope is lost, a surprising turn of events changes everything – leading to a Christmas connection no one saw coming.

Mark your calendars!