— In this era of sitcom remakes, "The Unicorn" (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) can call itself original. But it hearkens back to one of TV’s greatest, and weirdest, traditions: killing off mommy.
For the uninitiated, "Unicorn" stars Walton Goggins ("The Shield," "Justified") as Wade, the father of two cute adolescents, all recovering from the death of his wife and their mother. The title refers to a term related to adult dating or online, app-driven dating. His status as a stable, dependable, long-married man without baggage and without a living "ex" in the picture makes him a rare and desirable commodity.
The show modulates between his mournful mindset and the efforts of his friends to catapult Wade back into the dating scene. Tonight’s Thanksgiving episode puts the accent on the misty moments as his daughters try to re-create a sweet potato casserole recipe that was a favorite of their mother’s.
At least four of the most popular series of the classic TV era — "Bonanza," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "My Three Sons" — were variations on the theme of absent mothers. Other less popular but no less classic series, from "Family Affair" to "Nanny and the Professor" and "The Courtship of Eddie’s Father," followed suit, consigning mothers to the grave.
The trend returned with a vengeance a generation later, with "Diff’rent Strokes," "Punky Brewster," "My Two Dads," "Full House," "Who’s the Boss?," "Gimme a Break!," "Blossom" and others.
What’s a mother to do? Why die, of course, preferably before the pilot episode.
Some viewers may balk at accepting Goggins in this rather heart-tugging role, having grown used to him in more sophisticated series as a villainous character or at least a charmer with a flash of menace in his eyes.
On the other hand, sitcoms can reflect an actor’s versatility. At the same time he was starring in "My Three Sons" and silly Disney "Flubber" movies, Fred MacMurray played one of the greatest screen heels of all time in Billy Wilder’s "The Apartment." He had also played a scheming killer in Wilder’s "Double Indemnity." That’s quite the range.
— AMC’s premium app Sundance Now begins streaming "The Cheat," a popular U.K. thriller series about a student accused of cheating who takes it out on her vulnerable professor. Or so it seems. Katherine Kelly and Molly Windsor star.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Jo receives news of an abandoned baby on "Grey’s Anatomy" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— Indianapolis and Houston meet in NFL football action (8 p.m., Fox, NFL).
— Rome helps P.J. through a bad patch on "A Million Little Things" (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— A symbolic artwork gives David a bad feeling on "Evil" (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
— A colleague has serious concerns about his daughters on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— The FBI’s mole is finally revealed on "How to Get Away With Murder" (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Visual elements from John Ford’s 1956 Western "The Searchers" (10:15 p.m., TCM, TV-PG) show up in films from "The Godfather" to "Star Wars."
SERIES NOTES
A university wants to enroll Sheldon on "Young Sheldon" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Dina contrives a delivery initiative on "Superstore" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … The guys improvise through hard times on "Supernatural" (8 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Thanksgivings can be difficult on "The Unicorn" (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Jax plans a progressive holiday dinner on "Perfect Harmony" (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
Parking lot regrets on "Mom" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Chidi reflects on his past on "The Good Place" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Mystic Falls celebrates a local holiday on "Legacies" (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … Carol gets a glimpse of the retired life on "Carol’s Second Act" (9:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … Post-breakup blues on "Will & Grace" (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
LATE NIGHT
Lena Waithe is booked on "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah" (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Sen. Kamala Harris is booked on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Will Ferrell, Alan Cumming and Jessica Kirson on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Billie Eilish, Taylor Kitsch and Jessie Reyez
appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Dolly Parton, Tobias Menzies, Rep. Ro Khanna and Jon Theodore visit "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller and Stephan James appear on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" (12:35 a.m., CBS).
