Ladies night

The award for most-improved sitcom of last season goes to "Mom," which returns with an eventful episode in which the family's finances take a nosedive. It took a while, but I finally have gotten used to the bawdy side of Emmy winner Allison Janney and Anna Faris' deer-in-the-headlights reaction shots. It's good to have them back. 7:31 p.m. WCCO, Ch. 4

Dirty dozen

The end of "Thursday Night Football" on CBS also allows the return of "Two and a Half Men," which kicks off what's sure to be a painful 12th season. Ashton Kutcher's mugging will be all the more agonizing as he and Jon Cryer pretend to get married this season. Insert your own politically incorrect, not amusing jokes here. 8:01 p.m. WCCO, Ch. 4

All in the family

There's nothing seriously wrong about the new sitcom "The McCarthys." But there's nothing terribly right about it, either. Tyler Ritter stars as a gay man who gets hired by his studly dad (Jack McGee) to be his assistant on the high school basketball team. The great Laurie Metcalf is pretty much wasted as Ritter's beleaguered mother. 8:30 p.m. WCCO, Ch. 4

Neal Justin