Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Bones (FOX, 7pm)
New NCIS (CBS, 7pm)
New House (FOX, 8pm)
New The Unit (CBS, 8pm)
New Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9pm)
New Boston Legal (ABC, 9pm)
New Nip/Tuck (FX, 9pm, 10pm; also on Fri at 10pm and Sun at 9pm)

News & Notes

You could win season one of Dexter on DVD, check out the contests page for details.

Weeds has been picked up for a fourth season. Yay!

Primetime Grid

Featured Picks

New NCIS (CBS, 7pm).
New The Unit (CBS, 8pm).

Despite the success of C.S.I. and other CBS shows, it’s still not seen as terribly “cool” to admit you watch CBS or are a fan of quite a few of their shows. There often isn’t a lot of buzz or critical acclaim for CBS series. And yet, today I’m featuring two excellent episodes of CBS shows.

Last week NCIS aired their 100th episode, tonight’s new episode opens with a jolt– as Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is pulled from the ocean by a member of his team and given CPR. The commercials give this away, but since it’s the first thing you see in the episode, I don’t feel it’s too spoilery to mention. Will Gibbs survive? Gosh, that seems likely doesn’t it? Will the episode then jump back in time to tell what happened prior to this event? You betcha. Is it still a good episode? Why yes, yes it is.

NCIS works well as a show because of a cast of characters with excellent quirks and chemistry. The quality of cases vary, but the show is usually enjoyable with a mix of comedy, action, and drama. It’s not art, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s usually entertaining and it appears lots of people approve of that. Oddly enough, the show I’d consider most similar to NCIS in this way is Bones, which airs opposite NCIS on Tuesdays on FOX at 7pm. I like both shows for the same reasons and overlook their faults because so much other stuff works.

Tonight’s new episode of NCIS is one of the episodes that has a bit more depth because it explores issues from Gibbs’ past yet again. Fortunately Mark Harmon is good enough to make this work. I’ll say no more because you really want some surprises in this episode if you’re a fan of the show.

As for tonight’s new episode of The Unit (CBS, 8pm), it’s also an intense episode to say the least. If you’ve seen the commercials, you have some idea what I’m talking about (if you haven’t, it’s best you don’t). David Mamet and Shawn Ryan (creator of The Shield) created this gem of a series about men in the special forces and their families. Over the couple of seasons, I’ve grown to care a whole lot about these people; the showrunners knew that a story like the one in tonight’s episode wouldn’t have the impact they’d like unless the viewers truly cared about these people.

Tonight’s episode of The Unit continues next week, just so you know. I’ve had a chance to see tonight’s episode and the one that follows and they’re outstanding. This show often isn’t easy to watch, but that’s because there’s an element of reality here not often seen in shows with this much action. If there’s one show on CBS that should be taken seriously and receive critical acclaim and award consideration, it’s The Unit.

I suppose I should issue a “will need tissues” warning to go along with both these episodes, because it’s entirely possible you will.

Primetime

The remains of an employee of the Jeffersonian Institute are found, which makes this week’s case hit awfully close to home on Bones (FOX, 7pm). Xander Berkeley and Terrell Tilford are among the guest stars.

NCIS (CBS, 7pm) is one of my “featured picks” for today, see above.

The beauties and the geeks travel to Mexico on Beauty and the Geek (CW, 7pm). There’s a “memory face off” for the beauties and a dance-off for the geeks. And a twist, of course.

Season finale of Lincoln Heights (ABC Family, 7pm and 11pm). No word yet on if there’ll be a third season of this show.

Rebroadcasts of the latest episodes of Brotherhood (Showtime, 7pm), Dexter (Showtime, 8pm), and Weeds (Showtime, 9pm, 9:30pm).

Rebecca Romijn (of Ugly Betty, Pepper Dennis) guest stars as Laird’s “hot but crazy” ex-wife on Carpoolers (ABC, 7:30pm). In real life, she’s married to Jerry O’Connell (who plays Laird on the show).

This should be good. House (FOX, 8pm; also on Fri 11/16 at 10pm on USA) is recruited by the C.I.A. to treat one of their agents. It turns out it’s tricky to treat a patient when you aren’t allowed to have much of a medical history or know what they’ve been working on. And back at the hospital Foreman clashes with the fellowship candidates. Michael Michelle guest stars (she was on ER and Homicide).

Tonight’s new episode of The Unit (CBS, 8pm) is one of my “featured picks” for tonight, see above.

Sam is given an 8-track tape of a soundtrack to a bad ’70s film as a vessel on Reaper (CW, 8pm). He’s supposed to catch a thrill-seeking couple played by Mercedes McNab (of Angel) and Craig Stanghetta. The Devil also encourages Sam to date a new girl played by Pascale Hutton.

Two-hour season finale of The Contender (ESPN, 8pm – 10pm).

Julia visits the guys at their new practice in Beverly Hills on Nip/Tuck (FX, 9pm, 10pm; also on Fri at 10pm and Sun at 9pm). She’s got some big news to share.

Comic books are the key to a case on Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9pm). And Olivia may be in danger. Episode airs again on Sunday 11/18 at 10pm on USA.

Alan Shore uses “temporary insanity” as a defense for a client (played by Mare Winningham) on Boston Legal (ABC, 9pm). Denny Crane fires an associate for being fat. Jerry helps someone who has some similar problems to his own. This episode was directed by Eric Stoltz, written by David E. Kelley and Corinne Brinkerhoff.

Alicia Keys guest stars on Cane (CBS, 9pm).

Season premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, 2am).

Late Night:

Link to Sue Trowbridge’s Late Night Lineups page for guest listings for the late night talk shows.

Wednesday Daytime

Eric Dane (of Grey’s Anatomy), Tom Brokaw, Seal on Live with Regis and Kelly (syndicated, check your local listings).

Damon Wayans, Kayce Freed Jennings, Colbie Caillat on The View (ABC, check your local listings).

America Ferrera (of Ugly Betty), Lyle Lovett, Shemar Moore (of Criminal Minds), and a woman that Ellen helped win a car on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

Lynn Redgrave, healthy autumn minestrone, building a cold frame for your garden, going gray with confidence on Martha (syndicated, check your local listings).

Two-time Oscar winner Mystery Taster, germs on purses, an Italian twist on turkey meatloaf on The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

“What Would You Do?” (Tyra sets up hidden cameras to expose what people really do in a moral dilemma) on The Tyra Banks Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Beauty Queen Raped By Her Husband” on Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Finding Alex” (Dr. Phil tracks down a former guest on the show who is in trouble again) on Dr. Phil (syndicated, check your local listings).