Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Ugly Betty (ABC, 7pm)
New My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm)
New The Office (NBC, 7:30pm)
New Scrubs (NBC, 8pm)
New The O.C. (FOX, 8pm)
New CSI (CBS, 8pm)
New 30 Rock (NBC, 8:30pm)
New Shark (CBS, 9pm)
Carl Reiner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Max Brooks on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm)

News & Notes

The O.C. will end this season. The season finale in February will also be the series finale. I’m sad about that, but at least we’re getting a fun final season.

Also of note: The Megan Mullally Show has been canceled.

I hope you all had an excellent holiday, no matter what you did (or didn’t) celebrate. We finally got snow in Minneapolis just in time for Christmas. I spent time with family and friends, watched a lot of movies on DVD and cable, caught up on most shows on my TiVo, and even traveled a little. Also had laryngitis for a time, but my voice is mostly back now; when I couldn’t talk, it made me realize just how many sarcastic remarks I usually must make to the TV! I’m still catching up on updates throughout the site, will let you know as I update things.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

Christine announces she is going to clean out the magazine’s closet and the assistants go nuts trying to get their hands on the free clothes and other swag on Ugly Betty (ABC, 7pm). Ashley Jensen plays Christine and now that I’ve watched Eleventh Hour on BBC America, I’ll be seeing her in a new light (she starred in that along with Patrick Stewart); I guess she’s also on Extras but I haven’t seen that yet.

Earl, Randy, Joy, and the rest of the gang relive the day they were filmed for COPS on My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm). This is sure to be hilarious.

Back to back reruns of Smallville (CW, 7pm, 8pm). The episodes are “Arrow” and “Aqua” which each feature different heroes (in addition to Superman, of course): the Green Arrow and Aquaman. The Aquaman episode is from last season, the Green Arrow one is from this season. Both Smallville and Supernatural return next week with new episodes.

A psychic “sees” her own murder before it happens on a rerun of CSI (CBS, 7pm). Jennifer Grant guest stars (she’s the daughter of Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, doncha know). Dan Lauria (of Wonder Years) also makes an appearance.

Grissom: “I need to talk to you.”
Greg: “You heard about the strip club?”
Grissom: “I hear about everything, Greg.”
Greg: “That ear surgery paid off.”
  from CSI

NBA action on TNT tonight, games are: Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings.

Michael returns from a Jamaican vacation and a “racy photo” from his trip circulates around The Office (NBC, 7:30pm) via email. Be afraid.

Dr. Cox faces three medical mysteries on Scrubs (NBC, 8pm) so naturally he channels House to solve ‘em. Awesome! ‘Cuz Cox was my favorite cranky doctor before Dr. House came along. DVR/VCR Alert: Runs 31 minutes.

Kevin Sorbo is still in town on The O.C. (FOX, 8pm)– and wasn’t his identity a shocker? I usually see things coming and I didn’t see that curveball coming on down the pike. I imagine this episode will deal with fallout and have his character clashing with Sandy, among others. I’m also guessing things are now awkward with Seth and Summer (speaking of awkward, the actors who play them have broken up after being together for a couple of years– I hope it was a friendly break-up, but it’s still gotta be a bit weird for ‘em). Still loving this season of this show.

A suspect is released after a verdict of “Not Guilty” but Catherine thinks otherwise; Grissom leaves on sabbatical on CSI (CBS, 8pm). William Peterson is not leaving the show so there’s no need to panic. Alan Rosenberg returns as a guest star; he’s been great on so many shows, he’s also married to CSI star Marg Helgenberger.

Paul Simon & Lorne Michaels on Iconoclasts (Sundance, 8pm and 11pm). If you get Sundance and haven’t yet checked out this series– it’s fun. Interesting pairings of entertainers talk to each other about their lives and careers.

Back to back reruns of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8pm, 9pm). These are the two episodes that aired at the end of November, just in case you need a reminder of where the show left off before the holiday break. A new episode airs next Thursday (and it’s part 1 of a 2-parter, no less). Men in Trees also returns with a new episode next Thursday.

Meredith: “How’s it going?”
Cristina: “How’s what going?”
Meredith: “You and Burke, are you okay?”
Cristina: “We’re existing in total silence.”
Meredith: “He’s not talking to you?”
Cristina: “No. I’m not talking to him either.”
Meredith: “I’m sorry, are you okay?”
Cristina: “Stop asking me that.”
Meredith: “I’m making an effort here.”
Cristina: “Please, don’t.”
  from Grey’s Anatomy

Liz contemplates her marital and maternal future on 30 Rock (NBC, 8:31pm).

A member of the team is taken hostage (presumably because of the case Stark and company is building against an arms dealer) on Shark (CBS, 9pm). I can’t recall if I mentioned that Henry Simmons (of NYPD Blue) has joined the cast as an investigator for the team (so I’m mentioning it now).

Expect more drama (what else?) on ER (NBC, 9:01pm). While I wasn’t paying attention, Busy Philipps joined the show in a recurring role which reunites her with Freaks and Geeks co-star Linda Cardellini. Awesome! (Did you know that she’s Godmother to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger’s baby? I did not know that ’til I was poking around the internet earlier today).

Late Night

Samuel L. Jackson stars in (and exec-produces) the series premiere of Afro Samurai (Spike, 10pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm). New limited run animated series.

Panelists discuss issues raised in the film Children of Men on Children of Men: Visions of the Future (Sci-Fi, 10pm; also tomorrow at 3pm). I wish I knew who the panelists are, but I haven’t managed to find that info (yet).

Reruns of the first two episodes of Medical Investigation (Sleuth, 10pm, 11pm) just in case you liked that shortlived series or want to check it out. I thought the series was okay, though not great. Had potential. Neal McDonough (of Boomtown), Kelli Williams (of The Practice), and Christopher Gorham star. Sleuth is a fun channel (if you get it), they recently added some new shows to their lineup including Magnum, P.I. (one of my faves).

Check out Sue Trowbridge’s excellent webpage to see who the late night talk show guests are; there’s a link to her feed with today’s guests in the sidebar here on the TVPicks.net website; here’s a link to today’s listings.