Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Criminal Minds (CBS, 8pm)
New Men in Trees (ABC, 9pm)
Second Life featured on a new CSI: NY (CBS, 9pm)
New South Park (Comedy Central, 9pm and 11pm)
New Top Chef (Bravo, 9pm, 11pm, midnight, 1am)
George Clooney, Norah Jones on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm)
Lots of other good guests on late night talk, see below

News & Notes:

Gosh, it looks like I’m going to have to re-think how I cover Fall Schedule Grids, the Upfronts, and the like– I’m actually very happy about this as it’s a long overdue change to the system and I think year round programming and development is a Very Good Thing. NBC just announced their “complete program strategy” for the next 52 weeks. It’s a good read, check it out. Find out which NBC shows are returning and when (I’m very pleased to see that Friday Night Lights will be back, for instance). I will be updating Grids one of these days (if anyone wants to help, get in touch with me). Will try to get the Fall Grids ready to go as soon as I can.

Apologies for the picks emails going out so late yesterday– I don’t know what happened. The picks were actually put online early in the afternoon. Running late today due to all sorts of issues and will be brief again. Hope to get things back to “normal” next week.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

New America’s Next Top Model (CW, 7pm).

Hooray! It’s a new episode of Criminal Minds (CBS, 8pm). Nicholas Brendon returns, he was “Xander” on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Nicholle Tom and David Tom also guest star. Nicolle Tom was one of the kids on The Nanny, but has been in plenty of things since then (most recently memorably guest starred in a two-part Burn Notice and was a regular in The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman). David Tom is Nicolle Tom’s twin brother (and their both the younger siblings of Heather Tom of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful). Most recently David Tom played “Chip Diller” on Veronica Mars.

American Idol (FOX, 7:58pm) starts at 7:58pm and runs ’til 9pm.

A diver washes ashore on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 8pm) and it’s suspected that he might be involved with terrorism. This episode debuted on USA at the beginning of November, but it might be new to you if you’re only watching the show on NBC.

HGTV airs new episodes of Deserving Design (HGTV, 8pm and midnight), Design on a Dime (HGTV, 8:30pm and 12:30am), and House Hunters (HGTV, 9pm and 1am).

Enjoy tonight’s new episode of Men in Trees (ABC, 9pm), the show is going on yet another break pretty soon, but will return with new episodes at the end of May. Morgan Fairchild guest stars. Mario Cantone and Nicholas Lea continue their recurring roles on the show.

New South Park (Comedy Central, 9pm and 11pm). In which Canada goes on strike.

New Top Chef (Bravo, 9pm, 11pm, midnight, 1am). Richard Roeper hosts a cinematic-inspired dinner party.

Second Life Alert! CSI: NY (CBS, 9pm) returns with a new episode and it’s the conclusion to the episode that involved Second Life. Jessalyn Gilsig is among the guest stars. [If you want to find me in Second Life, I’m “Laurel Oh” there.]

New episodes of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS, 9pm, 9:30pm).

“YouTube vs. Porn” is the debate du jour on Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil (Comedy Central, 9:30pm and 11:30pm).

Late Night

William Safire on The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).

Susan Jacoby, R.E.M. on The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 10:30pm and 12:30am).

George Clooney, Norah Jones on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Steve Carell, Kathie Lee Gifford, Ani DiFranco on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm).

John Leguizamo, George Takei, the Bravery on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm).

Marg Helgenberger, Kylie Minogue on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

Randy Jackson, Julie Bowen, Back Door Slam on Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, check your local listings).