As the fall season kicks into high gear, here’s a look at some of the biggest ratings showdowns in prime time:
Mark Harmon vs. The Muppets
As Jethro Gibbs of “NCIS,” Mark Harmon is one of the most trusted and popular figures on TV, with a loyal, long-standing audience of nearly 20 million. Many new series don���t stand much of a chance against this stoic Goliath, but if there’s anybody who can steal some of his aging thunder, it’s the Muppets. After all, they’ve been around a lot longer than “NCIS,” and bring with them a nostalgia factor that guarantees an audience for at least the critical first few weeks. Kermit, Miss Piggy and even the new girl Bernice can more than hold their own against the naval detectives of the iconic CBS procedural.
“The Muppets,” Tuesday, 8 p.m., ABC
“NCIS,” Tuesday, 8 p.m, CBS
Sofia Vergara vs. Taraji P. Henson
This battle began last winter when “Empire” unleashed Cookie Lyon on the world, prompting the biggest ratings sensation in a decade, and “Modern Family” saw its ratings decline. This is the first time the two series will compete against each other for a full season, though, and we wonder if Sofia Vergara, the sitcom’s campy siren, will see her role pumped up to compete with that show’s diva, Taraji P. Henson. Think of it: The fashions! The vernacular! The red carpet showdowns!
“Modern Family,” Wednesday, 9 p.m., ABC
“Empire,” Wednesday, 9 p.m, Fox
Wesley Snipes vs. Viola Davis
Series premiering at 10 p.m. have a tougher time than those bowing between 8 and 10 p.m. Ten is the hour when people start tuning out for the day. “How to Get Away With Murder” did better than other shows in that time slot, and worse than others, with 11 million total viewers and a good number in the demo, thanks to a lead-in from “Scandal.” This year, though, the Viola Davis vehicle has to compete with “The Player,” an all-action, testosterone-fueled field day for Wesley Snipes as a mysterious operative who bets on the outcomes of planned crimes. If this show gets the addicted, male audience it’s hoping for, Davis, who turned to TV after her dreams of movie stardom fizzled, may be calling up pal Meryl Streep for a cameo in her next movie.
“How to Get Away With Murder,” Thursday, 10 p.m., ABC
“The Player,” Thursday, 10 p.m., NBC
Julianna Margulies vs. Don Johnson
Everybody usually gets a pass on Sunday night because of the NBC football juggernaut, but there is an interesting contest shaping up at 9 p.m. “Miami Vice” and “Nash Bridges” icon Don Johnson heads up an old-fashioned, “Dallas”-style soap set in the mining country of North Dakota called “Blood & Oil,” complete with class conflict, a father/son rivalry and sex. Johnson will take on the extremely vulnerable “Good Wife,” the award-winning CBS prestige project whose numbers sank to a series low on more than one occasion last season. If the erosion continues and Johnson brings his fan base to ABC, CBS may have no choice but to cancel.
“The Good Wife,” Sunday, 9 p.m., CBS
“Blood & Oil,” Sunday, 9 p.m., ABC