Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Lost special (ABC, 7pm)
New Smallville (CW, 7pm)
Season premiere of Lost (ABC, 8pm – 9:02pm)
New In Treatment (HBO, 8:30pm and midnight)
Series premiere of Eli Stone (ABC, 9:02pm)
Second episode of Breaking Bad (AMC, 9:30pm)

News & Notes

Expect a commercial from “Oceanic Airlines” during the series premiere of Eli Stone tonight. I figure all you Lost fans might want to know.

Primetime Grid

Featured Pick

Series premiere of Eli Stone (ABC, 9:02pm).

I’ve seen three episodes of this show, including this one, and I like it and think you should check it out. Jonny Lee Miller (of Smith) stars as Eli Stone, a lawyer who works for a big law firm that typically handles cases for the rich and powerful. When Eli starts having hallucinations (of singer George Michael, no less), things get interesting for him both personally and professionally. He does start taking on cases that don’t really fit in with what the firm usually does. George Michael does appear as himself in this episode and I’m told he will appear in some more episodes.

Natasha Henstridge (of Commander In Chief, She Spies) plays Eli’s fiance, Victor Garber (of Alias) plays Eli’s boss, and Loretta Devine (of Boston Public) plays Eli’s secretary. This show is brought to us by Greg Berlanti (of Everwood, Jack & Bobby, Brothers & Sisters, Dirty Sexy Money) and Marc Guggenheim (of Brothers & Sisters, Law & Order, The Practice). Ken Olin (of Brother & Sisters, Alias) directed the pilot.

There will be singing and dancing; fortunately Victor Garber has starred on Broadway and received multiple Tony award nominations, Loretta Devine is no slouch either, having originated the role of “Lorell” in the original production of Dreamgirls. Rounding out the cast are: Sam Jaeger, James Saito (character actor you’ve seen in many things over the years), Matt Letscher, and Julie Gonzalo (who was “Parker” on Veronica Mars). Tom Cavanaugh (of Ed) guest stars in this episode.

The press release and the promos for the show give way too much away, which is why I’m not saying too much about plot here. You’re better off going in not knowing much. I liked it and my husband (of “Kevin-ometer” fame) also liked the episodes we saw (he’s a tougher critic than I am).

The series premiere of Eli Stone airs tonight at 9:02pm on ABC after Lost.

Primetime

College hoops: Boston College at North Carolina (ESPN, 6pm), Providence at Notre Dame (ESPN2, 6pm), Indiana at Wisconsin (ESPN, 8pm), North Carolina State at Duke (ESPN2, 8pm).

The new episode of Lost (ABC, 7pm) that airs at 7pm tonight is actually a special. The press release promises that the special “will explore the series in a way that will bring new viewers up to date– but which current viewers will also find illuminating in anticipation of the fourth season premiere episode. The special will take an in-depth look at the mysteries of both the island and its inhabitants and recap the secrets that have been revealed, as well as those that remain unanswered.” Um, okay. These specials have been a mixed bag, in my humble opinion, which is why I find they’re best watched on a DVR so you can fast forward through any boring bits (a.k.a. things you already know). I also don’t really recommend that anyone jump into the show at this point, even if they watch a recap special. You really should track down the show on DVD and catch up that way.

Tonight’s new episode of Smallville (CW, 7pm) sounds like a rather intense one. Bizarro takes over Clark’s life. And then he goes in search of Brainiac. James Marsters (of Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) returns as Brainiac. Marc McClure guest stars; he played Jimmy Olson in the Superman movies (the ones from the ’70s and ’80s) and in the Supergirl movie. The CW has more new episodes of this show that will air in February and March.

NBA hoops: Mavericks at Celtics (TNT, 7pm), Spurs at Suns (TNT, 9:30pm).

New Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (BBC America, 7pm, 10pm, midnight).

I’m still enjoying the reruns of Keen Eddie on Sleuth (Thursdays, 7pm and 10pm; also on Saturdays at 5pm). They’re being aired with original music (as they aired originally), this is notable because the DVD set does not have much (any?) of the original music.

Season premiere of Lost (ABC, 8pm – 9:02pm; airs again next Thursday at 7pm). DVR/VCR Alert: Runs two minutes long (I’d pad my recording by even more, just to be safe). There’s not much to tell you here other than this is, at long last, a new episode of Lost. I did notice Jeremy Davies listed as a guest star, he hasn’t been in any previous episodes. It sounds like the episode probably picks up where we left off at the end of last season, but with this show one never knows. Eight episodes have been completed of the sixteen that were ordered. At first the showrunners didn’t think it would be a good thing to air these eight without the rest of them as it won’t complete the story they want to tell, but the network apparently felt some new episodes of Lost were better than none, even if it all ends abruptly mid-story. We’ll get the other episodes eventually, after the strike ends. Episode was written by Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse and directed by Jack Bender.

Sam and Dean go after a coven of witches that have killed two people in this new episode of Supernatural (CW, 8pm); they do this against the advice of Ruby, who knows more about what’s going on than they do. This episode was written by Ben Edlund, who created The Tick; he’s also written for The Venture Brothers, Angel, Firefly, and other shows. Three more new episodes remain after this one.

The celebrities are challenged to do something that has to do with Crocs (the shoes and shoe company, that is) on a new two-hour Celebrity Apprentice (NBC, 8pm – 10pm). DVR Alert: I’m not entirely sure that listings have been consistent about the name of the show this time around, it seems like sometimes it’s called The Apprentice and sometimes it’s called The Celebrity Apprentice. You’ll want to keep that in mind when setting up recordings.

Gabriel Byrne treats a couple that has some serious issues on a new In Treatment (HBO, 8:30pm and midnight). Josh Charles (of Sports Night) and Embeth Davidtz are on the couch.

Mitch Pileggi (of The X-Files) is one of the guest stars in this old episode of the short-lived series Players (Sleuth, 8pm and 11pm).

Series premiere of Eli Stone (ABC, 9:02pm). My featured pick for today, see above.

New episode of Breaking Bad (AMC, 9:30pm). Second episode of this odd series from Vince Gilligan. Debuted on Sunday night, gets another airing tonight. The first and second episode will air again on Sunday in case you want to catch up.

Charm City Cakes crew builds a volcano cake, serves as bartenders and takes part in a celebrity softball game on a new Ace of Cakes (Food Network, 9:30pm and 12:30am).

Late Night

Eva Longoria Parker (of Desperate Housewives), Colbie Caillat on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (of New Adventures of Old Christine), Lindsay Sloane, Sebastian Maniscalco on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).