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Fox cancels five shows overnight

Before I went to bed last night, Fox had canceled 'Human Target,' 'The Chicago Code,' and 'Breaking In.'

When I got up this morning, 'Lie to Me' and 'Traffic Light' had also been axed.

Not surprised about 'Lie to Me,' but I didn't realize 'Traffic Light' -- which has really grown on me -- was on the bubble. So that one was a little surprising.

The network also says it will not pick up 'Locke and Key,' a planned show which was based on a comic book by Joe Hill about a family that moves to a haunted New England mansion. 

Canceled: Fox kills three shows. Poor Christian Slater...

Fox will not be picking up more episodes of "Human Target" or "Breaking In."

The sitcom "Breaking In" was Christian Slater's third attempt at leading a hit TV show. Action drama "Human Target" has aired for two seasons and starred Mark Valley as a high stakes bodyguard. Both shows were considered bubble shows at Fox. Other bubble shows with worrisome futures are "Chicago Code" and "Lie To Me." Of all these shows, "Chicago Code" is the only one I'll miss.

UPDATE: Yikes, that was fast! "Chicago Code" has also been canceled. Dang it!

In other Fox news, NC native Jaime Pressly will head a new sitcom for the network next fall. "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" is about two women who were tormented by mean girls when they were younger. It's from the same folks who brought us "New Adventures of Old Christine."

What to Watch on Wednesday: ABC sitcoms fling arrows at your heart

Celebration of Gospel (8pm, BET) - A repeat of last week's blockbuster gospel music special hosted by Steve Harvey and featuring a duet between Kim Burrell and Whitney Houston.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Phil and Claire once again assume their alter egos (Clive and Juliana) for their annual Valentine's Day rendezvous. Also, Jay encounters obstacles trying to surprise Gloria, and Cameron and Mitchell dispute an admirer's intentions. "The Middle" (8pm) and "Better With You" (8:30pm) also have Valentine's themed episodes tonight.

Human Target (9pm, Fox) - In the second season finale, Chance digs into the past of Ilsa's deceased husband, but the unsavory details of lies and deceit he discovers may cause irreparable damage to the team.

Reagan (9pm, History) - Another documentary about former President Ronald Reagan, this one focusing on pivotal periods in his life, including his presidency, his role as governor of California, and his acting career. Interviews with Sam Donaldson, David Gergen, and George Shultz.

Mr. Sunshine (9:30pm, ABC) - A new sitcom starring Matthew Perry as the manager of a San Diego sports arena. Also stars Andrea Anders ("Better Off Ted") as a coworker and Allison Janney as his wacky boss.

Top Chef All-Stars (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs cater Jimmy Fallon's birthday party and Fallon serves as the guest judge.

Justified (10pm, FX) - Season 2 has Raylan tracking down a sex offender and renewing acquaintances with the matriarch of a powerful Rabbit Holler pot farming family. Also, Boyd is once again on the loose. Our preview of the new season.

What to Watch on Wednesday: Nova looks at "Making Stuff Cleaner"

Nova: Making Stuff Cleaner (9pm, UNC-TV) - Part 3 of 4 of "Making Stuff" examines the science and business of clean energy. Included: a scientist who uses chicken feathers to make hydrogen-powerd cars safer, whether lithium batteries create a dependence on South America, and whether scientists can create batteries that run on molten salts.

Human Target (9pm, Fox) - Chance has a reunion with an inept private investigator (Tony Hale) when the girlfriend of the owner of a rival security firm needs protection.

Cougar Town (9:30pm, ABC) - Jules' ultimate Valentine's Day wish is for Grayson to reveal his true feelings, but she may have to keep waiting. Meanwhile, Ellie wants nothing to do with the holiday and Travis asks Laurie advice on what to get Kirsten. This is the only new ABC comedy airing tonight.

Hot in Cleveland (10pm, TV Land) - Melanie, Joy, and Victoria are smitten with Elka's lawyer, who's angling for an insanity plea before a judge (Sherri Shepherd), but his client loses interest after learning that her former beau Max (Carl Reiner) is getting married.

Law & Order: SVU (10pm, NBC) - A billionaire (Colm Feore) becomes a suspect in a sexual abuse case involving a teenage girl, and his highly paid attorney (Robert Klein) is able to make the case veer off course.

What to Watch on Wednesday: On 'Top Chef,' Colicchio steps into the kitchen

The Middle (8pm, ABC) - Frankie and Mike try to regain control of the Heck family household, but the kids won't go down easy. All of the ABC sitcoms are new tonight.

Human Target (8pm, Fox) - Two new back-to-back episodes tonight. In the first, a rift develops between Ilsa and Chance  when his former girlfriend asks him to rescue a colleague who was kidnapped by a South American despot. Then, an inept private eye (Tony Hale) may have blown his last case unless Winston, Guerrero and Ames can save him.
 
Law & Order: SVU (9pm, NBC) - This is either a two-hour episode or two back-to-back episodes. I do know that the case (or one of the cases) involves a gambling ring and an abused wife, played by Drea de Matteo ("Sopranos").

People's Choice Awards (9pm, CBS) - Queen Latifah hosts the worst awards show of the year.

Top Chef: All-Stars (10pm, Bravo) - In a series first, head judge Tom Colicchio (right) enters the competition, challenging the chefs to beat his time in creating a dish. Then the contestants head to down to Chinatown to serve up dim sum for locals (I love the comment from a diner in the previews describing someone's dish as "caucasian dim sum.").

Miracle Detectives (10pm, OWN) - Cases include a Texas railroad worker who was cut in half by a train in 2006 and survived.

What to Watch on Wednesday: 'Psych' finale, adoption awareness

A Home for the Holidays (8pm, CBS) - The 12th annual event to raise awareness of adoption features performances by Katy Perry, Melissa Etheridge, Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, and Nelly.

Undercovers (8pm, NBC) - This is random. An unaired episode of the canceled NBC spy drama. In this one, Steven and Samantha go on a mission to track down stolen currency plates that could be used to make counterfeit money, and must work with Steven's estranged brother. I'd opt  for "Human Target" if I were you. Speaking of which . . .

Human Target (8pm, Fox) - When an ordinary middle-class family is inexplicably targeted for murder, the team takes up residence in the suburbs to investigate. Chance and Guerrero go undercover at a stale corporate campus, while Winston joins a book club and Ames supervises a teen party.

Psych (10pm, USA) - In the fifth season finale, Mr. Yin resurfaces and kidnaps a woman. To gain insight on the kidnapper, Gus and Shawn ask Yang (Ally Sheedy, right) to help them investigate.

Top Chef: All-Stars (10pm, Bravo) - The chefs prepare a holiday stuffing dish without kitchen tools or knives, and later cater a bash for the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

What to Watch on Wednesday: An Obama, a Jonas, a Karate Kid guest star

Human Target (8pm, Fox) - Chance is forced to contact Baptiste in a Russian prison when he's the only person who may be able to help Ilsa's kidnapped friend.

The Middle (8pm, ABC)- Frankie's parents (Jerry Van Dyke and Marsha Mason) visit for Christmas and suggest the family celebrate the holiday without gifts. It's also Christmas on "Better With You."  Maddie discovers Mia is using her pregnancy as an excuse to opt out of the dreaded family Christmas at their parents' lake house, so Maddie makes up a story of her own to avoid the trip.

Mythbusters (9pm, Discovery) - Adam and Jamie meet President Obama in this reexamination of a myth pertaining to Archimedes' solar death ray weapon, which the Greek scientist is said to have used to set fire to Roman ships during the siege of Syracuse. Hey Adam -- way to wear blue jeans to the White House. Sigh.

Fabulous Beekman Boys (9pm, Planet Green) - The fabulous city-slickers-turned-farmers in a one-hour holiday special featuring reflections on Season 1, behind-the-scenes footage, favorite moments, and a preview of Season 2.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - The first school dance for Luke and Manny prompts an eventful trip to the mall for Jay and Phil.

Psych (10pm, USA) - Shawn and Gus enroll in the police academy in order to brush up on police procedure following a reprimand from the SBPD. The training doesn't stick as Chief Vick had planned, however. Ralph Macchio guest stars.

Top Chef All-Stars (10pm, Bravo) - Pop singer Joe Jonas  Joe Jenlists the gourmet contestants to prepare a snack for children on a sleep over at New York's American Museum of Natural History. Season 1 host Katie Lee Joel returns as a guest judge.

What to Watch on Wednesday: 'Terriers' finale, new season of 'Top Chef'

Law & Order: SVU (9pm, NBC) - Benson continues looking after a young boy entrusted in her care while also searching for his unstable, drug-addicted mother (Maria Bello). The woman's name turns up in a rape case, which Cragen assigns Fin and Munch to investigate. This is the episode that works in elements of the Duke University student's PowerPoint presentation of sexual conquests, which went viral this summer. Read more about that here.

Terriers (10pm, FX) - In the Season 1 finale, Hank, still reeling from a tragedy, is running out of ideas as he struggles to expose the Ocean Beach scandal. Meanwhile, Britt must face the consequences of his rash behavior. I'll say it again: this was the best new show of the fall TV season, and very likely to get canceled. That's a real shame.

Grammy Nominations Concert Live (10pm, CBS) - LL Cool J hosts this show announcing nominations for the 2011 Grammy Awards in key categories. Performances by Justin Bieber, B.o.B., Miranda Lambert, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry.

Top Chef All-Stars (10pm, Bravo) - Season eight of "Top Chef" begins with the 18-person contestant pool comprised of former show hopefuls. Their first challenge is to re-create the ill-fated dish that caused their elimination during their previous stint on the show.  

Psych (10pm, USA) - A special extended episode pays homage to the cult classic show "Twin Peaks" with a Laura Palmer-esque murder and a reunion of "Twin Peaks" cast members. Read more about the special episode.

Storage Wars (10pm, A&E) - A new reality series following a team of professional buyers who buy contents of repossessed storage units sight-unseen. The first episode features the contents of a unit once belonging to rap magnate Sug Knight. Second episode at 10:30.

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (10pm, VH1) - Season 4 has a new batch of celebrities hoping to get sober: Leif Garrett, Jason Davis, Janice Dickinson, Jeremy London, Frankie Lons, Rachel Uchitel, and Jason Wahler.

What to Watch on Wednesday: "Dateline" investigates Prince William engagement

Human Target (8pm, Fox) - In the Season 2 premiere, Chance and Guererro hatch a plant to rescue the kidnapped Winston. Meanwhile, a philanthropist (Indira Varma) fears her husband's death may be followed by her own, and a young thief sees a mentor in Guererro.

Dateline: William & Kate - A Royal Love Story (8pm, NBC) - NBC ditches one of the few remaining episodes of "Undercovers" to slap together a special on the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Everyone is trying hard to make me care about this. I just don't. I'll be watching "Human Target."

Survivor: Nicaragua (8pm, CBS) - The ten remaining castaways return to the Libertad camp only to discover that it is in ashes because of a fire.

Better with You (8:30pm, ABC) - Maddie scores Mia and Casey a meeting with an A-list wedding planner, played by Reba McEntire.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - A party at a restaurant for Manny's birthday makes the guest of honor anxious about his age. Cameron uses a shopping trip to the mall as a chance to meet new people. Norman Lloyd (Dr. Auschlander from "St. Elsewhere") guest stars.

Law & Order: SVU (9pm, NBC) - Stabler speaks at a Take Back the Night rally at his daughter's college campus, and the rally inspires a woman to accuse a fellow student of rape. Stabler and Benson investigate the case and ADA Paxton (Christine Lahti) is assigned to prosecute it.

Terriers (10pm, FX) - In an episode that includes flashbacks, Hank gets another chance to solve the rape case that got him fired from the police department.

A revamped "Human Target" returns

"Human Target" returns to Fox tonight, its Season 2 debut delayed a bit by the "Lone Star" cancellation and the network's subsequent schedule adjustments. But judging from the first episode, the Mark Valley action series has been seriously worth the wait.

The essence of the show is the same -- wealthy clients find and hire Christopher Chance and his pals to protect them or save their lives -- but there are also some pretty significant changes. The most noticeable change being the addition of two new regular cast members, both female.

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