Tonight's TV Hot List: Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

Desperate Housewives
9/8c ABC
Gaby might have bitten off more than she could easily chew last week when she gave Bob the OK to track down her real daughter. In any event, Carlos certainly thinks so, and you're likely to see if he's right tonight when you meet the Sanchez family. You can also look for the Bree-Renee smackdown over Keith (Brian Austin Green) to intensify; and you'll see Susan in her Va-Va-Broom get-up in places where she won't want anyone, especially Mike, to see her. Mike and Susan are also losing their tenants: Paul Young buys back the house he shared with his late first wife, Mary Alice. — Paul Droesch
Mad Men
10/9c AMC
Was Season 4, which ends tonight, good enough for Mad Men to go back-to-back-to-back-to-back for a fourth consecutive Best Drama Emmy? That remains to be seen. But this season was another sterling one for fans of the gang at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, with all its corporate ups and downs and in-and-out-of-office intrigue and machinations. Tonight, as the continued existence of the firm hangs in the balance amid layoffs and dwindling accounts, Don and Peggy — whose lives have been abundant with change this season — contemplate pivotal, life-altering decisions. Can Season Number Five get here fast enough for loyal viewers? — Ray Stackhouse
Rubicon
9/8c AMC
How about last week's stunner, in which a terrorist created an environmental and economic catastrophe before Will could figure out what type of attack was planned and where and when it was to transpire? Well, on the heels of that one comes the season finale. In it, Will demands truth from Truxton, and uncovers a link between Truxton and Hadas' death. Katherine, meanwhile, discovers what really was behind her husband's suicide. Here's hoping the twists, turns and personal and professional tensions of Rubicon have turned enough heads to warrant a second season. — Ray Stackhouse

Sunday Night Football
8:15/7:15c NBC
The Colts face the Redskins in Washington, with both teams tied for their division leads at 3-2. For Indy, that might be a little disappointing, with fans used to early-season success and huge offensive showings (Peyton Manning failed to throw a TD pass vs. the Chiefs last Sunday). But for Redskin fans, it's clearly a positive sign, with the big wins over NFC contenders Dallas, Philly and Green Bay more than negating the team's inconsistencies on both offense and defense. — Dave Roeder
Sonny with a Chance
8/7c Disney
The cast of So Random! presents a spirited Halloween special that is hosted by Shaquille O'Neal. The fun-filled episode includes performances by Allstar Weekend ("Come Down With Love") and Demi Lovato ("Work of Art"). Brandon Mychal Smith also gets in on the musical fun as Romeo Baby Smooth in the video spoof "Making Babies Cry." Other inspired segments include "Halloween Do's and Don'ts," and Sonny and Tawni as vacuous grocery check-out girls. — Tim Holland
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
8/7c ABC
Rhex Arboleda came to the U.S. with his family from the Philippines eight years ago. He created "Move to the Groove," a dance program that's used at three elementary schools to fight childhood obesity. Sadly, though, the Arboledas' health is endangered by the state of their 70-year-old home. Here, Ty and his team join the stars of another dance program, Dancing with the Stars, to come to their rescue. Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Tony Dovolani, Chelsie Hightower and Anna Trebunskaya are on the case. — Fred Mitchell
Luther
10/9c BBC America
Idris Elba, best known for playing drug dealer Stringer Bell on The Wire, explores life on the other side of the law in this new series from acclaimed crime writer Neil Cross (MI-5). Elba portrays John Luther, a brilliant but tortured homicide detective who gets caught up in the psychological cat-and-mouse game between detective and criminal. In the premiere, a teen prodigy (Ruth Wilson) commits a perfect double murder. Luther can't prove her guilt, so he tries to get inside her head, but she's more successful in getting inside his. — Karen Andzejewicz