Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

Community: While patrolling the campus, Chang (Ken Jeong) imagines himself in a noirish detective story. Michael K. Williams, Joel McHale, Chevy Chase and Gillian Jacobs also star in this new episode (8 p.m. NBC).

The Mentalist: Patrick (Simon Baker) and his colleagues are asked to help locate the kidnapped son of a former client (Kelli Williams) from his psychic days (10 p.m. CBS).

Austin City Limits: This new episode features performances by contemporary folk rockers Mumford & Sons and Flogging Molly (10 p.m. KVCR).

The League: The fantasy sports series returns for a new season with an episode titled “The Lockout” (10:30 p.m. FX).

After the Runway: This new companion series for “Project Runway” takes viewers behind the scenes and offers interviews with eliminated contestants (10:30 p.m. Lifetime).

SPECIALS

History of the World in Two Hours: This new special is a fast-paced trip back in time tracing the Earth’s history from its formation through the emergence of life, the rise of humanity and the growth of civilization, connecting it all to the current state of the world (9 p.m. History).

MOVIES

George Harrison: Living in the Material World: (2011) Filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s examination of the life of the legendary guitarist for the Beatles guitarist concludes (6:15 and 9 p.m. HBO).

SPORTS

Baseball: MLB Playoffs: The Detroit Tigers visit the New York Yankees (5:30 p.m. TBS)

Hockey: The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Boston Bruins (4 p.m. VS); the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. VS).

College football: California visits Oregon (6 p.m. ESPN).

High school football: Oaks Christian visits Westlake Village (7:30 p.m. FSN).