Sunday TV: 'Simpsons,' Once Upon a Time,' 'Madam Secretary'

The Simpsons
Fox, Sunday, 8 ET/PT

Willem Dafoe lends his voice as a new teacher who vows to crush Bart's spirit. Good luck with that. If his family hasn't been able to do that by now, you'd have to think Bart is impregnable.

Madam Secretary
CBS, Sunday, 8 ET/PT

Broadway great Brian Stokes Mitchell stars as the late Vincent Marsh, as one of the season's more improbable hits doubles-down on its continuing story of the mysterious death of the late secretary of state. So much of Secretary doesn't, or at least shouldn't, work — starting with this continuing conspiracy and moving on to Henry's secret spy mission and the show's desperate attempt to make a couple out of the chemistry-free Matt and Daisy. (No one is ever going to call them "Maisy," CBS. Just – stop.) And yet it remains one of the new season's more dependably entertaining hours, thanks in large part to very appealing performances by Tea Leoni and Tim Daly, who make their characters and their relationship feel credible, even when common sense tells us they're not.

Once Upon a Time
ABC, Sunday, 8 ET/PT

Here's good news for fans of this Disney-fueled fantasy: It's expanding to two hours this week. The double-length outing is built around the Snow Queen (Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell), who's up to no good in the show's version of Frozen.