8 p.m. on ^ ) , ‘‘The Middle’’ — The entire Heck family insists on accompanying Axl (Charlie McDermott) to college, to his dismay. It isn’t a long trip, but it feels like one when Sue (Eden Sher) freaks out about a forgotten application for a school leadership program, and Brick (Atticus Shaffer) keeps losing his phone. Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn also star in ‘‘The Drop Off.’’

8 p.m. on % ( , ‘‘The Making of The Sound of Music Live!’’ — This new special goes behind the scenes of next week’s new production of the beloved musical starring Carrie Underwood as Maria and Stephen Moyer as Captain von Trapp. Viewers get a glimpse of the casting process, rehearsals and the making of the CD that also comes out next week.

8 p.m. on (CW), Movie: ‘‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’’ — Writer-director John Hughes cast John Candy and Steve Martin in this 1987 comedy about a stuffy businessman (Martin) trying to get home for Thanksgiving. A stroke of bad luck forces him to suffer through a series of mishaps with a good-natured but overly friendly stranger (Candy). Kevin Bacon and William Windom also star.

9 p.m. on % ( , ‘‘Saturday Night Live’’ — The special episode ‘‘Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving’’ is a compilation of memorable bits on the themes of Turkey Day in particular and family gatherings in general. They include ‘‘Ed Grimley’s Thanksgiving,’’ ‘‘Swerski’s Super Fans Thanksgiving,’’ ‘‘The Loud Family’’ and Adam Sandler’s ‘‘Turkey Song.’’

9 p.m. on FOOD, ‘‘Restaurant Stakeout’’ — Nikko is a former boxing champ who used his winnings from the ring to open a soul food restaurant in Jamaica, N.Y., but despite his passion for the food, A Plate of Soul is in a world of hurt, failing to turn a profit. Willie soon discovers the problem — slow service in both the front and back of the house is driving customers away — in the new episode ‘‘Starving for Customers.’’

9:31 p.m. on ^ ) , ‘‘Super Fun Night’’ — Kimmie (Rebel Wilson) has been urging her friends to try new things, but she’s not wild about their latest choice of a new thing: a piano bar. The idea of singing in public terrifies her, so this will be a challenge. Kendall (Kate Jenkinson) doesn’t understand Kimmie’s friendship with Richard (Kevin Bishop) and resolves to do something about it in ‘‘Anything for Love.’’