Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm)
New 30 Rock (NBC, 7:30pm)
New Scrubs (NBC, 8:31pm)
New Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA, 9pm and midnight)

News & Notes

Starting next week, I’ll be recommending a gift each day in the picks. And no, they won’t all be TV shows on DVD!

If you send out holiday cards, I love receiving those sorts of things at this time of year. If you would like to send me one, contact me via the form and I’ll give you the TVPicks.net mailing address.

The email version of the picks has been going out later than it should; I’m trying to get that fixed. So if you’re eager to read the picks and usually do so via email, it’s probably worth checking the website if it seems like they’re taking longer than usual.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

Earl’s sentence keeps getting shorter and shorter thanks to the work he does for the warden (played by Craig T. Nelson) on My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm). In tonight’s episode, Earl may get a task that will reduce his sentence to the point where he’ll get out of jail soon– but it might come at a large cost.

NBA basketball on TNT: Knicks at Celtics, Nuggets at Lakers.

Lots of people are blindsided on a new Survivor: China (CBS, 7pm). The press release used the word “blindside” a lot.

One contestant crosses over from tonight’s new episode of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX, 7pm) to the new episode of Don’t Forget The Lyrics (FOX, 8pm). Sounds like Wayne Brady appears on 5th Grader.

Rerun of the season premiere of Ugly Betty (ABC, 7pm). Looks like lots of shows are starting off with reruns of their season premieres as rerun season starts in earnest. It makes even more sense than usual given that some shows may be in reruns for longer than usual due to the WGA strike, this is a good opportunity for people to check out some shows that are new to them.

Amanda: “Hey, what’s different about you? You get your hair cut?”
Betty: “I’m wearing an eye patch.”
Amanda: “You didn’t always have that?”
  from Ugly Betty

Rerun of the season premiere of Smallville (CW, 7pm). Clark does battle with a wraith, Lex is rescued by a mysterious woman, Chloe’s in the ER, and Lois snoops around Lex’s manor.

As part of a community service sentence, Tracy is supposed to coach an inner city little league team on 30 Rock (NBC, 7:30pm). Jack gets involved with the team, as if the team wasn’t in trouble enough! Plus the hot young coffee guy at work asks Liz Lemon out. I’m sure hijinks ensue.

New “comedy” special: Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell (Bravo, 8pm, 10pm, 1am).

Two new episodes of Cool Tools. First one features woodworking tools (DIY, 8pm and midnight), the second one features tools that grip things (DIY, 8:30pm and 12:30am).

Rerun of C.S.I. (CBS, 8pm). No, it’s not the season premiere which was the conclusion of the two-part episode with Sara trapped in the desert. This one involves a case at a restaurant where people dine in total darkness and another case involving a go-kart race. Good episode.

Greg: “We found high velocity blood spatter in the rear wheel well of the victim’s cart. Which means, he lost his head at high speed.”
Nick: “So, how did Hot Rod decapitate Vinny while racing down a high way at 60mph?”
Grissom: “Maybe he didn’t.”
Greg: “People’s heads don’t just fly off for no reason.”
  from CSI

Rerun of the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8pm). A new batch of interns meet the freshly minted residents, though that’s all a bit weird for George under the circumstances. A boy brings a deer to the ER.

Izzie: “All these interns and nothing to do. And I think that I’m a really bad teacher and they hate me. And now I’m a fraud, so any chance you wanna let me on this?”
Cristina: “Izzie, this guy was dead, and now he’s undead, so that kinda makes him like a zombie. And my personal zombie, so no you can’t get in on this. Now you can go be a fraud, somewhere else.”
Izzie: “I don’t like you.”
  from Grey’s Anatomy

Rerun of The Office (NBC, 8pm) from the middle of last season. Michael returns from vacation with an interesting photograph. Pam gets caught in the middle of an argument between Jim and Karen.

First four episodes of the sixth and final season of Good Times (TV Land, 8pm – 10pm). It’s a four-parter titled “Florida’s Homecoming” which features a wedding, among other things, if I recall correctly (it’s been a while since I’ve seen these).

Seven demons, based on the seven deadly sins, are released into the world in this rerun of the season premiere of Supernatural (CW, 8pm).

Dean: “I don’t know. It’s like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Sam: “That’s hellfire, Dean.”
Dean: “Whatever.”
  from Supernatural

The Sacred Heart staff really doesn’t want to grow up on Scrubs (NBC, 8:31pm – 9:01pm). We wouldn’t want them to, would we? I suppose the series finale could have them all acting their ages, but that’d be a downer of an ending for the show.

An entire college football team has nothing to say to Logan and Falacci when they’re trying to get info for an upcoming rape trial on a new episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA, 9pm and midnight; also on Saturday at 10pm). If you haven’t watched this show this season because you were busy watching other things, now’s a good time to check it out as lots of other shows go into reruns. Alicia Witt joined the cast this season as Detective Falacci.

They’ve certainly always got interesting pairings on Iconoclasts. Tonight’s new episode features Madeleine Albright and Ashley Judd (Sundance, 9pm and 2am).

Tim and Veronica help a woman named Lori regain her confidence after suffering a major injury on a new Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style (Bravo, 9pm and midnight).

New episode of Run’s House (MTV, 9pm and 10pm). Kid Rock spends the weekend at the house.

Luka’s brother comes for a visit on ER (NBC, 9:01pm). Kari Matchett (of Heartland, Studio 60, Invasion) guest stars.

If you’re one of the few people who enjoyed Big Shots (ABC, 9pm), you’ll want to catch tonight’s new episode. If you aren’t into this show, there’s no reason to start now as I doubt it will be around much longer.

Rerun of the season premiere of Without A Trace (CBS, 9pm). The four-year-old son of a celebrity couple is kidnapped. James Marsters begins his guest stint on the show as a detective (he was Spike on Buffy and Angel). Brian Bloom also guest stars.

A special episode of MTV Cribs that features 50 Cent (MTV, 9:30pm and 10:30pm).

Late Night

Series premiere of Varsity, Inc. (ESPN2, 10pm). This six-part series follows the West Monroe High School Rebels, their town, and their fans. The Rebels are six-time Louisiana state champions in football.

Check out Sue’s page for Late Night Lineups. They’re all reruns.

Friday Daytime

Jane Krakowski, Billy Ray Cyrus on Live with Regis and Kelly (syndicated, check your local listings).

Sissy Spacek; guest co-host Gloria Estefan on The View (ABC, check your local listings).

Josh Brolin, Keith Urban, funny videos from the internet on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

Shimmery holiday makeup, a fun holiday project, secret sources for tea on Martha (syndicated, check your local listings).

Deborah Norville, a surprise for a fan, favorite cakes and family traditions on The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

Susan Sarandon appears on The Tyra Banks Show (syndicated, check your local listings) as they look at the secret world of sex slaves and human trafficking.

Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers: Home for the Holidays on Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Ask Dr. Phil and Robin” on Dr. Phil (syndicated, check your local listings).