Reopening the files
Either creator Chris Carter or the American Cancer Society is determined to prove that the Cigarette Man is civilization's greatest enemy. That's the only logical reason "The X-Files" is returning after a season that proved you should rarely go home again. The action lightens up a bit in the second episode, which nods to the Lone Gunmen, but the opener once again embraces every conspiracy in the books with the ominous smoker at the heart of the terror. Barbara Hershey joins the lineup of dark figures, probably part of an evil plot hatched by Nestlé.
7 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9
School daze
Yara Shahidi often talks directly into the camera in "Grown-ish," an appropriate choice since the former Minnesotan is fast becoming a spokesperson for her generation. Her character, Zoey Johnson, whom we first met on "Black-ish," is far from a role model, which is one reason why this college-based sitcom has such appeal. In many ways, this is the spinoff that "A Different World" wanted to be, but never quite had the guts to follow through on.
7 p.m., Freeform
Top of the line
"9-1-1" proves that a standard procedural can be taken to the next level with the right actors and writers. Ryan Murphy's team does the heavy lifting behind the scenes, making the daily routines of paramedics, firefighters and cops appear as never before on screen, while Peter Krause, Angela Bassett and Connie Britton dive into the material as if they're in the running for Emmys. They probably aren't, but "9-1-1" will keep your heart pounding, a rarity today on network TV.
8 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9
Neal Justin
