Jessica St. Clair has been in about a million things on TV (including “Samatha Who?” “United States of Tara,” “Worst Week,” “In the Motherhood,” “Notes from the Underbelly,” “Sons of Tucson,” “Weeds” and “Love Bites”) and movies (she was the apalled gown store owner in “Bridesmaids” and in “She’s Out of My League,” “and “It’s Complicated”).
It’s about time, then, she starred in a sitcom. And she does so in “Best Friends Forever” (NBC, 8:30 p.m.), an underpublicized new comedy in which she plays a woman undergoing divorce who decides to go back to her girlfriend’s apartment (Lennon Parham) to recoup. Trouble is, she’s living with her boyfriend now (Luka Jones) and try as he might it may not be the most comfortable situation for him to try to give out advice or fit the third wheel into their life.
As produced by Scot Armostrong (“Old School,” “Hangover 2”), it’s a smart and funny comedy along the lines of “Happy Endings” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.), “New Girl” or “Bent” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) No laughtrack, fast moving, wittier than you’d expect. At the same time, this is a network comedy, so a vagina joke is first up.
Maybe it just seems sophisticated next to the crass antics of “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (NBC, 8 p.m.), a low grade, kick-in-the-crotch hidden camera prank show that isn’t worth the participation of the comeback comedienne.
“One Tree Hill” (The CW, 8 p.m.) calls it quits after nine seasons with a two hour event, in which plenty of past cast members are hoping to return.
The baseball season officially starts with St. Louis at Miami (ESPN, 7 p.m.). Look closely in the seats for your correspondent.
The top eight on “American Idol” (Fox, 8 p.m.) sing songs from the eighties tonight. I can only imagine what the top seven will do next week.
A pageant in New York makes up the season premiere for “Toddlers & Tiaras” (TLC, 10 p.m.).
Country stars try their hands at regular gigs on the new “Day Jobs” (GAC, 9 p.m.). That is, if you think trying out for a professional baseball team is regular. That’s what Jason Aldean does in the first episode.
Doris Day films continue on “Midnight Lace” (8 p.m.), “Storm Warning” (10 p.m.), “The Winning Team” (11:45 p.m.), “Julie” (1:30 a.m.), and “The West Point Story” (3:30 a.m.).
The Masters starts Thursday; its prelude is the Masters Par-3 Contest (ESPN, 3 p.m.).
NBA action includes Thunder at Heat (ESPN2, 8 p.m.) and Lakers at Clippers (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.). In the NHL, it’s Red Wings at Blues (NBC Sports, 7:30 pm.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa: Johnny Galecki, Peter Facinelli. The View: Wilson Phillips. The Talk: Mena Suvari, Keri Glassman, Gladys Knight. Ellen DeGeneres: Emma Stone, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Time Salaz.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Kiefer Sutherland, Eugene Levy, the Punch Brothers. Jay Leno: David Gregory, Cee-Lo Green, Seal. Jimmy Kimmel: Jason Biggs, Lionel Richie, Billy Currington. Jimmy Fallon: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Alyson Hannigan, Pegi Young. Craig Ferguson: Jeffrey Tambor. Tavis Smiley: Jack Abramoff. Carson Daly: Dev, the Moth, White Denim. Jon Stewart: Jack L. Goldsmith. Stephen Colbert: Robert D. Ballard. Conan O’Brien: Seann William Scott, Maria Menounos, Heartless Bastards. Chelsea Handler: Toby Keith, Ben Gleib, Sarah Colonna, Greg Fitzsimmons (rerun).