Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New House (FOX, 7pm)
New How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7pm)
New Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm)
Season premiere of Lie to Me (FOX, 8pm)
New The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8:30pm)
New Castle (ABC, 9:01pm)
Chris O’Donnell, Paula Poundstone on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm)

News & Notes

The CW has canceled The Beautiful Life.

The only castmember that will continue on in the new season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent this spring on USA is Jeff Goldblum. At least that’s what reports last week said. Well, Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe will appear in a two-part episode to open the season, but are leaving after that. D’Onofrio has confirmed the news. I’m a little bit heartbroken over this, to be honest; I recently revisited all of the Goren/Eames episodes of the show (the first five seasons are available via Netflix Instant Viewing). I’d say that Goren and Eames are two of my favorite TV characters ever. The series starts airing reruns in syndication this week.

Daytime

“Meet the Most Famous People in the World” on Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings). Guests include Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, Chen Lu Yu, and Nacho Figueras.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

Baseball: Twins at Tigers (MLB Network, 6pm).

A video game creator posts his symptoms online and opts for treatments suggested online on House (FOX, 7pm). House returns to work, more or less. Andre Braugher continues his guest stint on the show as Dr. Nolan.

Ted is fixed up on a blind date and at some point realizes he was fixed up with the same woman years ago on How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7pm). And Barney takes Marshall out for a night on the town.

A reluctant new hero is introduced, Claire adjusts to college life, Matt struggles, and there’s more on Heroes (NBC, 7pm). Guest stars include Deanne Bray, Madeline Zima, Dawn Olivieri, and Louis Fletcher.

Bishop returns and Charles makes a decision about the money on Lincoln Heights (ABC Family, 7pm and 11pm; also next Monday at 6pm).

A special “best of” episode of Top Gear (BBC America, 7pm, 10pm, midnight).

Billie goes through Zach’s stuff in an effort to get to know him better on Accidently on Purpose (CBS, 7:30pm).

Season premiere of Lie to Me (FOX, 8pm). Tim Roth stars in this series along with Kelli Williams, Monica Raymund, Brendan Hines, and Mekhi Phifer. Erika Christensen guest stars in this episode that involves a woman with multiple personalities. Shawn Ryan (of The Shield and The Unit) has taken over as head writer this season; Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain (of Dollhouse, Women’s Murder Club, The Shield, Angel) are also on board. The series seemed to improve as the season went on last year, possibly in part because of the additions of these fine folks behind the scenes. Maureen Ryan wrote an excellent piece about the makeover of this show.

Blair and Chuck are both interested in the same item that is up for auction at Sotheby’s; Serena suspects Carter is up to something; Georgina takes an interest in Dan (eek!); and Vanessa finally notices something is a bit off about Scott on Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm). Jean de Segonzac directed this episode; he was the director of photography (and camera operator) on Homicide for most of its run; he frequently directs episodes of the various Law & Order series.

Chelsea convinces Charlie to let Alan’s girlfriend Melissa move in on Two and a Half Men (CBS, 8pm). Oh-oh.

Series premiere of Trauma (NBC, 8pm). This new show follows first responders in San Francisco. I was underwhelmed, to say the least. The accident scenes are dramatic and surely cost a lot to produce, but the medical drama bits are nothing special. Tim Goodman has a full review. Check out the official website for more details.

New Intervention (A&E, 8pm and midnight).

New Jon & Kate Plus 8 (TLC, 8pm and 11pm).

Bacon is featured on a new Unwrapped (Food Network, 8pm and 11pm).

Things are a bit awkward between Leonard and Penny; meanwhile Sheldon and Howard place a big bet on The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8:30pm). Lewis Black guest stars as an entymologist.

Castle makes a wager with Ryan and Esposito as to who can solve a murder first on Castle (ABC, 9:01pm). Arye Gross guest stars.

The lab is under attack and Horatio must honor a “unique request” to save hostages on CSI: Miami (CBS, 9pm). What is up with having the labs attacked on the CSI shows? Puhlease. Sharif Atkins and Rick Hoffman are among the guest stars.

Bill Maher, Brad Paisley & Sheryl Crow on The Jay Leno Show (NBC, 9pm).

New Baseball Tonight (ESPN2, 9pm).

New Eddie Griffin: Going for Broke (VH1, 9pm and 10:30pm).

New The Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo, 9pm, 10pm).

Season finale of Hoarders (A&E, 9pm and 1am).

New Animal Cops: Houston (Animal Planet, 9pm, midnight, 4am).

Late Night

Bruce Bueno De Mesquita on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).

Sheryl WuDunn on The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 10:30pm and 12:30am).

Felicity Huffman, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Avett Brothers, Brody Jenner on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Drew Barrymore, jockey Joe Talamo, Paramore on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 10:35pm).

Chris O’Donnell (of NCIS: Los Angeles), Paula Poundstone on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

David Duchovny (of Californication, The X-Files), Kimbo Slice, Dirty Projectors on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:37pm).

Jesse Metcalfe, Caleb Aero, Metric on a rerun of Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).

Courteney Cox, Jessica Capshaw, Ashley Hamilton on a rerun of Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, check your local listings).