5 Things You Need to Know This Week

>> “I’LL TAKE ‘DEBATES’ FOR 400, ALEX.” We’re almost there, America. Just one more presidential debate and then we can get to voting. Tonight’s debate, which will be at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., will focus on foreign policy. But, wouldn’t it be better if the candidates just went on the game show “Jeopardy” to solve things. “Today’s categories are … Libyan Politics. The Mideast. China Trade Sanctions. Those Wacky Iranians. Putin, Putin, Putin. Countries That End in ‘Stan.’ And Potent Potables.” That would be cool, but alas, we’re getting podiums and finger pointing again.

>> BE RIGHT BACK: Ladies and gentlemen. WELCOME, to “TV Talk Show Host Day.” Yes, TV Talk Show Host Day is this Tuesday -- a day devoted to honoring those brave men and women who tell stale jokes and welcome guests from obscure NBC sitcoms into our homes on a daily basis. I bet that’s EVERYTHING there is to know about TV Talk Show Host Day. Not so fast, halitosis breath. It’s celebrated on Oct. 23 because that’s also legendary talk show host Johnny Carson’s birthday.

>> THE OLD BALL GAME: It’s a good thing the World Series is played in October, because that way the term “Fall Classic” fits a lot better. Imagine the trouble if it was played in January. Anyway, the World Series begins this Wednesday night with the Detroit Tigers playing either the St. Louis Cardinals or the San Francisco Giants. If it’s the Cardinals, it would be a rematch of the 1934, 1968 and 2006 World Series. If it’s the Giants it would be a rematch of … well. Never. They’ve never met in a Series. FOX has the game at 7:30 p.m.

>> BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK: Comedian Lewis Black may be a happy soul. When he’s “off the clock,” he might sit around drinking herbal tea and wondering what rainbows taste like, and why cotton candy is nature’s perfect food. Ahhh. But when he’s working, Lewis Black is a boiling, volcanic cauldron of pure focused anger. You can see for yourself when he brings his “Running on Empty” tour to the Scranton Cultural Center this Thursday at 8 p.m. Just remember to buckle up.

>> HEADS IN THE CLOUDS: Categorizing the new film “Cloud Atlas,” is a bit daunting. But one must try. It stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Keith David, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant and “Bippy” the Wonder Chimp, in a tale spanning hundreds of years and thousands of locations, and it was directed by the guys -- who are now one guy and one girl -- who directed “The Matrix,” and another guy who did German art house stuff. Whew. … If that does it for you, “Cloud Atlas” opens Friday.