News & Notes

Tonight, PBS has the ninth season premiere of The This Old House Hour.

Over on cable, Animal Planet has a Texas Rodeo Tykes, Bravo has the first season finale of The Real Housewives of D.C., and TLC has series premiere of Kick Off Cook Off.

In late night, Syfy has the second season finale WCG Ultimate Gamer.

Prime Picks

The Vampire Diaries (The CW): New. Tyler finds out more about his family’s curse. Stefan and Damon disagree about what to do about Mason. The Sheriff learns some shocking news.

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): New. Derek’s sister shows up for a visit. Meredith and Derek are trying to help get Cristina back into surgery. Run 61 minutes. Last week’s episode, “Shock to the System,” replays right before.

The Mentalist (CBS): New. Patrick Jane gets some info on Red John and the missing psychic Kristina Frye.

Solid Selections

Community (NBC): New. The group tries to help Pierce after the death of his mother. Professor Duncan wants to takeover the anthropology class.
30 Rock (NBC): New. Jack goes before Congress to testify about the KableTown merger. Tracy is enlisted to come up with some new show ideas.

Fringe (FOX): New. Secretary Bishop lets Col. Broyles in on his plan. Olivia is having visions.

Private Practice (ABC): New. The man that almost killed Maya and is responsible for Dell’s death comes to the clinic with a heart condition. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes.

Other Options

• Good Eats (Food Network): New. Alton show you how to do some tempura deep frying. A repeat episode plays right before. Both play again later.
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS): New. Everyone becomes concerned when Sheldon starts looking for an alternative to human companionship. Runs 31 minutes.
• Bones (FOX): New. Bones and Booth head to the Jersey Shore after some decomposing remains are found. The team all like Booth’s new girlfriend.
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS): New. A murder happens at a vampire and werewolves convention.
• Nikita (The CW): New. Some of Division’s secrets are at risk when an operative escapes during a bank robbery.
• The Office (NBC): New. Andy invites the office to come see a play that he is in. Jim and Pam are having trouble with their baby sitter.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has Thursday Night College Football action with Nebraska at Kansas State.
• TBS has tripleheader MLB Playoffs action with the Texas Rangers at the Tampa Bay Rays followed by New York Yankees at the Minnesota Twins and then the Atlanta Braves at the San Francisco Giants.

Late Night

• Mad Men (AMC): Repeat. This past Sunday’s episode, “Chinese Wall,” replays.
• Terriers (FX): Repeat. Last night’s episode, “Manifest Destiny,” replays.

TV Marathons

History has six episodes of Modern Marvels that play twice.
USA has eight episodes of House followed by eight episodes of NCIS.