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What to Watch on Wednesday: Billy Graham's influence on "God in America"

God in America (9pm, UNC-TV) - The final installment of a three part series on the mixing of religion and politics in our nation. Tonight recalls the post-World War II era when evangelist Billy Graham (left) led a religious revival that wedded faith with patriotism. Also, the Supreme Court's decision on religious expression in public schools and the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Claire and Mitchell vow to be honest with each other's mates, respectively, about Cameron's attire and Phil's speech at an upcoming banquet.

Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - Jules learns about Grayson's fling with Laurie, but is more confused than angry. And Travis gets romantic advice from Andy.

Law & Order: Los Angeles (10pm, NBC) - A pro surfer is murdered after he returns home to care for his ailing mother, but the detectives think there's more to the case than a robbery gone wrong.

Terriers (10pm, FX) - Hank and Britt go on a wild goose chase through Ocean Beach's more colorful neighborhoods in search of an antique engagement ring.

What's Eating You? (10pm, E!) - A six-part series on eating disorders. Tonight, a dancer battles anorexia and a woman tries to suppress her bulemic tendancies.

Storm Chasers (10pm, Discovery) - The fourth season opens with Sean and his crew facing down a twister in west Texas.

Harry Loves Lisa (10pm, TV Land) - Harry Hamlin and his wife Lisa Rinna visit a couples counselor for tips on rekindling their marriage, and the counselor suggests they explore each other's interests. Harry winds up at a psychic and Lisa has to go camping.

What to Watch on Wednesday: ABC comedies are stars of another big premiere night

Undercovers (8pm, NBC) - The debut of a new show about married former spies (Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who reenter the world of espionage. Gerald McRaney stars as their handler. Here's our review.

The Middle (8pm, ABC) - In the Season 2 premiere, the show's star Patricia Heaton faces down her former "Everybody Loves Raymond" mother-in-law Doris Roberts, who guest stars as Brick's overprotective new teacher.

Hell's Kitchen (8pm, Fox) - Season 8 opens with 16 alleged chefs who mostly appear to be crazy and who mostly do not appear to know how to cook. Here's more on this season's crazies.

Better With You (8:30pm, ABC) - A new sitcom about three couples from one family, all at different stages in their relationship. We review it here.

Law & Order: SVU (9pm, NBC) - In a special 2-hour 12th-season opener, a 10-year-old girl runs away and is found with a man (Henry Ian Cusick from "Lost") who denies any wrongdoing. Joan Cusack and Peter Strauss (left) also star.

Criminal Minds (9pm, CBS) - The sixth season opens with the team still trying to find the serial killer who is terrorizing Los Angeles and who now has detective Spicer's daugther as his hostage.

Keep reading for many more premieres, including scoop on Jennifer Aniston's guest role on "Cougar Town."

What to Watch on Wednesday: Lots of finales, a promising debut, and Betty White

Good Guys (8pm, Fox) - This is the premiere episode of a new show from Matt Nix, the creator of "Burn Notice," starring Bradley Whitford (Josh on "West Wing") and Colin Hanks ("Mad Men," son of Tom) as two mismatched Dallas cops. Whitford's character, Dan Stark, is stuck in the 1980s and resists the more modern crime fighting techniques his partner Jack Bailey pushes. Because of Stark's attitude, and because Bailey corrected a superior's grammar, the duo is relegated to working small cases, such as tonight's Case of the Stolen Humidifier. It's funny and has lots of action. Sounds like a winner.

I Get That A Lot (8pm, CBS) - Celebrities take on ordinary jobs to trick us unsuspecting regular folk. Tonight, Tim Gunn runs the counter at a fast food joint, Martha Stewart works in a craft shop, Wynona Judd poses as a tire store clerk, and Nick Jonas vexes teens in a clothing store.

The Middle (8:30pm, ABC) - The hottest actor in Hollywood guest stars tonight in this sitcom's first season finale. Betty White plays a librarian who threatens to hold Brick back in the 3rd grade because of 31 overdue library books (as well she should!).

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - In this season finale, Claire tries to organize a family portrait, Jay helps Luke with a school project, and Cameron gets a job as a wedding singer (pure genius!).

Keep reading for more finales, plus a Justin Bieber appearance...

What to Watch on Wednesday: Harry Connick Jr & Lady Gaga on "Idol"

American Idol (9pm, Fox) - Harry Connick Jr (left) and Lady Gaga perform (hopefully not together), and someone goes home.
 
Criminal Minds (9pm, CBS) - A serial killer commits suicide but leaves behind clues indicating one of his victims may still be alive somewhere. NFL player Greg Jennings stars as an evidence technician.
 
Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Gloria surprises Jay with a trip to Hawaii for his birthday, and the entire family is coming along.
 
Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - Jules and Grayson did the deed last week, but that may not mean they're ready for a relationship. Tonight they ponder being "friends with benefits."

Top Chef Masters (10pm, Bravo) - The champions round begins with the master chefs catering a wedding from mobile kitchens.
 
Sunset Daze (10pm, WeTV) - Three words that will either have you tuning in or scrubbing your scorched ears: Pole-dancing grannies.  

BET gets back into "The Game"

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with someone about BET's mulitple programming missteps.

But here are two bit of news that show the network may finally be figuring it out.

The Hollywood Reporter says that BET is close to finalizing a deal to produce new episodes of "The Game," the CW series that was cancelled after that network decided to focus on hour-long dramas. The word has been out there for a while, with cast members like Wendy Raquel Robinson, openly talking about the possibility, but now, THR says, BET is set to announce the deal later this month.

What to Watch on Wednesday: Boomer bombshell night on "L&O:SVU"

American Idol (9pm, Fox) - Someone's eliminated, but Usher is the consolation prize.

Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - Jules bonds with Grayson's new girlfriend, played by Sheryl Crow, and pleads with Grayson not to smother her and drive her away. Meanwhile, Jules' fancy new bathroom becomes the talk of the town.

Law & Order: SVU (10pm, NBC) - The case of a woman found murdered in her bed reminds Cragen of a case from thirty years ago. Benson and Stabler question the patrol cop from the case (Jaclyn Smith) and the prime suspect's ex-lover (Ann-Margret, left). 

The Locator (10pm, WeTV) - A pair of sisters from Cary look for
their brother, whom their mom put up for adoption after becoming
pregnant as a teen. 

In Plain Sight (10pm, USA) - In the season three premiere, Marshall and Mary (Mary McCormack) search for the gang member who shot Mary in last season's finale. Also, Donnie Wahlberg stars as a Boston thief who wants to straighten out his life for the sake of his son. Marshall (Fred Weller, right) is still as funny and charming as ever, and Mary's mother (Lesley Ann Warren) is still just as grating and annoying. 

Ugly Americans (10:30pm, Comedy Central) - Mark takes care of an orphaned demon and it triggers Callie's maternal instincts. 

What to Watch on Wednesday: Sheryl Crow crashes "Cougar Town"

Fly Girls (9pm, The CW) - A new reality series that chronicles the lives of five flight attendants for Virgin America. In the opener, the women work a company party in Fort Lauderdale and welcome a high-maintenance roomate to their California crash pad.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Mitchell and Jay embark on a father-and-son outing, so Cameron and Gloria spend time together. The previews look look hilarious. 

Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - Sheryl Crow begins a three-episode arc as a wine rep who dates Grayson (Josh Hopkins). I think they make a cute couple. Also, Ellie challenges Jules to give up wine for a month, and Andy is jealous of Bobby's big, slobbery new dog. 

Law & Order: SVU (10pm, NBC) -  Benson and Stabler investigate the assault of a disabled woman who cannot speak, and the two prime suspects are the woman's sister, played by Jill Scott, and her nephew, Quinton Aaron ("Blind Side"). 

ABC to renew "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town"


According to The Wrap, ABC is greenlighting freshman comedies "Modern Family," "Cougar Town," and "The Middle" for second seasons.

No indication the network is willing to do the same for the equally deserving (and hilarious) Tuesday night sitcom, "Better Off Ted."

What to Watch on Wednesday: The Reaper returns to "Criminal Minds"

Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now? (8pm, NBC) - NBC revisits more than 40 previous contestants from "Biggest Loser" to see how they've managed life off the ranch. 

Criminal Minds (9pm, CBS) - The Reaper (C. Thomas Howell, left) returns tonight to terrorize Hotch and his family.

Glee (9pm, Fox) - Will believes Sue is leaking info about the glee club practices, so he visits with a rival club's instructor while the kids check out the competition. Also, Kurt has ulterior motives for giving Rachel a makeover.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - There has been a lot of buzz about this episode so I'm expecting greatness. Cameron makes a special appearance as Fizbo the Clown at Luke's big birthday bash. Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cameron, used to be a clown. For real. 

Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - This show seems to get a little funnier each week, especially with Busy Philipps (right) as Laurie "Seriously, I fight all the time" Keller. I mean, how can you not love a character who named her horse Limp Bizkit ... because he rocked. So it's a shame production has been halted due to a Courtney Cox "family matter." But let's live in the moment and enjoy Thanksgiving with Jules and the gang. 

What to Watch on Wednesday: Lots of new shows tonight

New Adventures of Old Christine (8pm, CBS) - Last season ended with Richard getting gilted by new Christine, and Barb (Wanda Sykes) getting apprehended at his wedding by a sexy INS agent. Wait, Richard is single and Barb needs an American husband. Hmmmm.... (Can't recommend it, but "Gary Unmarried" follows at 8:30).

Mercy (8pm, NBC) - It's another nurse show, and despite having their own version of McDreamy (James Tupper from "Men in Trees"), reviews are pretty sketchy. The main drama involves a former Iraq war vet nurse (Taylor Schilling, left with Tupper) and her coworkers in a New Jersey hospital. 

Law & Order: SVU (9pm, NBC) -  Producers promise that this season will be more intense than ever, which is a fairly scary thought. Tonight's episode features Christine Lahti as an Executive ADA assisting in a serial rape case.

Criminal Minds (9pm, CBS) - This premiere picks up where last season ended: Hotch (Thomas Gibson) being shot by the Reaper (C. Thomas Howell). 

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - In a(nother) mockumentary style sitcom, Ed O'Neill plays the patriarch of the Pritchett family. He's divorced from Shelly Long, but remarried to a woman half his age, and his gay son has just adopted a Vietnamese baby with his partner. Hilarity ensues.

Cougar Town (9:30, ABC) - A new comedy that appears to be better than its awful title would indicate. Courtney Cox plays a 40-something struggling with the usual issues of aging: re-entering the dating game, raising a teenage son, arm flab, etc. 

Eastwick (10pm, ABC) - A new show based on John Updike's novel and the 1987 movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer. Three New England women (Rebecca Romijn, Jaime Ray Newman, Lindsay Price) discover their witchy powers while keeping a close eye on possible love interest/possible bad guy (Paul Gross).

CSI: NY (10pm, CBS) - Tonight's premiere will answer the question of who got shot at the end of last season's finale episode. Are Mac (Gary Sinise) and Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) both okay? 

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