Watch It: Here are some highlights of what to watch on TV this week:
MONDAY
8 PM on Channel 2
Chuck
Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Morgan (Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez) try to stop Dr. Stanley Wheelright (guest star Robert Englund) from releasing a toxin that induces nightmares, but they also question the allegiances of Chuck's mother (guest star Linda Hamilton). Lester and Jeff (Vik Sahay, Scott Krinsky) celebrate Halloween at the Buy More in the new episode "Chuck Versus the Aisle of Terror." (PG)
8 PM on Channel 29
House
House (Hugh Laurie) and his team treat a controversial African politician (guest star James Earl Jones) who has fallen ill, although they must struggle with the moral dilemma of whether they should be helping a merciless dictator who is being subpoenaed for crimes against humanity in his homeland. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) tries to make amends with a feuding neighbor, but House's meddling makes the situation worse in "The Tyrant." (14)
TUESDAY
8 PM on TOON
Tower Prep
Pre-teen (and teen) girls and boys may want to check out "Tower Prep," the new live-action sci-fi series starring Justin Bieber-cute Drew Van Acker as hero Ian Archer on the Cartoon Network. The L.A. Times called it "The Prisoner" set at boarding school.
8 PM on Channel 17
NOVA
In 2009, an Air France Airbus A330 with 228 people on board vanished over the Atlantic Ocean. In the new episode "Crash of Flight 447," a team of experienced pilots, safety experts and engineers examines the evidence that came to light in the weeks after the disaster to discover how and why a state-of-the-art aircraft with a flawless safety record and an array of high-tech safety features could simply fall out of the sky. (PG)
8 PM on HISTORY
The Real Story of Halloween
From its roots as a pagan holiday honoring departed souls to modern traditions of breaking rules, pushing boundaries and wearing disguises, Allhallows Eve remains a time for people to confront and reflect on their own mortality in myriad ways. Although many Halloween parties may be festive affairs, most people still enjoy getting a good scare on this witchy holiday. (PG)
10 PM on DISCOVERY
Auction Kings
Paul Brown, owner of the Atlanta auction house Gallery 63, hunts for the most unusual items in America, then beguiles bidders into paying top dollar when they go under the gavel in this new reality series.
WEDNESDAY
9 and 11 PM on SYFY
Ghost Hunters
After checking out the reportedly haunted Ulster County Jail in Kingston, N.Y., the Ghost Hunters are off to Atlanta to investigate the Antebellum Plantation in Stone Mountain Park, a living museum made up of 18th- and 19th-century buildings from all over Georgia. Here's the hitch: Workers claim spirits of those who once dwelt in these buildings came along for the ride in the new episode "The Oldest House in Georgia." (PG)
9 PM on Channel 7
Modern Family
Claire (Julie Bowen) prepares to make the Dunphy house spooky for Halloween, which she dearly loves, but things don't go as she planned. Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) hates the holiday because of a traumatic childhood experience. Jay and Manny (Ed O'Neill, Rico Rodriguez) tease Gloria (Sofia Vergara) about her accent. Ty Burrell also stars in the new episode "Halloween."
10 PM on FOOD
Tailgate Warriors With Guy Fieri
The San Franciso 49ers take on their neighbors, the Oakland Raiders, but the real rivalry may be going on outside the stadium, as Guy Fieri hosts a showdown between the best tailgate team in San Francisco and its counterparts from Oakland, giving them both an hour to prove who has the best chow in the game.
THURSDAY
8 PM on Channel 7
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
So many Halloween TV specials these days are like getting a rock in your trick-or-treat bag, but some 44 years after its first airing, this animated gem remains one of the best, as idealistic young Linus patiently sits in his "sincere" pumpkin patch waiting for the Santa-like Great Pumpkin to reward him with Halloween largesse. Arguably second only to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" among the many "Peanuts" specials in terms of memorable moments. (G)
8 PM on TOON
Movie: Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
Roopee! Everyone's favorite snack-lovin', spook-shunnin' Great Dane returns for a new adventure, in which the CGI-rendered Scooby-Doo (voice of Frank Welker) and his live-action buddies Daphne, Fred, Velma and Raggy (Kate Melton, Robbie Amell, Hayley Kiyoko, Nick Palatas) Ñ oops, make that "Shaggy" Ñ run into weird creatures while working at Daphne's uncle's country club. Ruh-roh! (PG)
9 PM and Midnight on LIFETIME
Project Runway
Even if the fashions this season have been somewhat lackluster (except, of course, for some of Mondo Guerra's colorful styles), the eighth cycle of "Runway" definitely has served up some memorable players, including chilly control freak Gretchen Jones and backstabbing "Poison" Ivy Higa. This week, host Heidi Klum and mentor Tim Gunn watch as the final three designers compete in the ultimate challenge: New York Fashion Week, in "Finale, Part Two." (PG)
FRIDAY
9 PM on Channel 4
CSI: NY
Despite its title, this procedural drama, now in its seventh season, actually films most scenes in Los Angeles, but new series regular Sela Ward gets her first chance to do some location filming in New York in "Do Not Pass Go," a tense new episode that finds Mac (Gary Sinise) and his team sleuthing the puzzling case of a killer who is able to get his victims' parents to tamper with his crime scenes. (14)
9 PM on HISTORY
Modern Marvels
Even during the current recession, Americans remain superconsumers, and "Mega Stores" looks at the supersized stores that try to keep up with demand on a massive scale, regardless of whether they are offering sandblasters or even scuba divers. (PG)
SATURDAY
Noon and and 6 PM on HALLMARK
Movie: Bailey's Mistake
A widow (Linda Hamilton) learns that her husband invested all their money in a piece of property on an island off Maine. With her sullen daughter and precocious son (Paz de la Huerta, Jesse James) in tow, she heads for the island to unload the parcel. The place turns out to be populated by eccentric characters who make the denizens of Cicely, Alaska, look like Stepford wives. What's weirder yet is that not only are they throwing off some supernatural vibes, but they're telling her that her late husband was one of them. Did we mention he could fly through the air and heal sick animals? Joan Plowright, Kyle Secor and Julianne Christie also star in this offbeat but sweet fantasy written by acclaimed playwright Oliver Goldstick. (PG)
8:30 PM on Channel 2
Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space
In this holiday spinoff of the hit movie, when mutant pumpkins try to take over Earth on Halloween, the Monsters must combat the gourds and try to end their wicked scheme. Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett and Rainn Wilson reprise their voice roles from the film. (PG)
10:15 PM on AMC
Movie: Evil Dead 2
Ash (Bruce Campbell) continues to have the worst night imaginable in the backwoods cabin from hell as he has assaulted by more demonically possessed beings Ñ including his own hand Ñ in the second film in Sam Raimi's cult horror comedy trilogy. This 1987 sequel, which was preceded by "The Evil Dead" in 1981, was followed in turn by "Army of Darkness" in 1992.
SUNDAY
7 PM on Channel 7
America's Funniest Home Videos
As you might expect on Halloween, this new episode includes videos of mishaps that befall trick-or-treaters, as well as some nonholiday-themed clips that are scary in their own way, such as a woman riding a roller coaster and a montage of dads changing diapers. Tom Bergeron is host. (PG)
9 PM on Channel 7
Desperate Housewives
As Halloween approaches, Susan (Teri Hatcher) has to reveal her secret Internet side job to a stunned Mike (James Denton). Juanita (Madison de la Garza) gets suspicious of Gaby's (Eva Longoria Parker) sudden interest in Grace (guest star Cecilia Balagot). Bree (Marcia Cross) learns a secret about Keith (guest star Brian Austin Green) in the new episode "Excited and Scared." (PG)
