‘The Gilded Age’ Returns, ‘Youth’ Finale, WNBA Final, Halloween Marathons

The Gilded Age

SUNDAY: Julian Fellowes‘ (Downton Abbey) opulent period piece returns in high style for a fourth season, staging a lavish society wedding — albeit in name only, it would seem — in New York City. Across the pond, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) attends daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) through a difficult childbirth while lamenting the rupture in her marriage to robber baron George (Morgan Spector), who has also seen better days. Their haughty across-the-street neighbor, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), is on the societal upswing, planning a historic event in their fabled home. And that’s just the icing on the fabulously sudsy cake.

Youth

SUNDAY: Anything that could go wrong goes wrong in the eventful Season 1 finale of Sharon Horgan‘s terrifically bawdy cringe comedy about Alex, a divorced literary agent who’s still trying to figure out life and romance at 50. Still reeling from a discovery that has her doubting the future of her relationship with Patrick (Rupert Friend), Alex brings her sullen son, Ruairí (Aran Murphy, War), as her plus-one to a prestigious Women’s Literature Awards gala, where her dotty client Charlotte (the hilarious Anne Reid) is getting a Lifetime Achievement award — possibly to the surprise of those who believe she’s no longer alive. Her boss and BFF Sam (Sharlene Whyte) is distracted by her own failing marriage, adding to the boozy chaos. Things don’t improve the morning after, leaving us hoping we’ll get to see Alex repair the damage in a second season.

WNBA Basketball

SATURDAY: Lots of firsts in this historic matchup. Never before has the WNBA Finals gone to a Game 7, and whoever wins the game between host team Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, it will be their inaugural WNBA title. Pregame coverage begins at 7 pm/ET.

Bewitched

SATURDAY: Happy Halloween! For those staying in on Saturday, there are many ways to enjoy the holiday. Start with a TV classic: Antenna TV‘s 24-hour Bewitched “Witch-O-Ween” marathon begins at 5 am/4c, delighting us with the antics of Elizabeth Montgomery‘s iconic Samantha Stephens. Turner Classic Movies’ two-day “Halloween Terror-Thon” concludes with two very different versions of the world’s most famous vampire, Dracula, featuring Bela Lugosi‘s definitive portrayal in the 1931 classic (1:45 pm/12:45c), and in primetime, Frank Langella‘s suave and seductive version in the 1979 film (8/7c), making its TCM debut. Followed by another first-time TCM showing, of Brian De Palma‘s rocking Phantom of the Paradise (10:15/9:15c). Other options include the final day of Freeform‘s “31 Days of Halloween” with screenings of 1993’s Hocus Pocus at 1/12c and 7:20/6:20c, and AMC‘s “FearFest,” with a full day of Halloween franchise shockers, including John Carpenter‘s first and best 1978 original at 7/6c and 11/10c.

Star Trek

SUNDAY: This has been a tough week for Star Trek fans. As the enduring sci-fi franchise marks its 60th  anniversary, two actors with deep roots in Trek lore passed away: Walter Koenig (Ensign Chekov), who died last Sunday at 90; and Patrick Stewart, the commanding Captain, later Admiral, Jean-Luc Picard of Next Generation fame, who died Thursday at 86. The nostalgic Heroes & Icons network will salute Stewart Monday with a five-episode Next Generation marathon, but first comes a five-episode mini-marathon from Star Trek: The Original Series of episodes in which Chekov played a central role.

INSIDE WEEKEND TV:

• MeTV Toons Remembers Eric Bauza (Saturday, 7/6c, MeTV Toons): The prolific Emmy-winning voice actor, who brought classic cartoon characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig to life for new generations, died last Sunday at 46, and in his honor, the vintage animation channel repeats the documentary Hare’s to Bugs! A Bugs Bunny Celebration, followed by a special episode of Bugs Bunny and Friends (8/7c).
• Adopting St. Nick (Saturday, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel): Single mom Maren (Amy Groening) bonds with Santa Claus doppelganger Kris (Randy Apostle) at the Jolly Acres retirement community and works with Reid (Michael Rady) to keep the center’s Christmas Companions program alive. More Hallmark holiday romance in Sunday’s A Danish Christmas (8/7c), where Marie (Emilie Ullerup) mistakes inn guest Ryan (Corey Sevier) for a travel writer and shows him what Copenhagen has to offer.
• A Very Arctic Christmas (Saturday, 8/7c, Great American Family): Cameron Mathison is Jim, a single dad stranded with his 20-year-old daughter in a remote Arctic town when their cruise ship leaves them behind. Enter wildlife conservationist Jane (Jill Wagner) to the rescue.
• Have I Got News for You (Saturday, 9/8c, CNN): David Alan Grier, whose St. Denis Medical returns Monday on NBC, and comedian Sam Jay are the guests on the weekly comedic news quiz.
• 48 Hours (Saturday, 10/9c, CBS): Natalie Morales reports on the 2023 death of Nashville chef Jade Benning following a fateful date night with former college football star Blaise Taylor.
• Saturday Night Live (Saturday, 11:30/10:30c, NBC): Inde Navarrette, star of the indie smash Obsession, is the first-time guest host, with Gracie Abrams returning for the second time as musical guest.
• The Simpsons (Sunday, 8/7c, Fox): Family brainiac Lisa is tested for neurodivergence, with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s Rachel Bloom as the guest voice. Followed by new episodes of Animal Control (8:30/7:30c), Universal Basic Guys (9/8c), and Grimsburg (9:30/8:30c).
• Marshals (Sunday, 8:30/7:30c, CBS): An explosive case sends the team looking for the co-conspirator of a suicide bomber. Followed by Tracker (9:30/8:30c), where Colter (Justin Hartley) is joined by brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) in the search for a military contractor’s kidnapped wife and daughter.
• Maigret (Sunday, 9/8c, PBS): The Parisian Chief Inspector’s (Benjamin Wainwright) latest case, involving a congressman’s disappearance, is complicated when his boss replaces a valued co-worker with the inexperienced Bonfils (Alex Bhat) from Internal Affairs. Followed by a new episode of The Gold (10/9c).
• American Hostage (Sunday, 9/8c, MGM+): In the docudrama’s finale, Indianapolis radio anchor Fred Heckman (Jon Hamm) fights to keep hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis (Giovanni Ribisi) alive as the crisis approaches its final hours. Followed by a new episode of Treasure Island (10/9c).
• Still They Run (Sunday, 10:30/ET, ESPN): Following ESPN2‘s earlier coverage of the New York City Marathon (starting at 8 am/ET), a report from ESPN Global Correspondent Sam Borden reveals how women runners from Kenya, who won the last seven races, face threats of violence in their home country.