Blogs

newsobserver.com blogs

What to Watch on Thursday: New NBC comedies, 'Touch' begins on Fox

Community (8pm, NBC) - Jeff is debilitated by his narcissism, which skyrockets when his confidence is boosted by anti-anxiety drugs and regular visits to a shrink. Also, the gang try to help Abed pay of his debt from a celebrity-impersonator habit. Also tonight, two new episodes of "30 Rock" (the 9:30 ep has Weird Al Yankovich) and a new "Up All Night" featuring Henry Winkler as Ava's dad.

Missing (8pm, ABC) - In the second episode of Ashley Judd's "special gift to America" (her own description of this series from a "Live with Kelly" interview), Becca makes a deal with the head of French Intelligence while searching for her missing son. Believe it or not, I'm still not a fan of this show even after Judd called me a "brat" on Twitter. 

Touch (9pm, Fox) - Fox previewed this episode of the new Keifer Sutherland (left) drama back in January, but it starts for real tonight. Possibly the same episode from the preview but record it anyway, just in case.

Project Runway All Stars (9pm, Lifetime) - A winner is picked in the season finale, and Tommy Hilfiger appears as a guest judge.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - A purported suicide during a high-end yacht party leads Michael to an encounter with Rex's ex-babysitter, Kate. In his other realm, Michael happens upon Kate again, but this time she appears as a suspect.

Archer (10pm, FX) - In the conclusion of the Season 3 finale, Archer and his ISIS colleagues travel to the final frontier to prevent a catastrophe aboard the International Space Station.

What to Watch on Thursday: 'Community' returns, 'Missing' debuts

Missing (8pm, ABC) - Becca Winstone, played by Ashley Judd, is a former CIA operative who searches for her son when he disappears while studying abroad in Italy. I wish this was better than it is. I really do. Here's my review.

Community (8pm, NBC) - It's back! Andre (Malcolm Jamal Warner) and Shirley plan to remarry, throwing Annie and Britta into wedding-planning mode. Meanwhile, Jeff prepares a wedding speech and Troy and Abed practice acting normal. All NBC comedies are new tonight.

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Damon recalls murders from 1912 that are eerily similar to a present-day crime spree. Meanwhile, Elena and Matt try to prove that Dr. Fell is a killer.

Project Runway All-Stars (9pm, Lifetime) - In part one of the two-part season finale, the final three designers race against time to spin out their signature lines for a red carpet VIP show.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - Michael's parallel realities begin spinning into chaos when his son is kidnapped by an on-the-lam convict who has a connection to Michael's past. In his other dimension, Michael searches for a missing teenage boy. Developments in both worlds cause others to doubt his sanity.

Archer (10pm, FX) - In part one of the Season 3 finale, Archer and his ISIS colleagues boldly go to the final frontier to prevent a catastrophe aboard the International Space Station.

Jersey Shore (10pm, MTV) - In the Season 5 finale, Mike starts a rumor about Denna's sister and Pauly and Vinny pull another prank on the roommates.

What to Watch on Thursday: ACC Tournament interrupts CBS programs

ACC Tournament: First Round (WRAL/ESPNU) - Games begin at noon and continue through tonight. At noon we have Maryland vs. Wake Forest and at 2:30 it's N.C. State vs. Boston College.  Regular CBS programming will either air at the regularly scheduled time on WRAL2 or overnight on WRAL. Go here for a breakdown of the logistics of catching all these shows (daytime and primetime) either on TV or online.  The Thursday night shows you'll want to plan for are two new episodes of "Big Bang Theory," "Person of Interest," and "The Mentalist."

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - Eliminations begin tonight. New this season: a version of Garner's Scotty McCreery singing Tim McGraw's "Please Remember Me" will be played each week when a contestant is voted off. Scotty, the winner of last year's "Idol" contest, will most likely return to the show in person at some point this season.

30 Rock (8pm, NBC) - All new comedies on NBC tonight, starting with "30 Rock." Kenneth's new job pits him against Liz while Jack squares off against his teen nemesis, the sly Kaylie Hooper.

Saving Face (8:30pm, HBO) - This Academy Award-winner for Best Documentary Short debuts tonight on HBO. Read more about it here.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - As he continues to navigate his two versions of reality, Michael investigates the murder of a homeless person, with a mysterious man with short stature soon materializing as a suspect. Meanwhile, the accident that shattered Michael's life comes into clearer focus.

Archer (10pm, FX) - Archer's dead financee, Katya, miraculously reappears -- in Krieger's lab.

What to Watch on Thursday: Stay for 'Awake' after 'Up All Night' on NBC

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - Finalists are revealed and judges add their wild-card choices to the final group.

Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards (9pm, ABC) - If you went to bed before midnight on Sunday and missed this, here's a second chance. Guests: Oprah, Billy Crystal, Coldplay, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and others.

Up All Night (9:30pm, NBC) - A new boss takes the reins of Ava's show after it's acquired by Ava and Reagan's idol. Elsewhere, Chris and Reed try to restore an old motorcycle.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - A new drama about a detective who awakens after his family's car accident to discover he's alternately living in two parallel worlds. In one world, his wife survived the crash and his son died. In the other, his son is alive but his wife is dead. Which life is real? Or maybe it's neither? Who knows! This pilot is really good. Here's my "Awake" review.

Mudcats (10pm, History) - Sorry, no. This is not about the Zebulon baseball team. It's a reality show that chronicles catfish-catching crews battling for fishing territory against hundreds of amateur contestants on the lakes and rivers of Oklahoma.

Archer (10pm, FX) - Archer's sexcapades compromise his effectiveness as an agent (again) and this time, it's really serious.

FYI: ABC and CBS (except for "Rob") are all repeats tonight.

What to Watch on Thursday: Creedmoor kid chases his 'Racing Dreams'

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The judges reveal the remaining semifinalists. Several folks from NC are in the race right now.

Parks and Recreation (8:30pm, NBC) - Everyone forgets Jerry's birthday. To make up for it, Leslie throws him a post-birthday party at a special location. Meanwhile, Tom is surprised to learn that he and Ann have very different tastes in music.

Racing Dreams (10pm, UNC-TV) - A wonderful POV documentary that chronicles the experiences of three kids competing for the World Karting Association national title. Two of the kids are from North Carolina, including Brandon Warren (left). I don't even like racing and I loved this documentary. Read my full review of "Racing Dreams."

Private Practice (10pm, ABC) - Sam tries to care for his sister but her mental instability makes it very difficult. Also, Sheldon learns that Amelia has life-changing news, Cooper rejects Charlotte's suggestion to seek help with Erica's care, and Addison and Jake keep flirting.

Archer (10pm, FX) - Ray's younger brother is in trouble with a crooked sheriff in the West Virginia backwoods, and Archer must come to the rescue.

What to Watch on Thursday: Louis C.K. returns to 'Parks and Recreation'

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Elena learns about a startling indiscretion by Damon, while Bonnie and Abby take part in a ritual to appease the spirits of nature.

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - A performance round is held in Las Vegas.

Parks and Recreation (8:30pm, NBC) - Leslie and Ben have an awkward run-in with Leslie's old flame Dave (Louis C.K., left with Amy Poehler), and Andy writes a theme song for Leslie's campaign. Does this mean Mouse Rat may get back together???

NCSU at Duke (9pm, WRAL) - N.C. State plays at Duke. You can find normally scheduled CBS shows airing on WRAL after 1:30 am.

Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Interview (9pm, OWN) - Oprah Winfrey's 2009 interview with Whitney Houston, who discusses her personal life, including her marriage to Bobby Brown.

Private Practice (10pm, ABC) - Cooper and Charlotte take Erica to Seattle Grace to meet with Derek, Lexie and Amelia about Erica's risky surgery.

Archer (10pm, FX) - Malory turns to Archer and Lana for help when she finds herself in a compromising situation with the Italian prime minister.

What to Watch on Thursday: FX animation and Grammer returns to '30 Rock'

30 Rock (8pm, NBC) - Liz is forced to do damage control when a crude rant by Tracy leaks on the Internet. Also, Kenneth and Jenna once again enlist Kelsey Grammer (playing himself) to help with a problem.

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Bonnie is reunited with her estranged mother, and Klaus negotiates with Stefan to control the coffins of his family members.

Parks & Recreation (8:30pm, NBC) - Leslie and Ben clash while working on her first campaign ad. Elsewhere, Chris tries to befriend Ron, making Ron very uncomfortable. Paul Rudd guest stars as the candidate challenging Leslie.

The Mentalist (10pm, CBS) - Jane investigates the death of a mob boss's son, and Van Pelt is haunted by memories of O'Laughlin's shooting. NOTE: This follows the Boston College vs. NCSU basketball game on WRAL. If the game goes over, "The Mentalist" will be joined in progress. This also means CBS's 8 p.m. through 10 p.m. shows ("Big Bang Theory," "Rob" and "Person of Interest") will be preempted. Here's the basic rule of thumb for finding your shows whenever this happens with WRAL programming.

American Stuffers (10pm, Animal Planet) - This bizarre series follows a family of taxidermists in Romance, Arkansas. Tonight, a job to preserve a Chihuahua comes with a thinly veiled threat from the deceased dog's owner, who may or may not be joking.

Archer (10pm, FX) - In the Season 3 premiere, Sterling is upset when he learns that Mallory is dating his hero (and man-crush) Burt Reynolds, who provides his own voice. He's more upset about that than he is about the fact that a Cuban hit squad is out to get him.

Unsupervised (10:30pm, FX) - A new animated comedy about two teen best friends with no parental supervision. In tonight's premiere, Gary and Joel want to hook up with girls but realize that they're considered just kids, so they set out to change their image.

What to Watch on Thursday: New stuff from CW and FX

Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - The third season begins with Elena and Damon searching for Stefan, who is with Klaus tracking a werewolf. Meanwhile, Caroline plans a party for Elena's 18th birthday, and Jeremy sees the ghosts of his late sister and his former girlfriend.

The Secret Circle (9pm, CW) - In this series premiere, teen Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson) moves to a new town, where she learns she is a witch and meets a circle of friends who inform her they are also witches. Adrienne's thoughts on this one, which is from New Bern native Kevin Williamson ("Vampire Diaries").

Project Runway (9pm, Lifetime) - The contestants are introduced to nine men on the runway, and then discover they must design for the men's significant others. Actress Malin Akerman is the guest judge.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10pm, FX) - In the Season 7 premiere, Frank wants to marry a prostitute and the gang can't talk him out of it. While Dee tries to burnish the  hooker's heart of gold, Charlie tries distracting Frank by fixing him up with another woman. Also, Mac has put on a lot of weight.

Archer (10:30pm, FX) - Tonight is part one of a three part episode episode arc leading up to the show's official third series launch in early 2012. Tonight, Archer, in hiding since the murder of his fiancee, is finally tracked down in the South Pacific by handsome adventurer Rip Riley. To get Archer safely back to ISIS, Riley will have to survive the elements, a plane crash, a shark attack, starvation, drowning, exposure, and possibly pirates. And of course, Archer.

What to Watch on Thursday: 'Community' trips down memory lane

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - Someone is cut loose. Season 7 winner David Cook (who?) and Katy Perry perform.

Community (8pm, NBC) - The group reminisce about fun times in a series of flashbacks, including a trip to a ghost town and a glee club performance. NOTE: All of the NBC comedies are new tonight. The good news: no 'Outsourced.' The bad news: 'The Paul Reiser Show' is on and it's even worse. Everything else is solid. Will Ferrell is back on 'The Office' and his first big task is emceeing the Dundies. On 'Parks & Recreation,' Leslie joins an internet dating site and gets matched with someone she already knows. And in a one-hour episode of '30 Rock,' NBC execs mark 'TGS' for cancelation.

Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Elena makes a new ally in her effort to outwit Klaus, but her actions make Stefan and Damon furious. Also, a flashback  to 1491 reveals the origins of the moonstone curse and Katherine's introduction to Elijah and Klaus.

Royal Wedding of a Lifetime (8pm, Lifetime) - Three straight hours of royal wedding minutiae. The three back-to-back shows examine similarities between Kate Middleton and Princess Diana, Kate's dress options, and wedding cakes.

Bones (9pm, Fox) - Booth calls on Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults), a fellow soldier with a bloodhound's tracking skills, for help with a case involving a 17th-century treasure map and the remains of a maritime museum security guard found in the Florida Everglades.

Archer (10pm, FX) - In the Season 2 finale, Krieger works to finish a top secret project and Archer brings a mysterious former KGB agent home to meet Malory.

What to Watch on Thursday: Can the Harvest Festival save 'Parks & Rec?'

Community (8pm, NBC) - After a few weeks of reruns, new NBC sitcoms are back tonight (except for 'The Office,' which is still a repeat). On 'Community,' Annie plans a baby shower for Shirley, who is desperate to keep Senor Chang at a distance. Elsewhere, a new guy in Britta's life offers a glimpse into his dark past through his poetry. Also noteworthy, 'Parks & Recreation' (9:30pm). The fate of the Parks Department rests on the success of the Harvest Festival (depicted at left), which is plagued by last minute problems, including a Wamapoke tribal leader who threatens to put a curse on the event. Also, Susan Sarandon shows up on '30 Rock.'

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - One singer is eliminated. The Black Eyed Peas and former Idol Lee DeWyze perform.

Destination Truth: Live from Ireland - Search for the Banshee Ghost (8pm, Syfy) - Josh and the team go to Ireland's Duckett's Grove Castle in search of a banshee, a supernatural being said to wail within a dwelling before someone inside is going to die.

Kathy Griffin: 50 and Not Pregnant (9pm, Bravo) - Comedian Kathy Griffin bashes celebs in a Milwaukee stand-up show.

Fairly Legal (10pm, USA) - Kate's engaged friend arranges for a prenup, but the woman's father remains suspicious of her finance. Kate decides to investigate and uncovers something surprising.

Archer (10pm, FX) - Sterling has breast cancer. But before his surgery, he tries to bond with young Seamus, even though he isn't actually the baby's father. Also on his bucket list: a Vegas vacation.

Cars View All
Find a Car
Go
Jobs View All
Find a Job
Go
Homes View All
Find a Home
Go

Want to post a comment?

In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. Click here to register or to log in.
Advertisements