TV tonight: 'Arrow,' 'Back in the Game'

Arrow | CW, 8 ET/PT

Here's a super-pairing comic book fans have long anticipated. Tonight, Green Arrow finally meets Black Canary (Caity Lotz) – or, as the characters are called in this CW version, "Arrow" and "Canary." Apparently, pithiness is an Arrow virtue, though it's not entirely clear whether the color-blind name-shortening is part of the series' reinvention of the characters or more proof of CW's belief that its audience has a very short attention span.

Back in the Game | ABC, 8:30 ET/PT

Game becomes the latest series to celebrate Halloween, as Danny and his teammates decide to go trick-or-treating on their own, without parental help. Game has done a fine job so far of fleshing out its three main characters – a core family that's turning out to be a good blue-collar match for the ABC show's lead-in, The Middle. What this promising sitcom needs to do now is start converting the other kids on the team from one-note jokes into actual characters. Perhaps tonight is where this improving series starts that transformation.

Criminal Minds | CBS, 9 ET/PT

If you've ever had some curiosity-driven desire to watch Criminal Minds, this might be the night. Modern Family is in reruns, and it's almost Halloween, which gives the show's latest serial killer – a fan of both ritualistic murders and the Salem witch trials – a topical hook. Unless, of course, you'd rather see Brooke Shields on Super Fun Night (ABC, 9:30 ET/PT), which all told may be the better choice.