Mike Hughes on TV

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Big Bang
Theory,” 8 p.m., CBS.

Two generations of splendid
situation-comedy merge here.

Bob Newhart had some of the best
sitcoms of the 1980s; now he visits TV's best current comedy. Like
Newhart's shows, “Big Bang” has verbal wit, sometimes delivered
with droll understatement.

Sheldon and Leonard both grew up
watching a TV scientist named Professor Proton (played by Newhart,
83); now they invite him to perform. Also, Howard and Bernadette must
watch Raj's dog.

TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: “Men at Work,”
10 p.m., TBS.

Is there a graceful way to push someone
away? Apparently not.

Milo wants to politely tell Molly (nice
person, dull relationship) goodbye; he fails in spectacular ways.
Neil does just as badly when he's supposed to fire a co-worker. That
adds up to a fairly good episode.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Hannibal,”
10:01 p.m., NBC.

Here's the sort of hour that seems to
demand a disclaimer.

Yes, it's skillfully written, filmed
and acted. There's great work from Eddie Izzard – as a genius who
continues to brutalize while in prison – and from Anna Chlumsky, as
a young federal agent.

Still, viewers should be warned that
this is episodic. Some hours wrap up a case; this one doesn't.

And they should be wary of the extreme
gore. The most horrid moment comes early, when an FBI profiler (the
superb Hugh Dancy) imagines himself committing the murder.

Other choices include:

– “American Idol,” 8 p.m., Fox.
There are, apparently, no more ways to stall this: Tonight, one of
the final four singers –each of them gifted – is sent home.
Before that, David Cook – who topped David Archuleta to be the 2008
champion – sings “Laying Me Low.”

– “The Office,” 8:30-9:31 p.m.,
NBC. Two weeks before the finale, we get two episodes. In the first,
Jim convinces Dwight the office is unsafe; soon, a rented bus becomes
the office. In the second, he convinces Dwight there should be an
assistant to the assistant manager; also, Andy prepares a music
competition, with guest spots by Clay Aiken, Aaron Rogers and Mark
McGrath, the Sugar Ray singer.

– “Two and a Half Men,” 8:31
p.m., CBS. Walden advises a despondent Alan to get a hip look.

– “Glee,” 9 p.m., Fox. In New
York, Rachel is preparing for her “Funny Girl” callback. Back in
Ohio, the glee-clubbers tackle the music of Steve Wonder. Also, news
could have a big effect on Artie and his mom (Katey Sagal).

– “Grey's Anatomy,” 9 p.m., ABC.
A new surgeon (Hilarie Burton of “One Tree Hill” and “White
Collar”) arrives to help a young patient.

– “Parks and Recreation”
season-finale, 9:31 p.m., NBC. Leslie marks the end of her first year
on the city council. Meanwhile, Andy makes a discovery and contacts a
special agent.

– “Elementary,” 10:01 p.m., CBS
The sinister “M” brings bad news: A man who was listed as a
heart-attack victim was on the hit list of Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes'
nemesis.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “American Idol,” 8-10 p.m., Fox.

Last week, “Idol” producers
reminded us that they can bend the rules. They had an extra week
cached away, to allow for a “save” that never happened; as a
result, no one was ousted from the final four.

The problem is that the votes carry
over, added to this week's totals; Candice Glover – an amazing
singer – and Amber Holcomb start the week behind . On Thursday,
someone will join the tradition of major talents – Chris Daughtry,
Tamyra Gray, Latoya London, Allison Iraheta – who finished fourth.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Nova,” 9
p.m., PBS (check local listings).

The first three hours moved Australia
through four billion years. Now the finale has recent history.

Australia split from Antarctica 35
million years ago, it says, and drifted north, its rain forest
becoming desert. Humans arrived perhaps 50,000 years ago, Europeans
just 244 years ago.

The hour is illustrated with stunning
landcapes and grand survivors – a 10,000-year-old Tasmanian tree, a
327-foot Queensland tree, creatures ranging from the giant cassowary
to the quirky kangaroo.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Family Tools”
debut, 8:30 p.m., ABC.

Jack (Kyle Bornheimer) has been
drifting, but now he's needed. His dad (J.K. Simmons) had a heart
attack and his aunt (Leah Remini) needs someone to take over the
handyman business.

Jack, however, isn't very handy. Based
on a British comedy, this is big and broad and inconsistent, with
enough laughs to keep us seated between “The Middle” and “Modern
Family.”

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE II: “Manhunt,”
8-10 p.m., HBO.

Two decades ago, six women began
painstakingly analyzing fragments of information about Osama bin
Laden and his colleagues. After the Sept. 11 attacks, they were
surrounded by waves of co-workers.

“Manhunt” suffers from a slow
start, an abrupt end and frequent use of sub-titles that are absurdly
hard to read. Still, it's a fascinating story, for the first time
told on-camera by the people involved.

Other choices include:

– “Survivor,” 8 p.m., CBS. The
pressure doubles tonight, with two immunity challenges and two tribal
councils. Last week's council dumped Malcolm Freberg; now only half
the original 10 “favorites” remain, only three of the 10 “fans”
remain

– “Nature,” 8 p.m., PBS (check
local listings). Here is pure elegance, as Lipizzaner stallions
develop. They run free in the Austrian hills, like a scene from
“Sound of Music”; they train in a splendid arena, waiting 10
years to perform. Despite over-written narration, this has some fine
moments.

– “The Middle,” 8 p.m., ABC. Life
turns higher-tech, when Frankie tries to make her daughter seem
popular on facebook and her sons make a video starring cats and
bunnies.

– “Modern Family,” 9 p.m., ABC.
Phil hopes to make a big Career Day impression, in front of his son
and Manny; alas, his nemesis (Rob Riggle) is there. Also, Cam and
Mitchell botch tooth-fairy duties.

– “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,”
10 p.m., CBS. A body has been found floating in the mud bath of a
spiritual retreat. Also, Hodges (Wallace Langham) questions his
marriage plans.

– “The Americans” season-finale,
10 p.m., FX. This richly textured show ends its first season with double
peril for the KGB agents who have spent decades posing as typical
Americans in suburbia. Stan, the FBI agent, is increasingly obsessed
with his probe; also, they must go to a meeting that could be a trap.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “New Girl,” 9
p.m., Fox.

In a very adult – and very funny –
episode, people tell stories of losing their virginity.

That lets the actors retreat under
flower shirts, big hair and a prom dress. It also sets up two sexual
sight gags that are prolonged and hilarious. And it leads to an
ending that's sweet and beautifully done.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “The Mindy
Project,” 9:30 p.m., Fox.

Danny has two intense concerns He's
desperate to have the doctors beat the midwives in the annual
triathlon; also, his ex-wife (Chloe Sevigny) is back, lured by a
letter he wrote but never sent.

Both stories are fairly good, but the
gem involves Mindy. She's willing to change anything – to be
thinner and whiter, for instance – for her boyfriend. But would she
convert from Hindu to Christianity?
That's a rare TV subject
that's handled wittily, with Mindy interrupting a church-school
class.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Inside Amy
Schumer” debut, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central.

This wraps up a neat stretch of comedy
for grown-ups – the two Fox shows, then switching to Comedy Central
for a new “Tosh.0” and this fast-moving show.

The man-on-the-street chats are OK, the
stand-up segments are good … and the sketches are great.

Schumer auditions for an absurd sex
video … can't describe the black clerk who helped her at a store …
has a feeble “I survived” story … and feels morning-after
excitement about a guy who can't remember her. Each portion is quick,
clever, well-acted and (especially) funny.

Other choices include:

– “The Voice” and “Grimm” 8
and 10:01 p.m., NBC. It turns out that “Ready For Love” wasn't
ready for prime time. Now it's been shelved; “Voice” (wrapping up
its “knock-out” round) expands to two hours and “Grimm” moves
to Tuesdays, with Nick now fretting about aliens.

– “The Dust Bowl,” 8-10 p.m.,
PBS. In the second half of this rerun, Ken Burns' compelling film
sees some families endure the entire, 10-year nightmare; others move
to California, where they face biases … and even face officers who
turn them away. It also looks at ecological efforts to rebuild the
plains.

– “NCIS,” 8 p.m., CBS. Ignoring
Homeland Security's demand that it step aside, the team continues to
pursue Bodnar, who killed Ziva's father (the head of Mossad) and
Vance's wife.

– “NCIS: Los Angeles,” 9 p.m.,
CBS. Callen suspects Hetty's motive, when he's assigned a “missing
person” case that's actually an undercover agent from her past.

– “Golden Boy,” 10 p.m., CBS. A
murder case involving a basketball star stirs Clark's mixed feelings
about his own family. Polly Draper (“thirtysomething”) returns as
his troubled mom.

– “Frontline,” 10 p.m., PBS
(check local listings). In 2011, “Frontline” looked at the U.S.'
massive intelligence efforts … and at why some plots still go
undetected. Now this hour – partly new and partly rerun – adds a
look at the failure to prevent the Boston bombing.

– Diane Sawyer special, 10:01 p.m.,
ABC. ABC's special – “Murder. Mystery. Amanda Knox Speaks” –
talks to the Seattle college student who was convicted of murder in
Italy … released four years later when the conviction was
overturned … and now may face a new trial. Her book reaches stores
today.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Following”
season-finale, 9 p.m., Fox.

In the “24” style, Fox promises,
this show will wrap up a story each season. Here's the big night.

Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) caught
charismatic serial-killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), but crumbled
so badly that he quit the FBI. He returned as a consultant after
Carroll escaped.

Carroll used his followers to kidnap
his son and lure his ex-wife (Natalie Zea). Now he's taken her to a
special spot, where Hardy races toward the ultimate showdown.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Warehouse 13”
return, 10 p.m., Syfy.

Before taking a seven-month break,
“Warehouse” was in mid-chaos. Consumed by another spirit, Artie
had killed the beloved Leena and broke open an orchid that sent a
deadly disease worldwide.

Now Pete and Claudia are in Europe,
scrambling for a way to un-do the orchid; Myka and Steve are inside
Artie's sub-conscious, which is a busy place.

This entertaining is packed with strong
guest stars – Roger Rees, C.C.H. Pounder and sci-fi veterans –
Lindsay Wagner, Kate Mulgrew, Polly Walker and (as a neatly eccentric
professor) James Marsters.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Rectify,”
10 p.m., Sundance.

Last week's two-hour debut (the latter
half of which reruns at 9 p.m.) introduced Daniel, free after 19
years on death row. Family members (and DNA results) back him; others
disagree and want a re-trial.

Tonight, he adjusts to everyday life,
while his lawyer (who has also become his sister's lover) presses on
with the case. One early scene – with Hal Holbrook, 88, as the
original defense lawyer – shows how good this six-hour mini-series
sometimes is, with fine actors tackling deep material.

Other choices include:

– “All My Children” and “One
Life to Live,: 5 a.m. ET, Online. A new era begins when former ABC
soaps arrive at www.hulu.com,
plus iPads and other devices. Each has a new half-hour each weekday.

– “Dancing With the Stars,”
8-10:01 p.m., ABC. Athletes thrive here, but boxer Victor Ortiz was
often near the bottom, then was the fifth person to depart. That was
last week, with Sean Lowe edging him.

– “Bones” season-finale, 8 p.m.,
Fox. Christopher Pelant, the tech genius, has a new string of
murders. Each seems to involve an FBI agent close to Booth; Brennan
wonders if Booth is the ultimate target.

– “Brain Games,” 8-10 p.m.,
National Geographic. First are last week's episodes – quick, slick
and fun – viewing the brain and its quirks. Then new episodes
ponders motion and fear. The latter, at 9:30, includes Larry
Fessenden, a horror filmmaker who sort of looks like Jack Nicholson's
worst day.

– “2 Broke Girls,” 9 p.m., CBS.
When a TV crew is at the diner, Caroline is offered an acting role.

– “Defiance,” 9 p.m., Syfy.
Things are never easy in this gritty town, groping for peace after
alien wars. In a fairly good hour, tiny creatures attack, bikers
frighten and Irisa has harsh visions.

– “Independent Lens,” 10 p.m..
PBS (check local listings). After clearing the border wall, people
face four days in the emptiness of Arizona's Sonora Desert. Many are
caught, this involving documentary says, but hundreds die annually.
We see a Humane Borders man bringing water and relief, before turning
someone back; we also see survivors, brutalized by 107-degree
weather.

– “Castle,”10:01 p.m., ABC. This
episode was scheduled for last week, then delayed: Beckett is
standing on a land mine. To distract her while others try to help,
Castle debates who fell in love first.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: “The Good Wife”
season-finale, 9 p.m., CBS.

Stuffed with mismatched pieces, “Wife”
often ranges from court room to board room to soap-style bed room. In
this episode, the court portions are just this side of silly.

On the eve of the gubernatorial
election, lawyers end up disputing their own argumets, while a judge
wanders. It's all kind of loopy, but there are great guest roles for
Martha Plimpton as the opposition lawyer and Oscar-winner Estelle
Parsons, 85, as an elections worker.

Alongside that,:Alicia ponders key
decisions on romance and whether to join the new firm.

TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: “Masterpiece
Classic: Mr. Selfridge” and “The Bletchley Circle,” 9 and 10
p.m., PBS (check local listings).

Last week, Selfridge – his love
triangle in tatters – drank, drove and crashed. Now Mr. Grove tries
to run the store, facing temperance marchers and more.

And in last week's “Circle” opener,
former World War II code-buster Susan thought she detected a pattern
for London's serial killer; she was wrong and then ignored. Now she
and her former wartime colleagues take big chances: Timid Lucy
becomes bait; shy Susan visits a spooky institution alone.

TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: “Vikings,” 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., History.

Here's the entire first season in one
day. It's richly crafted, yet tough to watch, centering on people
whose goals are to pillage, plunder and kill.

The first eight hours trace Ragnar's
rise, as he dares to push attacks west, to England. Then the new hour
(10 p.m., rerunning at 11:01), shows a tough time to be in power, as
the plague spreads.

Other choices include

– “Once Upon a Time,” 8 p.m.,
ABC. Regina's latest scheme could bring the end of Storybrooke and
everyone in it. And in fairytale land, the Evil Queen's plan to kill
Snow White is … well, truly evil.

– “Revenge,” 9 p.m., ABC. Aided
by Nolan and Aiden, Emily tries desperately to learn the Falcon's
identity and find Padma. Also, Victoria must rebound from an exposing
interview on “Nightline.”

– “Anthony Bourdain: Parts
Unknown,” 9 p.m., CNN. Some of the parts Bourdain visits are better
known than others. Last week (rerunning at 8 p.m.) he sampled the
food and people of Los Angeles' Koreatown; this week, he's in
Colombia's mountains and along its coast.

– “Nurse Jackie,” 9 p.m,
Showtime, repeats at 9:30. Jackie's divorce remains amicable for
several minutes. Soon, she has time for rage, romance and even some
serous work.

– “Game of Thrones,” 9 p.m., HBO.
Last week Daenerys got the army she needed, in exchange for one of
her dragons … which promptly scorched the arms dealer. It was a
spectacular end to a great hour; tonight, Jon faces a key test and
Robb is betrayed.

– “Veep,” 10 p.m., HBO. Often
funny, “Veep” finds a serious conclusion tonight that reminds us
of the impact of any White House decision.

– “The Borgias,” 10 p.m.,
Showtime. After two fierce episodes of assassination attempts and
revenge, this one involves the quieter notion of
politics-via-marriage. The final minutes are memorable.

– “Red Widow,” 10:01 p.m., ABC. A
week before the season finale, Marta learns who kidnapped her
daughter. She also gets closer to learning who killed her husband.