Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Get excited because tonight is a fantastic night of television. After yet another episode of DANCING WITH THE STARS (enough already), ABC has an entire night full of premieres (and even a few worth watching).  And over on Fox we’ve got SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and my favorite episode of GLEE so far. CBS doesn’t have any new shows premiering tonight but they are back with new episodes of some of their fan favorites. NBC has the premieres of MERCY and the return of LAW & ORDER: SVU.

I think by now you all know that SYTYCD & GLEE are my priorities for Wednesday night, but if you have the DVR space to do so, I think you should record ABC from 9-11pm. MODERN FAMILY was my favorite comedy pilot of the whole season and it just can’t be missed.  COUGAR TOWN starring Courtney Cox Arquette was a nice surprise and well worth your time.  EASTWICK has potential.  I’m going to give it a few eps, but there is something there. You should check it out tonight.

Here’s a look at the Fall schedule for the big networks. Check out the notes at the end to find out when these Wednesday night faves will be premiering.

After all this, the least you could do is tell me what shows YOU will be watching tonight!

So You Think You Can Dance | 8pm on Fox
“Boston”
The SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE auditions continue as the team looks for dancers to join the Top 20. Tonight the Boston auditions are showcased 

Mercy | 8pm on NBC | Series Premiere
“Can We Get That Drink Now?”
The professional and personal ups and downs of three nurses at a hospital in gritty Jersey City, N.J., are charted in this medical drama. First up: An adept nurse (Taylor Schilling) lands work at Mercy Hospital after a tour of duty in Iraq, but her love life grows complicated because of her splintering marriage and the arrival of a handsome new doctor. Meanwhile, a naive rookie (Michelle Trachtenberg) tries to learn the nursing ropes.

The New Adventures of Old Christine | 8pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Bahamian Rhapsody”
The fifth season begins with Christine and Matthew flying to the Bahamas to help the deported Barb obtain an illegal visa so she can return to the U.S.

Gary Unmarried | 8:30pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Gary Has a Dream”
Hoping to set an example for his unambitious son, Gary decides to pursue his dream of becoming a radio sports announcer.

Modern Family | 9pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
Jay has grown children, grandchildren and a gorgeous young wife, who has a preteen son of her own; all together they must bridge generational, cultural and social gaps.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 9pm on NBC | Season Premiere
“Unstable”
Officer Nate Kendall (Wentworth Miller) helps a woman in trouble and gets roped into investigating a rape case; when evidence connects multiple cases, the team realizes they may be pursuing a serial rapist. [GMMR: Here’s a sneak peek at Wentworth Miller on SVU]

Glee | 9pm on Fox
“Preggers”
While Kurt tries out for the football team (taking a page from the glee playbook with him), Rachel storms out of glee practice when Will gives a plum part to Tina. Meanwhile, Sue comes up with a new plot to boost her program at glee’s expense; and Quinn has news for Finn. [GMMR: My very FAVORITE episode of GLEE so far this season.  I’ve watched this ep 5 or 6 times already. Hilarious…and touching.]

Criminal Minds | 9pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Nameless, Faceless”
In the fifth-season opener, Hotchner vanishes while the team is profiling a killer who’s targeting an emergency-room doctor. C. Thomas Howell.

Cougar Town | 9:30pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
A recently divorced single mother explores the honest truths about dating and aging in a beauty and youth obsessed culture.

CSI:NY | 10pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Epilogue”
The sixth season begins with Mac’s team recovering from a hail of machine-gun fire aimed at them while they were at a local bar remembering one of their fallen members. One person’s life is significantly changed by the event, and the CSIs become determined to find the shooter.

Top Chef: Las Vegas | 10pm on Bravo
“Penn & Teller”
The contestants deconstruct a classic dish for magicians Penn & Teller; chef Michelle Bernstein serves as a guest judge.

Eastwick | 10pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
In the seaside village of Eastwick, three very different women discover bewitching talents they never knew they had.

Also playing…

• Dancing with the Stars | 8pm on ABC: tribute to the late Patrick Swayze; the cast of Broadway’s “The Lion King” performs; Sean Kingston performs; two celebrity dancers are eliminated.

• America’s Next Top Model | 8pm on The CW: The contestants meet with Miss J. to prepare for their first runway show; one of the contestants talks about a former abusive relationship; Jaime Rishar serves as a guest judge.

• The Beautiful Life: TBL | 9pm on The CW: Chris thinks his modeling career is over; Claudia tells Raina to focus more on her career and less on her relationship with Chris; Isaac decides to confront Vivienne; Marissa invites Raina’s brother to a party hosted by Nina Garcia.

On the late night couch…

• The Late Show with David Letterman: Simon Baker, Mary J. Blige
• The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Martin Short, Tim Gunn, Wynonna
• The Jay Leno Show: Vince Vaughn, Al Michaels, Bob Costas
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ken Tucker, Arctic Monkeys
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Courteney Cox, Jessica Capshaw, the first “Dancing with The Stars” castoff
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Amy Poehler, Dan Fogler, Parkour athletes
• Chelsea Lately: Mekhi Phifer, John Caparulo, Sarah Colonna, Michael Kosta
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Seth Green, Kevin Lyman, Pete Yorn
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Tom Ridge
• The Colbert Report: Michael Moore, A.J. Jacobs

This is where I turn it over to YOU! Share with us what YOU are watching tonight!