What to Watch Sunday, October 18: ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Tracker’ & ‘Maigret’ Lead Tonight's Lineup

Sunday television is bringing murder mysteries, Halloween mayhem, family drama and enough football to keep sports fans occupied all day. The Simpsons celebrates spooky season with a special Halloween episode, Tracker and Marshals return with new investigations, and PBS launches three seasons of its popular British crime dramas.

Hallmark is also continuing its Countdown to Christmas celebration, while Bravo's The Real Housewives of Potomac promises another evening of questionable behavior. Between the witches, detectives, reality television arguments and holiday romance, Sunday is covering just about every possible mood.

TV Cave Top Pick: The Simpsons

Our Top Pick goes to The Simpsons, airing a special Halloween installment at 8 PM ET on FOX.

The episode, titled “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,” brings another round of spooky trouble to Springfield when a killer arrives and turns the town's Halloween celebrations into something considerably more dangerous.

After nearly four decades on television, the Simpson family has encountered everything from aliens to supernatural creatures, so surviving another Halloween nightmare should practically qualify as a family tradition.

The annual Halloween episodes have become some of the show's most recognizable installments, giving the writers an opportunity to abandon ordinary Springfield logic and embrace complete chaos. And considering how little logic the town operates with on a normal day, that's saying something.

For fans looking to get into the Halloween spirit without committing to a full horror movie, Springfield has tonight's entertainment covered.

Sunday, October 18 TV Schedule

Time (ET)	Show	Network/Streaming	Tonight
Streaming	Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story	Hallmark+	Streaming Debut
9:30 AM	Texans vs. Jaguars	NFL Network	Live NFL — London Game
1:00 PM	NFL Football	CBS / FOX	Week 6 — Regional Games
4:05 PM	Cardinals vs. Rams	FOX	Live NFL
4:25 PM	NFL Football	CBS	Week 6 — Regional Games
7:00 PM	America's Funniest Home Videos	ABC	New Episode
7:30 PM	60 Minutes	CBS	New Investigations
8:00 PM	The Simpsons	FOX	⭐ TOP PICK — Halloween Special
8:00 PM	Professor T	PBS	Season 5 Broadcast Premiere
8:00 PM	Mr. & Mrs. Christmas	Hallmark Channel	Original Movie Premiere
8:00 PM	Seduced by an Amish Stranger	Lifetime	Original Movie Premiere
8:00 PM	The Real Housewives of Potomac	Bravo	New Episode — “Sofia Home!”
8:00 PM	90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way	TLC	New Episode
8:20 PM	Cowboys vs. Packers	NBC / Peacock	Sunday Night Football
8:30 PM	Marshals	CBS	New Episode — “Falling Sky”
8:31 PM	Animal Control	FOX	New Episode — “Bugs and Rabid Dogs”
9:00 PM	Maigret	PBS	Season 2 Premiere
9:00 PM	The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story	HBO / HBO Max	New Documentary Episode
9:00 PM	Hocus Pocus	ABC	Halloween Movie Encore
9:02 PM	Universal Basic Guys	FOX	New Episode — “Lake Piney”
9:30 PM	Tracker	CBS	New Episode — “Original Parts”
9:31 PM	Grimsburg	FOX	New Episode — “Breaking Badly”
10:00 PM	The Gold	PBS	Season 2 Premiere
10:00 PM	Youth	HBO / HBO Max	New Episode
10:01 PM	Sister Wives	TLC	New Episode — “Falling Into Old Feels”

All times Eastern. CBS's primetime schedule is adjusted for its NFL doubleheader and may shift if football runs long. Regional NFL coverage varies by market, and PBS broadcast times may differ by station. Streaming availability depends on subscription and platform.

‘Marshals’ and ‘Tracker’ Keep CBS Busy

CBS continues its Sunday drama lineup with new episodes of Marshals and Tracker, although football coverage means both shows are starting later than usual.

At 8:30 PM, Marshals returns with “Falling Sky,” as Kayce Dutton and his team investigate a military drone explosion involving residents of Broken Rock. The investigation creates additional tension between federal authorities and tribal leadership, while Kayce continues worrying about Tate's emotional well-being.

At 9:30 PM, Justin Hartley's Colter Shaw returns in Tracker with “Original Parts.” Colter heads to a deserted Texas town to investigate the disappearance of a woman following an argument with her husband.

Meanwhile, Reenie unexpectedly reconnects with someone from her past, played by guest star Michael Malarkey. Considering how complicated everyone's personal history tends to become on this show, that reunion could be almost as interesting as Colter's investigation.

PBS Brings Three Major Season Premieres

PBS has an especially strong Sunday lineup, beginning with Professor T at 8 PM ET. Ben Miller returns as Jasper Tempest for Season 5, with the brilliant but socially awkward criminologist attempting to navigate his relationship with Helena. Unfortunately, a suspicious death interrupts their romantic getaway, because apparently even a relaxing trip to the spa isn't safe from murder.

At 9 PM, Maigret returns for Season 2, with Benjamin Wainwright reprising his role as the Parisian detective. Two brutal murders put Maigret under increasing pressure as his methods and judgment face scrutiny.

Then, at 10 PM, The Gold begins its second season. Hugh Bonneville and Jack Lowden return as the investigation into the infamous Brink's-Mat robbery continues. With authorities realizing they've only accounted for part of the stolen gold, the hunt for the remaining fortune becomes even more complicated.

Christmas Romance, Reality Drama and More

Hallmark premieres Mr. & Mrs. Christmas at 8 PM, starring Pascale Hutton and Brendan Penny. The holiday romance follows a single father and an accountant whose efforts to revive a Christmas market lead to an unexpected connection.

Lifetime offers a considerably darker alternative with Seduced by an Amish Stranger, while Bravo continues The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 11. Karen's homecoming celebration takes center stage, and naturally, the ladies aren't about to let an opportunity for drama go to waste.

TLC also has new episodes of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way and Sister Wives, giving reality television fans plenty to discuss.

For true-crime fans, HBO continues The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story, while NBC closes the evening with the Dallas Cowboys facing the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.

With The Simpsons, Tracker, Marshals and three PBS premieres, Sunday has a little something for everyone. Halloween gets our Top Pick, but the mystery dramas are making a strong case for your attention.