What to Watch Tonight: Human Target & Merlin

News & Notes

On cable tonight, Animal Planet has the first winter season premiere of Confessions: Animal Hoarding, BBC America has the second season premiere of Law & Order: UK, Discovery Channel has the series premiere of Flying Wild Alaska, HBO has the second season premiere of The Ricky Gervais Show and the ninth season premiere of Real Time With Bill Maher, Planet Green has the second season premiere of Conviction Kitchen, Syfy has the third season premiere of Merlin, and VH1 has the 16th Annual Critcs’ Choice Movie Awards.

In late night, Comedy Central has a Comedy Central Presents: Best of 2011 special and HBO has the second season premiere of Funny or Die Presents.

If you’ve been wondering why no Blue Bloods the last couple Fridays, well it’s moving to Wednesday nights as of next week, January 19th. After a few weeks there, it’s then scheduled to return to its Friday night timeslot as of February 11th.

Prime Picks

Human Target (FOX): New. These are the two episodes that were originally scheduled to play on Wednesday, but were preempted due to coverage of the President’s speech at the Tucson memorial. In the first, Chance and Ilsa are attempting to protect her sister-in-law when a hostage situation happens at the opera. In the second, Guerrero gets framed for the murder of a friend. Also of note, FOX has pushed the next new episode to Monday, January 31st, as they have decided to extend American Idol to two hours on Wednesday, January 26th. The final two episodes of the season are presently scheduled to play on Wednesday, February 2nd and 9th following Idol.

Merlin (Syfy): New. Merlin has been poisoned and Morgana and Morgause keep moving forward with their plan. Plays again later.

Solid Selections

Medium (CBS): New. Man comes to Allison hoping for help after his wife goes missing. Allison and Joe are starting to really worry about Marie after she has a breakdown during a test. The series finale is next week.

CSI: NY (CBS): New. Mac gets into it with the Barcelona crime lab head during an investigation into the death of a Spanish nightclub’s promoter.

Glory Daze (TBS): Repeat. This past Tuesday’s episode, “Hit Me With Your Test Shot,” replays. It starts at the half hour, after an episode of The Office.

Other Option

• Law & Order: UK (BBC America): Season Premiere. The officers and the legal team are both struck by the sight of boy about to be killed. Last week’s first season finale episode, “Honour Bound,” replays right after.

Sports Note

• ESPN has doubleheader NBA action with the Dallas Mavericks at the San Antonio Spurs followed by the Portland Trail Blazers at the Phoenix Suns.

TV Marathons

A&E has eight episodes of Criminal Minds.
Bravo has 11 episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
Spike TV has five episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Syfy has 10 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation followed by Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
USA has 24 hours of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

What looks good to you tonight? I’ll be watching Human Target.