That's right — there are some really exciting pilots airing later this fall, but the absolute most knock-down, drag-out entertaining opening episode airs this very week. Plus there are three season premieres, and a few season finales as well. Check out our complete guide to the week's television, below!
Top image: Sleepy Hollow
Today:
Adventure Time (7 PM, Cartoon Network):
Check out a clip! This sounds like it could be a pretty major "arc" episode:
When Finn starts sleepwalking and dreaming about the Green Lady he filed away in his memory vault, Jake and BMO help him tap into his repressed memories to uncover a secret past. Who is the Green Lady? And how is she connected to Finn?
That's followed by Regular Show, Uncle Grandpa, and Mad.
Sleepy Hollow (9 PM, Fox):
And here it is — the most entertaining pilot of the fall TV season, for our money. We've watched this pilot a few times, and we continue to be blown away by the pure giddy insanity of it, from the Headless Horseman sporting a flak jacket and shotgun to the righteous "buddy cop" chemistry between Ichabod Crane and Abby Mills. This may not wind up being the best show overall, but the pilot is definitely the most crazy fun of all the ones we've seen. Here's what to expect:
After being resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time, ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison) finds himself in modern-day Sleepy Hollow, where he quickly realizes that evil has awoken with him. When Sheriff August Corbin (guest star Clancy Brown) is killed by the infamous Headless Horseman, Ichabod forms an unlikely bond with Detective ABBIE MILLS (Nicole Beharie), a young cop who has her own childhood supernatural experiences. Together, the two embark on a mission to stop evil and uncover mysteries dating back to the founding of our country. Captain FRANK IRVING (Orlando Jones) hesitates to believe Ichabod's tales of supernatural evil. But when Ichabod's former wife, KATRINA (Katia Winter), provides clues about impending evil, they all begin to realize that this town is anything but sleepy.
It's kind of refreshing to see a show that just goes over the top, and then keeps going.
Under The Dome (10 PM, CBS):
The season finale! And the show's producers have been promsing a huge blowout that will leave you totally excited, or at least moderately optimistic. The good news? This episode is cowritten by Brian K. Vaughan. Here's what happens:
Secrets of the Dome are revealed and Big Jim is determined to put an end to Barbie once and for all. Meanwhile, Junior, Angie, Joe and Norrie discover who the Monarch is after receiving a shocking visit from a familiar face, on the first season finale cliffhanger of UNDER THE DOME.
Siberia (10 PM, NBC):
I've tried to watch this show a couple times and have not been able to get into its faux "reality TV" format. In any case, here's the season finale. In which:
IN THE SEASON FINALE, A REUNION OF THE CONTESTANTS MARKS A POSSIBILITY OF HOPE AND SALVATION BUT THE EVENTUAL ARRIVAL OF THE RESCUE PARTY TURNS OUT TO BE THE MOST DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER YET- Following the path shown to them by the Evenki natives, Miljan (Miljan Milosevic), Esther (Esther Anderson), Irene (Irene Yee), Annie (Anne-Marie Mueschke), Neeko (Neeko O.J. Skervin) and Sabina (Sabina Akhmedova) come upon the research station where Joyce (Joyce Giraud), Sam (Sam Dobbins), Johnny (John Wactor) and Daniel (Daniel David Sutton) have been holed up. But what might have been a happy reunion is complicated by the revelation that one of the contestants is stuck in hidden minefield surrounding the research station and the rescue party coming to save them might not be who they seem.
Also on TV tonight: There's a new Packages from Planet X on Disney at 9:45 PM. Biography Channel has the season finale of Stalked by a Ghost, at 10 PM.
Tuesday:
Nothing much on tonight, although Fox has a ton of new and returning sitcoms. Pretty soon, Tuesday evening will be the most happening night of the week, but we're not there yet. Check back in a week or two!
Also on TV tonight: There's a new Total Drama All-Stars and a new Amazing World of Gumball on Cartoon Network, starting at 7. Syfy has new episodes of Face/Off and the season finale of Heroes of Cosplay. There's a new Doomsday Castle on National Geographic at 10 PM.
Wednesday:
Johnny Test/Teen Titans Go! (7:00 PM, Cartoon Network):
Sissy and Johnny compete to see who can be the best "sand castle knight" in a girls vs. boys smackdown. Then a prism creates five different Ravens, each with different powers and aspects of her personality. The Titans have to capture them all so they can put them back together again into just one, less obnoxious, Raven. That's followed by Annoying Orange.
Also on TV tonight: At 8 PM, there are two new episodes of DigFellas on the Travel Channel. At 9 PM, there's a new Unexplained Files on Science, focusing on spontaneous human combustion.
Thursday:
Dragons: Defenders of Berk (7:30 PM, Cartoon Network):
New season, new title, brand new attitude, etc. etc. This show is working hard to bridge the gap between the original movie and the sequel, coming next spring. According to the Cartoon Network: "In the new season, Hiccup and his dragon Toothless lead the way as the gang graduates from experienced riders to confident defenders. The group will face a surprising enemy, rare and wild dragons and exciting adventures." Check out a clip from the season premiere, in which "Hiccup and the gang start a secret club to prepare for the Outcast offensive." Also at 7 PM, there's a new Legends of Chima.
Also on TV tonight: At 9 PM, there's a new Mysteries at the Museum on Travel. At 10 PM, there's a new Unsealed: Alien Files, focusing on "alien implants," on DA. And a new NTSF:SD:SUV on Adult Swim at 12:15 AM.
Friday:
Legend of Korra (7 PM, Nickelodeon):
After last week's exciting opener, we're ramping up the action with the first half of a two-part storyline about a civil war between the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, with Korra — and her parents — caught in the middle.
Dog With a Blog (8:30 PM, Disney):
Somebody was telling me recently that this show was actually really, really good. Or maybe I dreamed that. In any case, it's back for its second season premiere. In which the kids go back to school and have to show off their lack of growth spurts, and their terrible new haircuts, and stuff. But more importantly, let's hope the dog has learned to make animated GIFs.
The Neighbors (8:30 PM, ABC):
And meanwhile, this show is also back for a second season — and it sounds as though surviving to a second year (and moving to Fridays) has freed up the creators to get more crazy. Although the season opener sounds relatively tame:
"Family Conference" - As the summer winds down, Amber and Reggie reveal to their families that they've been dating. Jackie calls for a family conference - in a newly revealed basement at the Bird-Kersee home - at which both families vote on whether or not the couple can stay together. Things approach fever pitch until Abby interrupts with a heartfelt speech about how Reggie is the only person to ever make Amber smile. Then, just as the families are about to embrace the relationship, an unexpected guest arrives to compete for Reggie's affections.
Haven (10 PM, Syfy):
So who is this new faux-dry? And where's the real Audrey? Unfortunately, the townsfolk have more pressing questions to cope with this week: "Duke needs Nathan to focus less of his attention on finding Audrey and deal with the more pressing problem of a person who appears to be immolating the residents of Haven in broad daylight."
Also on TV tonight: There's a new Phineas & Ferb on Disney at 9:15 PM.
Saturday:
Beware The Batman (10 AM, Cartoon Network):
Batman plus mind control usually equals fun times. Here's the skinny: "Katana saves Batman from Cypher – a part robot villain with the powers of mind control who is seeking the Ion Cortex."
Also on TV today: Disney XD has a new Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures at 7 AM, and then a new Max Steel at 8 AM, followed by yet another Packages from Planet X. The Hub apparently has a new Pound Puppies at 9:30 AM, and a new She-Zow at 12:30 PM. Disney XD has a new Slugterra at 10 PM.
Sunday:
Hulk and the Agents of SMASH/Avengers Assemble (11 AM, Disney XD):
The Hulks play miniature golf — but wound up getting shrunk themselves, by the Leader. Who plans to shrink all of the world's major cities next. And then Doctor Doom takes control over the Asgardian Destroyer armor, and Thor has to convince the Avengers to trust Loki, the only person who can stop him.
Breaking Bad (9 PM, AMC):
The penultimate episode! All they're telling us is that events that were set in motion long ago finally race towards a conclusion. The title "Granite State" apparently refers to Walt's fake New Hampshire ID.
Also on TV today: There are new episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! on Nicktoons at 11:30 AM. At 9 PM, there's the series finale of Dexter on Showtime. At midnight, there's a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force on Adult Swim, followed by a new Squidbillies!.
Sources: Futon Critic, MSN TV, TV Guide, and various TV studio press releases.