News & Notes
On cable tonight, Cooking Channel has the series premiere of The Big Cheese, Food Network has the first season finale of Sweet Genius, HBO has the premiere of the Marathon Boy documentary, Lifetime has a Project Runway special, and USA Network has the fifth fall season premiere of Burn Notice.
Prime Picks
The Vampire Diaries (The CW): New. Alaric attempts to decipher the writing on the wall. Rebekah lets go of some details about her past. An unlikely ally surprises Damon and Stefan.
Person of Interest (CBS): New. A schoolteacher that witnessed a mob hit is in need of protection.
Burn Notice (USA Network): Fall Premiere. Michael gets sent on a mission by the one guy left that burned him to retrieve a software virus that can secretly erase someone’s name from a computer database. Sam, Jesse and Madeline run an op to find out how much the cops have on the explosion that Fiona is being framed for setting. Plays again later. A 16-episode marathon plays leading up to tonight’s new episode. I very much enjoyed this episode and the mess that they have put Michael and the gang in. It’s the best of the big bads that the gang has had to deal with. Although, once they overcome this one, I’m not sure where they can go on the turn things up a notch in the next season, but I’m on board to find out.
Solid Selections
Community (NBC): New. Pierce’s plan to put on a big party to celebrate a new product is messed up by his father.
Parks & Recreation (NBC): New. A local group is predicting the end of the world, which has Pawnee residents thinking about their lives.
The Secret Circle (The CW): New. Cassie is worried about her grandmother, so she and the rest of the gang head up to the cabin to check on her.
The Mentalist (CBS): New. Jane deals with a blogger that has been devoted to catching a serial killer for the last couple years. Simon Baker directed this episode, which guest stars David Paymer (City Slicker) and William Mopother (Lost). This is a very good episode with a fantastic conclusion. While I didn’t particularly care for the Red John is still out there storyline, as it made last season’s finale feel cheep, I let it slide if we get episodes like this and the next time isn’t lame extender to this ongoing storyline.
Other Options
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS): New. Amy is really disappointed to find out that Bernadette and Penny went shopping for wedding dresses without her. Runs 31 minutes.
- Bones (FOX): New. A woman’s remains are found on a paintball field. Booth and Bones are trying to adjust to being an expectant couple. The episode is good, but the way the two of them have been put together just doesn’t work for me. Sadly, outside factors feel like they forced this outcome that was then retrofit into the story in last season’s finale. Long-term fans that have wanted this for so long will probably enjoy it, but I think it is too little too late on that front. I will continue to watch and hope that as the season progresses that the feeling will dissipate. What do you think about the way they were put together?
- Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): New. George’s mother comes to Seattle Grace after a surgery is botched at another hospital. Runs 62 minutes.
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX): New. The gang is stalking people by using the Internet. Runs 31 minutes. Plays again later two times.
- The Office (NBC): New. Dwight puts in a device at the office that will get everyone fired if they make too many errors.
- Prime Suspect (NBC): New. Jane and Duffy are investigating a case together and she doesn’t care for his comments about Costello.
- Private Practice (ABC): New. Amelia spins even further out of control. Addison is one step closer to motherhood. Starts two minutes after the hour and runs 58 minutes.
- Rules of Engagement (CBS): New. Jeff is a little too happy that Audrey can’t speak while she heals from throat surgery. Starts a minute after the half hour and runs 29 minutes.
Sports Notes
- ESPN has Thursday Night College Football with Florida State at Boston College.
- ESPN2 has doubleheader MLS Playoffs coverage.
Last Night
- Covert Affairs (USA Network): Repeat. This past Tuesday’s second fall season finale episode, “The Wake-Up Bomb,” replays.
TV Marathons
Bravo has eight episodes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Discovery Channel has 10 episodes of I Escaped: Real Prison Breaks.
Spike TV has 12 episodes of Jail.
Syfy has eight episodes of The Twilight Zone early.
TNT has six episodes of CSI: NY tonight.
USA Network has 17 episodes of Burn Notice.
