The Future Is Now — Riverdale Picks Up Seven Years Later

Riverdale 's long-awaited time jump happens today, as Archie returns home after a seven year absence, only to find that things have changed since they've been gone — and not for the better.

Also today: Tough As Nails returns with a rock solid season premiere, Semifinals time on The Masked Dancer, and a new Netflix docuseries investigates a mysterious disappearance at L.A.'s infamous Cecil Hotel. Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this Wednesday:

NEW EPISODE: After spending seven years away, Archie (K.J. Apa) returns to find Riverdale under Hiram Lodge's grip and on the verge of becoming a ghost town. After Toni (Vanessa Morgan) catches him up, Archie calls on the rest of the gang to return home. Watch preview. 8:00 PM ET on The CW

SEASON PREMIERE: The second season of Tough As Nails introduces twelve new contenders and puts them to work on their first challenge: Making concrete. Watch preview. 8:00 PM ET on CBS

NEW EPISODE: Tulip, Zebra, Sloth and Cotton Candy return for The Masked Dancer semifinals. One will be unmasked, while the remaining three will advance to the finals. Will Arnett joins the panel. 8:00 PM ET on FOX

DOCUSERIES PREMIERE: It's been the site of multiple unsolved murders and numerous suicides, but the central focus of Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is Elisa Lam, the 21 year-old Canadian tourist who vanished from her room in 2013. Directed by Joe Berlinger (The Ted Bundy Tapes and Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich). Read our review. Streaming on Netflix

NBA BASKETBALL: The NBA on ESPN returns for Week 8 with another Wednesday night doubleheader:

• The Atlanta Hawks vs. The Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT on ESPN
• The Milwaukee Bucks vs. the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena at 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT on ESPN

NEW EPISODE: Scientists and engineers have created virtually indestructible versions of common materials like glass, plastic and rubber, but are the environmental impacts of these advances? Part two in a three-part series, NOVA's Beyond the Elements: Indestructible looks at the quest for durability and its unintended consequences. 9:00 PM ET on PBS

NEW EPISODE: The drama just keeps on coming as Andy Cohen referees part 1 of the The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's three-part Season 1 reunion. Watch preview. 10:00 PM ET on Bravo

Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.