“Nashville”
DRAMA. You don’t have to be a country music fan to appreciate the Music City soap opera “Nashville,” fall’s best new drama. Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere headline as singing superstars, established and up-and-coming, with a budding rivalry more than hinted at in the pilot. But it’s the supporting players — literally, those in the band and the town’s unsung songwriters — as well as family members addicted to power (the father of Britton’s Rayna) and drugs (the mother of Panettiere’s Juliette) who make the series so special.
Series premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
“Chicago Fire”
DRAMA. From “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf comes this drama about firefighters and paramedics who battle infernos when they’re not fighting each other. Also, they mostly choose to not wear shirts, which brings an entirely different definition of hot to this series.
Series premiere, 10 p.m., NBC
“The Middle”
COMEDY. Dave Foley guest stars as Brick’s school therapist, who suggests the Heck family adopt a small animal for the kid to bond with when he develops a new unusual tic. It sounds like a great idea, until Brick’s new bunny turns out to be evil incarnate.
8 p.m., ABC
