Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Bones (FOX, 7pm)
New How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30pm)
Season finale of New Amsterdam (FOX, 8pm)
New Samantha Who? (ABC, 8:32pm - 9:02pm)
New Medium (NBC, 9pm)
John Waters, Tricia Helfer, Daniel Lanois on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm)

Daytime

A person could just turn on Turner Classic Movies and be very very happy as today their schedule includes some of the best movies of all time: The Maltese Falcon (TCM, 9:15am), Casablanca (TCM, 11am), The Philadelphia Story (TCM, 1pm), Citizen Kane (TCM, 3pm), and The Adventures of Robin Hood (TCM, 5pm).

Mariah Carey on a new Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings). Plus an update on the puppy mill story and a discussion of a Big Give shocker.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

Note for sports fans in the Twin Cities: FSN North airs the Twins-Tigers game (FSN, 6pm; pre-game at 5:30pm); KSTC Channel 45 airs the Wild-Avalanche game (pre-game at 8pm, game at 9pm).

Baseball: Boston at Cleveland (ESPN & ESPNHD, 6pm).

New Antiques Roadshow (PBS, check your local listings) from Spokane, Washington.

Walt Whitman is the subject of a new American Experience (PBS, check your local listings).

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek co-hosts an evening of his favorite films tonight (along with Robert Osbourne) on TCM. The films are The Professionals (TCM, 7pm, letterboxed), Wuthering Heights (TCM, 9:15pm), Lonely Are The Brave (TCM, 11:15pm, letterboxed), and Little Big Man (TCM, 1:15am, letterboxed). You can read all about it on the TCM website.

The remains of a professional motorcycle racer are found in a hot spring on a new episode of Bones (FOX, 7pm). Of course the most interesting storyline of this episode may be the one where Dr. Lance Sweets (played by John Francis Daly of Freaks and Geeks) makes Booth and Brennan accompany him on a double-date. I’m so glad this fun show is back with new episodes; you can expect four more new episodes after this one for this season.

Leonard and Sheldon become jealous of a young physics genius on a new episode ofThe Big Bang Theory (CBS, 7pm). Guest stars include Emma Degerstedt (of Unfabulous), Mark Harelik (who has guest starred on many shows), and Joel Brooks (another actor you’ve seen in many things). There should be another five new episodes after this one, this show has been picked up for a second season. I’ve gotta say, this show has grown on me (you may recall I didn’t care for the first episode).

A new special looks at the “history, mystery, and majesty” of Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills (Travel Channel, 7pm and 11pm; also on Friday at 4pm).

A collection of works by choreographer Maurice Béjart on Best of Béjart (Sundance, 7pm).

James Blunt and Lewis Hamilton appear on a new episode of Top Gear (BBC America, 7pm and 10pm). There’s also an older episode at 8pm and 11pm.

Two new episodes of Little People, Big World (TLC, 7pm and 10pm, 7:30pm and 10:30pm).

Rerun of the “Bathroom Tech” episode of Modern Marvels (History, 7pm and 11pm).

New episode of Petfinder (Animal Planet, 7pm, 10pm, 2am).

There’s an “epic battle of practical jokes” in this new episode of Greek (ABC Family, 7pm; also Tuesday at 11pm and next Monday at 6pm).

Special two-hour “Spring Break” episode of Deal or No Deal (NBC, 7pm - 9pm). I still don’t care!

New episodes of these shows on HGTV tonight: Designed to Sell (HGTV, 7pm and 11pm), Curb Appeal (HGTV, 7:30pm and 11:30pm), Hidden Potential (HGTV, 8:30pm and 12:30am), and House Hunters (HGTV, 9pm and 1am).

Marshall’s boss is hard on him which leads Marshall to question whether he made the right decision in taking a job to work for “the man” on a new How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30pm). Bob Odenkirk guest stars. This show is one of my favorite comedies right now. You can expect five more new episodes after this one, no word yet on whether CBS will pick this show up for next season (I really hope they do). If you like this show, be sure to watch and tell others to watch; I also recommend visiting the official site for the show and contacting CBS to tell them how much you like the show.

Heavyweights (Food Network, 7:30pm and 2:30am) takes a look at the coffee business boom in an episode titled “Java Giants: Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts”. I’m partial to Caribou, myself, though I also try to throw my business at independent coffee shops too.

John and Eva investigate a drowning death in the season finale of New Amsterdam (FOX, 8pm). This death may be related to a string of robberies of wealthy men. John flashes back to his life in the ’20s when he was a grifter. It’s something of a miracle that all eight episodes of this show made it to the airwaves; originally this show was to be on the fall schedule, then got pushed to midseason, then got removed from the FOX midseason schedule as well– we only really got to see it because of the WGA strike. I’d say it’s extremely unlikely any more episodes of this show will be made, but if you like New Amsterdam– act now! Watch the show (and encourage friends to watch), visit the official website (and particpate there), and write to FOX.

Charlie goes with Jake on a double-date, he also sets his brother up with a prostitute on a new (sure to be classy) episode of Two and a Half Men (CBS, 8pm). Expect five more new episodes after this one, the show has been picked up for another season.

A new episode of Dirty Jobs (Discovery, 8pm and midnight), it focuses on “Dirty Jobs of the Big Apple”. Plus a rerun of the “Cranberry Farmer” episode at 8pm and 11pm.

Exploring the top-secret underground defenses of Washington, D.C. and a look at how the U.S. prepares for the worst possible scenarios on a new Cities of the Underworld (History Channel, 8pm and midnight).

New episode of Locked Up Abroad (National Geographic, 8pm and 11pm). All I know is that the episode title is “Margarita Island” so it’s safe to assume someone ends up imprisoned there.

New episode of I Survived (Biography, 8pm and midnight). Description says: “a woman plays dead after her boyfriend chokes and shoots, a man gets stuck in a frozen stream while snowmobiling, a federal prosecutor is abducted.”

A look at “old school snacks” on a new Unwrapped (Food Network, 8:30pm and 11:30pm). An older episode (”Couch Potato”) airs at 8pm and 11pm.

Two new episodes of Jon & Kate Plus 8 (TLC, 8pm and 11pm, 8:30pm and 11:30pm).

Lucas picks up the pieces after being left at the altar on a new One Tree Hill (CW, 8pm). I believe there are five more episodes for this season and the show has been renewed for another season (which makes me bitter because in a better universe perhaps Everwood would get as many seasons as this show is getting).

The six remaining contestants participate in a photo shoot for CosmoGirl on a new episode of America’s Prom Queen (ABC Family, 8pm and 11pm). Spencer Grammer (of Greek) appears in this episode.

The remaining ladies find themselves on the set of the “Neverwed Game,” hosted by Arsenio Hall on The Flavor of Love (VH1, 8pm and 10pm; additional airings later this week).

Sam is stunned when her boss (played by Timothy Olyphant) proposes to her on a new Samantha Who? (ABC, 8:32pm - 9:02pm). Yikes! Note the odd start and end times tonight. I’m very pleased that this fine show has been picked up for a second season.

Kurtwood Smith (of That ’70s Show) returns to Medium (NBC, 9pm), reprising his role of an FBI profiler who may sometimes track down and kill those he profiles. Kelly Preston also guest stars, as a venture capitalist who takes an interest in Joe and his invention. Three more episodes remain for this season, thankfully this great show has been picked up for another season.

New Baseball Tonight (ESPN, 9pm or after Boston-Cleveland game).

Bourdain is in Peru in this rerun of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel, 9pm and 1am).

Port Police investigate rape allegations, former President Jimmy Carter visits, and a crane operator races against time to get a ship out on time in this new episode of America’s Port (National Geographic, 9pm and midnight).

A restaurant built from old transportation buses and a Florida bar that serves escargot and dolphin sandwiches in a new episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Food Network, 9pm and midnight, 9:30pm and 12:30am) titled “Something Different”. An older episode airs at 9:30pm and 12:30am, it’s a “Viewer’s Choice” episode.

“The Woman with a Knife in her Head” on a new Mystery Diagnosis (Discovery Health Channel, 9pm and midnight). Ouch!

Rerun of the “CSI: My Nanny” episode of CSI: Miami (CBS, 9pm). A wealthy family’s nanny turns up dead.

The final three suitors have opportunities to woo Calperni on a new Transamerican Love Story (Logo, 9pm and midnight).

Two new episodes of Extreme Fisherman (Biography, 9pm and 1am, 9:30pm and 1:30am).

New episode of The Hills (MTV, 9pm, 10pm, 1am).

A couple more reruns of My Name Is Earl (TBS, 9pm and 9:30pm). These are from season one, the episodes are “Stole P’s HD Cart” and “Monkeys in Space”.

New episode of High School Confidential (We, 9pm, 10pm).

Series premiere of the new “docusoap” The Paper (MTV, 9:30pm, 10:30pm, 1:30am). It follows high schoolers as they put together issues of their award-winning high school newspaper. Or something like that. In tonight’s episode, the lead editors of a high school newspaper battle for the coveted position of editor-in-chief.

Series premiere of Can You Duet (CMT, 9:30pm; airs again on Friday at 7pm). This first episode covers auditions for the show. Rossi Morreale hosts this search for the “best country music duet” in the country. There will be eleven one-hour episodes of this show.

Late Night

New episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight). Last I checked the guest was still TBA.

John Legend, Mayor Michael Nutter, Chris Matthews on The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 10:30pm and 12:30am).

Al Pacino, David Wright (of the New York Mets) on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Mark Harmon (of NCIS), Corbin Maxey, Ray J on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).

John Waters, Tricia Helfer (of Battlestar Galactica), Daniel Lanois on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

John Cusack, James Lipton, Spoon on a rerun of Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm) from this past October.

Naomi Watts, James Blake, Cobra Starship on a rerun of Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, check your local listings).

Aidan Murray Medley, Audrina Patridge, Morrisey on a rerun of Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).