Halloween is tomorrow, and the election is just five days away. For many in television, the second event is much scarier.

It’s hard to forget that the marathon presidential race has been in progress since the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. The election has given both newscasters and comics a wealth of material, and nonstop political advertising has been a boon to TV stations in a tough economic climate. As of Nov. 5, that spigot of political material and campaign revenue dries up.

No TV institution has been more enhanced by the election than “Saturday Night Live.” It has roared back to relevance and ratings, two nights a week.

But it’s been hard not to notice that once you get beyond the Tina Fey/Sarah Palin moments and the debate parodies, “SNL” is just as unfunny as ever. Whoever wins next Tuesday, the real loser is going to be “Saturday Night Live.”

Fey’s “30 Rock” (8:30 p.m., NBC) returns tonight without a single overt reference to the election. Liz Lemon (Fey) wants the office to be on its best behavior when an officious evaluator (guest star Megan Mullally) arrives from an adoption agency.

Meanwhile, Jack (Alec Baldwin) continues his corporate battle with the scheming and delusional Devin (Will Arnett). Arnett happens to be the the husband of “SNL” regular Amy Poehler, who delivered their baby last Saturday night.

Mullally’s guest stint is the first of many for this season’s “30 Rock.” Next week, Oprah Winfrey guest stars as herself, and Jennifer Aniston and Steve Martin are scheduled over the next few weeks.

“30 Rock” is no stranger to celebrity cameos. Jerry Seinfeld appeared as himself in last season’s opener, and Aniston’s “Friends” co-star David Schwimmer appeared as a pretentious out-of-work actor.

This season’s heavy onslaught of guest spots reminds me of Mullally’s old series as it entered its extended creative swoon. Like “30 Rock,” “Will & Grace” was frequently honored with Emmys and considered the smartest sitcom on television. But at one point it became better known for writing Madonna, Cher, Jennifer Lopez and other celebrities into the plot than for witty banter. “30 Rock” is not quite there yet, but it’s getting close.

¢ “Lost Tapes” (8 p.m., Animal Planet) offers filmed evidence of encounters with critters not officially recognized by the scientific community. First up: Big Foot.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Jeff Probst hosts “Survivor” (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ Catalina’s visiting nephew reveals dark powers on “My Name is Earl” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ Two repeat episodes of “Kitchen Nightmares” (8 p.m. Fox).

¢ Betty’s spat with Kimmie (guest star Lindsay Lohan) becomes increasingly heated on “Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC). As noted above, not all cameos work out.

¢ A victim turns out to be the daughter of a notorious criminal on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ Pam has an awkward Halloween moment on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ A kidnapper targets autistic teens on “Eleventh Hour” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Sam has little time for Gates on “ER” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Sam meets a past version of his mother on “Life on Mars” (9 p.m., ABC). Hello, McFly!

¢ “Iconoclasts” (9 p.m., Sundance) presents profiles of Tony Hawk and Jon Favreau.