All the good new network shows seem to have been saved for the mid-season.
The latest example is “Awake” (NBC, 10 p.m.), with a kind of mind bending premise – a police detective who gets into a fatal crash with a family; in one scenario his wife survives; in another, his son does.
He’s living one life and dreaming the other, though it’s never indicated to the audience which is which. By next week’s episode it’s clear that they’re not going to tell you anytime soon. Jason Isaacs’ character has come to terms with the odd situation, and finds it helps in the week-to-week crime solving as he takes clues from one life and applies it to the other.
Creator Kyle Killen knows something about making a show about double lives (though is last one, “Lone Star,” didn’t last long enough to really show it).
And Isaacs is so good and serious in the role, you’ll be encouraged to stick aound.
Viewers weight in bigtime on the first results show of the season on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.), cutting the Top 24 down to a dozen. Then the judges weigh in and restore three of them in wild card choices. It will be the fifth and sixth hours of “Idol” this week.
There are new episodes tonight of the comedies “30 Rock” (NBC, 8 p.m.), “Parks and Recreation” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.), “The Office” (NBC, 9 p.m.) and “Up All Night” (NBC, 9:30 p.m.). Otherwise it’s all reruns on network TV now that February Sweeps are over.
Snooki is reportedly three months pregnant, it was reported yesterday. So look at a new “Jersey Shore” (MTV, 10 p.m.) for signs (pickles don’t knount; she liked those before). You may be cringing when she goes out binge drinking though.
Light technology is incorporated into fashions on “Project Runway All-Stars” (Bravo, 9 p.m.).
Hawaii is the setting for films on Turner Classic Movies tonight, with “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (8 p.m.), “From Here to Eternity” (10:30 p.m.), “In Harm’s Way” (12:45 a.m.), “Flirtation Walk” (3:45 a.m.), and “The Hawaiians” (5:30 p.m.).
In NBA action, it’s Thunder at Magic (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Heat at Trail Blazers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).
In college hoops, it’s Georgia at Kentucky (ESPN, 9 p.m.) and Villanova at Rutgers (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Don Cleadle, Ben McKenzie, Dan Abrams. The View: Zac Efron, Quanitta & Hazzauna Underwood, Nancy Grace. The Talk: Jane Leeves, Lisa Lillien. Ellen DeGeneres: Justin Bieber, Lauren Gray, Megan Mullally.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Jon Hamm Ted Alexandro, White Rabbits. Jay Leno: Julianne Moore, dr. Brady Barr, Chickenfoot. Jimmy Fallon: Lindsay Lohan, Rob Riggle, Elvis Costello. Craig Ferguson: Henry Winkler, Jay Baruchel. Tavis Smiley: Lani Guinier. Carson Daly: Gavin McInnes, Mike Payton, the Kills. Jon Stewart: M. Cathleen Kaveny. Stephen Colbert: Claire Danes. Conan O’Brien: Steven Ho, Megan Mullally, Mona. Chelsea Handler: Jake Owen, Joe Matarese, Fortune Feimster, Chris Franjola.