BLESS THIS MESS - "The Chicken and the Goat" - After weeks of researching soil revitalization and coming up with a wonderful plan to make their farm successful, Rio and Mike are forced to find a new strategy when the weather forecast is not in their favor. As Mike tries to focus on addressing the dead soil, Rio attempts to connect with new neighbors at the Bowman's potluck but ends up spicing up her romantic relationship with Mike instead on ABC's "Bless This Mess," TUESDAY, APRIL 23 (9:30-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/John Fleenor) DAX SHEPARD, LAKE BELL

Best bets for April 16: A blessed mess

1) “Bless This Mess” debut, 9:30 p.m., ABC. Newlyweds (Lake Bell and Dax Shepard) reach rural Nebraska, armed with the internet and unwarranted confidence. They would learn how to farm and to fix their crumbling house; what could go wrong? A lot, of course. Elizabeth Merriweater – creator of “New Girl” and “Single Parents” — directed and co-wrote (with Bell) thus fun opener.

2) “NCIS,” 8 p.m., CBS. In a decision that goes in the “duh” category, CBS recently renewed “NCIS” for next season. That will be the 17th; “NCIS” trails only “Gunsmoke” and two “Law & Order” shows. Tonight, a current murder victim is someone who was listed as dead after the Sept. 11 attacks.

3) “Reconstruction: America After the Civil War” conclusion, 9-11 p.m., PBS. W.E.B. Du Bois, the historian and activist, summed it up: “The slave went free, stood a brief moment in the sun, then moved backward toward slavery.” Last week’s included sunny moments, with a few more tonight — black towns, black newspapers, crusading journalist Ida B. Wells. Then we see the plunge into darkness – lynching, a convict-lease scheme and, in Wilmington, N.C., a massacre.

4) “The Village,” 9 p.m., NBC. Pregnant and broke, teen Katie gets a job at the nursing home where her mom is a nurse … and soon sees her in a new light. Also, Nick makes a discovery in therapy; Ron and Patricia host an open-mic event that brings a surprise.

5) “The Rookie” season-finale, 10 p.m., ABC. One of the season’s best new shows concludes with the rookies preparing for a test that could boost their careers. Then Nolan and Bishop are distracted by learning that a murder victim may be linked to terrorist plans.

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