SoCal TV highlights, Oct. 1-7: 'Loki,' Megan Rapinoe and more
"Loki" is up to his old tricks, the NFL gets its Pixar on, soccer stars David Beckham and Megan Rapinoe are saluted and the glory days of the L.A. punk scene are revisited
(Tom Hiddleston in “Loki.” Image courtesy of Marvel Studios)
Hello and welcome to the maiden voyage of TV … or Not TV? spotlighting new and noteworthy programming on broadcast, cable and streaming TV plus live arts and entertainment options in and around Los Angeles and Orange County. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar section.
Now let’s smash the metaphorical champagne bottle across the bow of this boat and get it in the water.
SUNDAY — Oct. 1
“Crazy Fun Park” is haunted — haunted, I tells ya! — in this new teen-themed fantasy comedy from Australia. Anytime, Hulu
A contest between the Falcons and Jaguars gets Pixar-animated in real time with “Toy Story Funday Football” presented live from London. 6:30 a.m. Disney+, ESPN+
NASCAR’s finest take to the track for the “YellaWood 500” at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. 11 a.m. NBC
The animated sitcoms “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Family Guy” kick off their latest seasons. 8, 9 and 9:30 p.m. Fox
A young woman finds herself on a road trip gone wrong in the new thriller “Secrets in the Desert.” With Kayleigh Ruller. 8 p.m. Lifetime
“The Ringleader” of the notorious 2008-09 “Bling Ring” of celebrity-obsessed teenage burglars tells her side of the story in this new documentary. 9 p.m. HBO
A criminal mastermind (Courtney B. Vance) pulls off the bank job no one saw coming in the new fact-based thriller “Heist 88.” With Keith David. 9 p.m. Showtime
MONDAY — Oct. 2
An aspiring fashion designer experiences personal growth of the most unpleasant kind in the 2023 terror tale “Appendage.” With Hadley Robinson. Anytime, Hulu
Teenage misfits band together to save New Orleans from the forces of darkness in the new kid-friendly animated series “Fright Krewe.” Anytime, Hulu, Peacock
They’re looking to get lucky in the new game show “Lotería Loca” inspired by the bingo-style game popular in Mexico. 9 p.m. CBS
A grieving Black Muslim mother in Philadelphia becomes a passionate crusader against gun violence in the poignant 2023 documentary “Murders That Matter” on a new “POV.” 10 p.m. KOCE
TUESDAY — Oct. 3
“Beth Stelling: If You Didn’t Want Me Then” is a new standup special jam-packed with the low-key comic’s often off-color observations. Anytime, Netflix
Scaredy cats need not apply in the new Halloween-themed competition “Make Me Scream.” With “Family Matters’” Jaleel White. Anytime, Prime Video
Spoiler alert! The elevator did it in the Season 3 finale of the mystery comedy “Only Murders in the Building.” With Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. Anytime, Hulu
May the Force be with Rosario Dawson in the Season 1 finale of the “Star Wars” spinoff series “Ahsoka.” Mary Elizabeth Winstead also stars. Anytime, Disney+
They once were lost but now they’re “Found” thanks to a former kidnap victim turned investigator in this new procedural drama. With Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. 10 p.m. NBC
Their way is not very sportsmanlike in the exposé “The Astros Edge: Triumph and Scandal in Major League Baseball” on a new “Frontline.” 10 p.m. KOCE
WEDNESDAY — Oct. 4
Get bent with “Beckham,” a new docuseries charting the life and career of superstar soccer player David Beckham. Anytime, Netflix
“Haunted Mansion” has no windows — and no doors! — in this live-action 2023 fantasy comedy based on the Disneyland ride. With LaKeith Stansfield and the aforementioned Rosario Dawson. Anytime, Disney+
A former member of the British boy band One Direction strikes out on his own in the new docu-profile “Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices.” Anytime, Paramount+
Rival mountain climbers “Race to the Summit” of some of the trickiest peaks in the Swiss Alps in this new docuseries. Anytime, Netflix
Look before you “Quantum Leap.” This reboot of that 1989-93 sci-fi series boots up a second season. With Raymond Lee. 8 p.m. NBC
A big-city neurosurgeon hightails it back to her Nova Scotia hometown in the new drama “Sullivan’s Crossing.” With Morgan Kohan. 8 p.m. The CW
Your humble host makes a beeline for the Beehive State, a.k.a. Utah, on a new episode of “America Outdoors With Baratunde Thurston.” 8 p.m. KOCE
“The Spencer Sisters” ain’t actually siblings but rather a mystery-solving mother-daughter duo in this new comedy starring Lea Thompson. 9 p.m. The CW.
The local arts magazine “Artbound” kicks out the jams with a look back at how Chinatown became Ground Zero for the L.A. punk scene in the 1970s. 9 p.m. KCET
“Nova” sets the way-back machine for “Ancient Earth” in this new four-part exploration our home planet’s formative years. First up: “Birth of the Sky.” 9 p.m. KOCE
“Chucky” is still evil — evil, I tells ya! — in the third season of this horror comedy based on the movie franchise. With the voice of Brad Dourif. 9 p.m. Syfy, USA
If you have to ask, you can’t afford it and anyway it’s also haunted — I tells ya! — in Season 2 of the supernatural drama “SurrealEstate.” 10 pm. Syfy
The name’s Bond, James Bond: A new season of “Icons Unearthed” revisits the origins of the long-lived spy movie franchise. 10 p.m. Vice
THURSDAY — Oct. 5
A teen returns to her regularly scheduled life following a stay at an eating disorder clinic in the new series “Everything Now.” With Sophie Wilder. Anytime, Netflix
Burdened as ever with glorious purpose, “Loki” is back in Season 2 of this sci-fi drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tom Hiddleston stars. Anytime, Disney+
It takes a thief: The imported crime drama “Lupin” is back for a third season. With Omar Sy. Anytime, Netflix
“Sesame Street’s” resident grouch celebrates the spooky season in the new special “Oscar’s Handmade Halloween.” Anytime, Max
Shiver me timbers! The quirky pirate comedy “Our Flag Means Death” hoists the Jolly Roger for a second season. With Rhys Darby. Anytime, Max
Update! The new special “Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy” remembers the OG true-crime series once hosted by the late, great Robert Stack. Anytime, Pluto TV
The kid-friendly live-action movie musical “Monster High: The Movie” begets a sequel, conveniently titled “Monster High: The Movie 2.” 7 p.m. Nickelodeon
Clank, clank, clank go the “BattleBots” in new episodes of this competition series. 8 p.m. Discovery, Max
FRIDAY — Oct. 6
Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters and Mumford & Sons are among the acts taking the stage in livestreamed coverage of the annual “Austin City Limits Music Festival.” Noon, Hulu (also Sat.-Sun.)
Matchmaking service or online cult? That is the question in the new true-crime series “Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe.” Anytime, Prime Video
Here, kitty, kitty: The 2019 adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary” begets a prequel, 2023’s “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.” With David Duchovny. Anytime, Paramount+
A teen (“Mad Men’s” Kiernan Shipka) travels back in time to the 1980s in the 2023 slasher comedy “Totally Killer.” Julie Bowen and Olivia Holt also star. Anytime, Prime Video
Find out what the fate befalls those who are so unkind as to not rewind in 2023’s “V/H/S/85,” latest entry in the horror-anthology franchise. Anytime, Shudder
The retiring Megan Rapinoe leads the OL Reign in a match against the Washington Spirit on a special primetime edition of “NWSL Soccer.” 5 p.m. CBS, Paramount+.
Watch the throne! Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach is saluted on a new installment of “American Masters.” 9 p.m. KOCE
There’s gold beneath them thar waves as the unscripted series “Bering Sea Gold” sets sail for a 17th season. 9 p.m. Discovery
The dark side of our beloved City of Angels is probed in the new true crime series “Real Murders of Los Angeles.” 9 p.m. Oxygen
Host Tony Harris is desperately seeking Sasquatch in the Season 4 premiere of the paranormal series “The Proof Is Out There.” 10 p.m. History Channel
SATURDAY — Oct. 7
The WWE’s finest including John “You can’t see me! “ Cena enter the squared circle in the pro-wrestling extravaganza “Fastlane” live and direct from Indianapolis. 5 p.m. Peacock
A modern-day realtor must contend with the spirit of a 1920s flapper who has overstayed her welcome in the new TV movie “3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost.” With Julie Gonzalo. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
A woman tries to rescue her child from the clutches of a sex-trafficking ring the new TV movie “Buying Back My Daughter.” With Megan Good. 8 p.m. Lifetime
Thanks! DVR set for The Ringleader on HBO and the Artbound punk rock doc on KCET!