Tonight on the Tube: Chuck, Life Unexpected & Castle

News & Notes

Tonight, The CW has the series premiere of Life Unexpected.

Over on cable, History has the series premiere of American Pickers, MTV has the series premieres of The Buried Life and My Life as Liz, Sundance has the series premiere of Be Good Johnny Weir, TLC has the sixth season finale of Little People, Big World, and USA has a Tom Brokaw Presents: American Character Along Highway 50 special.

Shows set to return with new episodes or premiere new seasons next Monday are Greek on ABC Family, Damages on FX, and Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Tracy Ullman’s State of the Union on Showtime.

Prime Picks

Chuck (NBC): New. Awesome has been taken and mistaken for a spy, so Chuck has to become his handler to get him through a real spy mission. Morgan takes Big Mike up on his offer to be assistant manager, which doesn’t sit well with Lester and the rest of the employees at the Buy More. Another great episode, where we meet the once mentioned Shaw. This episode sets us on what will be the beginnings of the overall story arc going forward this season. Next week’s episode really brings it into focus. Angie Harmon (Women’s Murder Club) guest stars, but is not really used as much as you might think she would. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) also guest stars.

Life Unexpected (The CW): Series Premiere. A 15 year old girl that has been bouncing around the foster care systems since she was born decides she wants to become an emancipated minor. So, she seeks out her biological parents to sign the documents to make that happen. Lots of great stuff happens after that. I don’t say this often, but I love this show. It may be because it reminds me of the great shows The WB had to offer not that long ago, like Gilmore Girls and Everwood. The cast is great. Kristoffer Polaha (Valentince, North Shore) is perfect in a role that he has pretty much been practicing for in many of his previous acting gigs. @ShiriAppleby (ER, Roswell) as the mother that gave up her baby 15 years ago is great as well. Kerr Smith (Dawson’s Creek) plays her radio show partner and boyfriend. Brittany Robertson (Swingtown) is absolutely fantastic as the daughter. The whole cast just works really well together right from the start. This first episode is expertly arced by creator and writer @LizTigelaar. This actually worried me a bit, in a where do they go from here kind of way, but after seeing the second episode I was no longer worried. If you’re looking for a family drama that you can actually watch with the whole family, then look no further. Yet, it’s not just a drama, it has some very funny moments as well.

Castle (ABC): New. Beckett and Castle are investigating the murder of an Irish mobster, but as they dig deeper the case turns personal for Beckett.

Solid Selections

24 (FOX): New. Jack ends up even deeper in trying to stop the assassination plot. Problems arise at CTU. Renee Walker and Jack are reunited. Runs two hours. Really liked last night’s two hours. Think they’ve done a really good job with the casting for the new season, even Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food Network): New. Guy checks out some places where you can get “Stacked, Stuffed and Loaded.” A repeat episode follows. Both play again later.

Other Options

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS): New. Leonard and Sheldon get robbed and setout to create a security system to protect their apartment from further break-ins. Starts a minute after the half hour and runs 29 minutes.
• CSI: Miami (CBS): New. The CSIs are investigating a man found chopped in half.
• How I Met Your Mother (CBS): New. Marshall is trying to convince Lily that an attractive woman at work kissed him. Guest stars Amanda Peet (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip).
• Make It or Break It (ABC Family): New. Kaylie and the some of the team take a trip to California. Payson goes to a specialist about her back injury. Plays again later.
• One Tree Hill (The CW): New. Julian and Brook are trying to work things out. Quinn and Clay are trying to figure out the future.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS): New. Charlie schedules a colonoscopy in an attempt not to go visit Chelsea’s parents, but returns to find them at his house. Runs 31 minutes.
• Unwrapped (Food Network): New. Get a look at some of your favorite “Black and White” delights. A repeat episode follows. Both play again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has doubleheader college basketball action.
• ESPN2 has women’s college basketball action.
• TNT has tripleheader NBA action with the Phoenix Suns at the Memphis Grizzlies, the Dallas Mavericks at the Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic at the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Versus has NHL action.

TV Marathons

A&E has five episodes of Intervention.
Bravo has eight episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Discovery Channel has 13 episodes of MythBusters.
MTV has six episodes of Teen Mom.
Oxygen has 10 episodes of Living Single.
Spike is playing Star Wars Episode I-III twice.
Syfy has 11 episodes of Invaders.
TLC has 30 episodes of Little People, Big World.
Travel Channel has 12 episodes of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
truTV has 10 episodes of Ocean Forcer.
USA has 10 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit early.
WE has five episodes of Amazing Wedding Cakes early and 14 episodes of The Golden Girls later on.