Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Ugly Betty (ABC, 7pm)
Season finale of My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm)
Season finale of 30 Rock (NBC, 7:30pm)
Season finale of CSI (CBS, 8pm)
Season finale of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8pm - 9:02pm)
New Without A Trace (CBS, 9pm)
Val Kilmer, Michael Gates Gill on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm)

News & Notes

Still sick. Send soup.

The WGA strike has gone on long enough that when shows run out of episodes for this season, most are now calling these episodes “season finales” for a strike-shortened season. Makes sense as shows have been shut-down and will have to start up again fresh to bring us new episodes, just keep in mind that most of these episodes were not intended to be finales so things may end a bit abruptly or awkwardly.

I recently posted to my personal Livejournal with a rave about my new DVD player and a link to a hilarious video on YouTube. Both items should be of interest to TV fans.

If you use Twitter, you might want to check out my ramblings and/or follow the TV Picks Twitter account (I haven’t done much with it yet, but hope to soon).

Primetime Grid

Primetime

NBA hoops on TNT.

Amanda visits a psychic (played by Annie Potts) and Betty pushes Daniel to use models during fashion week that look more like “real women” on a new Ugly Betty (ABC, 7pm). DVR Alert: This episode was originally scheduled to air last week, but didn’t (was replaced with a rerun). Bow Wow and Omarion guest star.

Earl reverts to being “bad Earl” on the season finale of My Name Is Earl (NBC, 7pm). It’s a very special (belated) Christmas episode. Giovani Ribisi and Alyssa Milano guest star.

Second episodes of Keen Eddie (Sleuth, 7pm and 10pm) and Players (Sleuth, 8pm and 11pm). It appears that Keen Eddie is airing on Sleuth with the original music (the DVDs mostly lack the original music).

Liz invests in real estate, Jack tries to make his long distance relationship work, and Kenneth becomes addicted to caffeine on the season finale of 30 Rock (NBC, 7:30pm). Edie Falco and Gladys Knight guest star.

The team investigates two murders during a rodeo on the season finale of C.S.I. (CBS, 8pm). Brendan Wayne, Nicole Sullivan, Shooter Jennings, and Jewel all make appearances (some are guest stars, some are cameos from the sound of it).

George’s mother pays him a surprise visit (or at least it’s a surprise to Izzie and Callie), Bailey’s marriage continues to have problems, there’s a faith healer in the hospital, and more on the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8pm - 9:02pm). Guest stars include: Glenne Headly, Debra Monk, Cress Williams, Lauren Stamile, and Carol Locatell. Runs two minutes long.

A private investigator goes missing on Without A Trace (CBS, 9pm). Series regular Eric Close directed this episode from a script by Amanda Segel. Danny Nucci guest stars.

Abby returns to the ER (NBC, 9:01pm) and the hospital treats victims from a fire.

Series premiere of Make Me A Supermodel (Bravo, 9pm, 10pm, midnight, 1am). It’s preceded by a “Meet the Models” special (Bravo, 8pm).

Rebroadcast of the season premiere of The Wire (HBO, 9pm).

Season premiere of The First 48 (A&E, 9pm and 1am).

Series premiere of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (VH1, 9pm and 11pm).

New episodes of Run’s House (MTV, 9pm, 9:30pm).

Late Night

Check out Sue’s page for full Late Night Lineups. Remember that Letterman and Ferguson are the only shows back with the blessing and support of the WGA, they’re the only show with guild writers right now.

Here’s something you don’t see very often: Jimmy Kimmel is the guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm) and then later in the evening Jay Leno is the guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, check your local listings). I imagine they’ll be talking a bit about the strike situation.