Tonight on the Tube: House, Chuck 3-D, Big Bang, The Closer & 24

News & Notes

Tonight, NBC has the second season winter premiere of Chuck, the third season winter premiere of Heroes and the fifth season premiere of Medium.

Over on cable, BBC America has a Top Gear special, Lifetime has the first season finale of DietTribe, MTV has the first season premiere of Bromance, and VH1 has a second season premiere of I Love Money and the series premiere of For the Love of Ray J.

Interview note: I will be on a conference call, around 11:00 a.m. PT, with Ashley Newbrough, who plays Sage on Privileged. So, if you have any questions for her or about the show, leave them in the comments or use the contact form to email them. Also, you can always send them via Twitter.

This is a jammed packed night, as everything is new on the networks and there is plenty of worthy cable options as well. How will the return of Chuck and the rest of the NBC lineup do against a full night of competition? Which of NBC’s three shows will have the highest ratings? What will you be watching?

Prime Picks

House (FOX): New. The show’s 100th episode has the team questioning the choices they have made in their lives when they take on the case of a former cancer researcher that left her career to pursue her own happiness. Also, Thirteen has an adverse reaction to the experimental treatment now that she’s not on the placebo.

24 (FOX): New. Dubaku is looking to use the CIP device again. Jack and Tony continue to follow their only lead to finding Dubaku and the device.

Medium (NBC): Season Premiere. Allison is trying to help Davalos, but her dreams keep pointing her in a direction that doesn’t make any sense.

Solid Selections

Chuck (NBC): Winter Premiere. It’s “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension” or otherwise what should’ve been the show to air in the post Super Bowl slot. Dominic Monaghan (Lost) guest stars as a rock star doing a autograph session at the Buy More. Chuck saves him from a plot and also gets into some trouble with him while out on the town. The episode is in 3-D, so hopefully you still have your glasses from yesterday’s Super Bowl. Although, the stuff they showed from this episode and the other 3-D offerings at half time were not all that good.

Heroes (NBC): Winter Premiere. Matt and Daphne are trying to be a normal couple. Hiro is trying to train Ando to be a real hero. Claire learns of Nathan’s plan to round up those with special abilities.

CSI: Miami (CBS): New. Ryan and Calleigh’s lives are in danger and Alexx comes back to help with the case.

Cable Choices

The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family): New. Amy and Ricky are discussing the adoption idea. Adrian lets Grace know she can date Ricky again. Man, is Adrian not one of the most screwed up characters on TV? Plays again later twice.

The Closer (TNT): New. Will Brenda and Fritz finally walk down the aisle? Find out tonight. Plays again later.

Trust Me (TNT): New. Liked last week’s premiere even though it wasn’t great, but this episode looks to bring more of the mix of comedy and drama that we should expect from the show. They accidentally pitch a tag line that belongs to someone else and work to remedy the situation. Liked this episode better than the premiere, as I think it shows that it does have potential. Plays again later.

Other Options

• Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel): New. Tony visits the “Chicago.” Plays twice and again later.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS): New. Sheldon offers to help Penny when she runs into some financial difficulties. So, this should be a good episode, cause Penny and Sheldon storylines have been comedy gold this season.
• Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food Network): New. Guy checks out some places in his “Return to Route 66.” A repeat episode, “Route 66,” follows. Both play again later.
• Good Eats (Food Network): New. Alton makes some tasty dishes with oranges. Plays again later.
• Gossip Girl (The CW): New. Blair goes all out to destroy a teacher. Chuck has a night that he can’t remember.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS): New. Barney offers to help Robin film a video resume, so she can find a job before she gets deported.
• Kyle XY (ABC Family): New. Declan and Josh takes Kyle out to take his mind off his breakup with Amanda, but things get out of hand. Plays again late night tomorrow. Unfortunately, this will be the last season of the show, as ABC Family has decided not to renew it for a fourth season.
• One Tree Hill (The CW): New. Lucas is now having trouble casting the film. Peyton is starting to plan their wedding. Nathan gets some big news, while Haley has to make a tough choice.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS): New. Melissa asks Alan to move in with her and her mother, cause she thinks he isn’t appreciated by his family.
• Will Work for Food (Food Network): New. Adam tries his hand at being a 19th century cook. Plays again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has doubleheader college basketball action with Connecticut at Louisville followed by Kansas at Baylor.
• ESPN2 has women’s college basketball action with Tennessee at Oklahoma with I believe Pat Summit going for her 1000th career coaching victory.
• NBA TV has the Portland Trail Blazers at the New Orleans Hornets.
• Versus has NHL action.

Late Night

• Burn Notice (USA): Repeat. Last Thursday’s episode, “Hot Spot,” replays.
• Monk (USA): Repeat. Last Friday’s episode, “Mr. Monk Makes the Playoffs,” replays.

TV Marathons

Oxygen has 12 episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
Sci Fi has eight episodes of Doctor Who.
Spike has 10 hours of CSI: NY episodes.
Travel Channel has eight episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.