TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “Who Do You Think
You Are?” 8 p.m., NBC.
Like many people, former football star
Emmitt Smith knew the extremes of racism mainly from books. Born in
Florida in 1969, he had never seen “whites only” signs; his
family rarely discussed them.
Now this compelling hour visits horrors
of recent generations. His great-great-grandparents were born into
slavery; it's likely, he's told, that his
great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was a white rapist.
Along the way, he finds colorful names
for places (Burnt Corn, Ala.) and people (Prince Albert Puryear was
his great-great-great-grandfather and the son of Mariah).
He stares at “property lists” that
include cattle, feed and his ancestors. He visits places where they
may have been sold. And he brings a sense of calm-amid-rage that
makes this journey feel quietly heroic.
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Numb3rs”
season finale, 10 p.m., CBS.
After six fairly strong seasons, this
show has what could be its last episode. This slot goes to the
basketball tournament for two weeks and then to a high-octane
hospital show, “Miami Medical.”
First, we see Charlie and Amita get
married. They promptly delay their London honeymoon, as they help
probe who stole the gun of his brother, the FBI agent.
Other choices include:
– “America's Next Top Model”
opener, 8 p.m., and “High Society” debut, 9:30 p.m., CW. Here's a
quick rerun of Wednesday's shows. “Model” goes from 32 women in
Los Angeles to 13 sharing a New York flat. “High” is a reality
show focusing on oft-photographed socialite Tinsley Mortimer, as she
ends her marriage and downscales (slightly) her life. She's likable
enough, but the show includes two people so acidic that viewers may
quickly be repulsed.
– “Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m., CBS.
A routine estate sale gets a fresh complication: For years, a little
girl's soul has been trapped in this fiercely haunted house.
– “House,” 8 p.m., CBS. Here's a
rerun of the hour that had House returning to work, claiming to be a
new man. He promptly finds a patient who takes medical suggestions
online; he also finds disputes between Foreman and “Thirteen.”
– “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”
(2005), 8-11 p.m., Bravo. Written by director Judd Apatow and star
Steve Carell, this story keeps taking odd detours. Some are lame, but
others give fun moments to a great cast that includes Seth Rogen,
Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks, Catherine Keener and Jonah
Hill.
– “Medium,” 9 p.m., CBS. This is
one of those flashbacks episodes, glimpsing Allison's early days. At
her wedding, she worries about how her increasing visions will affect
the marriage. Kathy Baker – a three-time Emmy-winner for “Picket
Fences” – and Bruce Gray return as Joe's parents. Ellen Geer
plays Allison's grandmother … just as her dad Will Geer played the
“Waltons” grandfather.
– “Caprica,” 9 p.m., Syfy. In
last week's episode (rerunning at 8 p.m.), Joseph Adama searched for
his late daughter in the virtual world. Tonight, that search builds.
Meanwhile, the late Zoe finds that her escape plane is complicated.
Also, her mother struggles with visions and learns a dark secret.