Tonight’s Premiere Week TV Spotlight…Wednesday, September 22, 2010

For so many years Wednesday was kind of a lame night for TV.  Oh how times have changed!

Wednesdays on ABC rival NBC’s Thursday night comedy block. With the THE MIDDLE, MODERN FAMILY and COUGAR TOWN all airing new eps tonight, I’m a happy girl.

Once again there’s just too much TV on tonight (seriously wait until you see this list), so we’re going to have to discuss everyone’s watch, DVR and skip schedule. (It actually helps us to know which shows are our priorities.)

So let’s get to it.  The highlights from tonight’s TV lineup.

The Middle | 8pm on ABC | Season Premiere
“Back to School”
In the Season 2 premiere, Frankie has a hard time getting the kids ready for school, and she’s accused of being overprotective by Brick’s new teacher (Doris Roberts). Meanwhile, Sue may be too enthusiastic about being on the cross-country team. [GMMR: Welcome back Heck family. I know you’ve been missed by many.]

Survivor: Nicaragua | 8pm on CBS
“Fatigue Makes Cowards of Us All”
Tempers flare and fights erupt in the La Flor tribe as the younger castaways struggle to overcome potentially dangerous personality conflicts within the group. [GMMR: Sorry that we didn’t talk about last week’s SURVIVOR premiere.  We’re going to talk about it tonight. Anyone with me? Please…um, please?]

Undercovers | 8pm on NBC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
Married former spies Steven and Samantha Bloom (Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) reenter the world of espionage to track down a friend and fellow agent (Carter MacIntyre), who disappeared while on the trail of an arms dealer, in the series premiere. The pair find that their globe-spanning mission reignites their passion for the job and for each other. [GMMR: There are some great spy show on TV today, but I’m not sure this one is going to stand out against the rest. Time will tell.  Check out our “First Look – Undercovers” for more.]

America’s Next Top Model | 8pm on The CW
“Patricia Field”
Fashion designer Patricia Field is the guest judge; the girls get a surprise makeover and pose as fallen angels at a photo shoot; another model is eliminated from the competition.

Hell’s Kitchen | 8pm on Fox | Season Premiere
“16 Chefs Compete”
Sixteen chefs vie for a head-chef job at an L.A. hotel restaurant and the post of spokesperson for a winery. First, they must prepare their signature dishes. Next: a lesson in preparing sushi from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto before they must do it themselves. Then comes the first dinner service

Better With You | 8:30pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
A sitcom about the relationships among three couples from one family. In the opener, Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) is distressed to learn her younger sister, Mia (JoAnna Garcia), is engaged to a guy she’s only known a short while. Meanwhile, the siblings’ parents are overjoyed with the news. [GMMR: I’ll be watching this one along with all of you tonight.  I’ve heard some mixed reviews, but I’m going to give it a shot because I adore JoAnna Garcia.]

Modern Family | 9pm on ABC | Season Premiere
“The Old Wagon”
In the second-season premiere, Phil reluctantly agrees to get rid of the Dunphy station wagon, which prompts a wave of nostalgia for the old car. Meanwhile, Cameron enlists Jay’s help when Mitchell tries to build a princess castle for Lily; and Manny asks a girl to come over to study. [GMMR: So excited!! TV’s best comedy is back tonight! Stay tuned to GMMR for a special MODERN FAMILY DVD giveaway in honor of tonight’s season premiere.]

Law & Order: SVU | 9pm on NBC | Season Premiere
“Locum”;”Bullseye”
In the 12th-season opener, a 10-year-old girl runs away and is found with a man (Henry Ian Cusick) who denies any wrongdoing. That same man then helps detectives with a rape case involving another young girl, but he pushes the limits with his assistance. [GMMR: A special 2-hour season premiere tonight. With all the shows on TV tonight, does SVU really need to be 2 hours? I’m sure if you’re a fan you’re saying ‘Hell, Yes!’]

Hellcats | 9pm on The CW
“Beale St. After Dark”
The Hellcats team accompanies Savannah on her first date with Dan; Marti tries to impress her law professor in hopes of joining his legal team; Alice turns to pills; Vanessa decides to come clean with Derrick.

Criminal Minds | 9pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“The Longest Night”
The sixth-season opener concludes the team’s search for the serial killer who is terrorizing Los Angeles and who now has Los Angeles detective Spicer’s daughter as his hostage.

Cougar Town | 9:30pm on ABC | Season Premiere
“All Mixed Up”
In the second-season premiere, Jules finds the bond with her new psychiatrist (Jennifer Aniston) tested when she learns the truth behind her treatment methods. Meanwhile, Bobby struggles to face the fact that Jules and Grayson are a couple; and Ellie is envious of Jules’ relationship with her doctor. [GMMR: I’m joining the countless others who thinks Jennifer Aniston should stop making crappy movies and come back to TV full time. It will be good to see Rachel & Monica back together again tonight. I love COUGAR TOWN. I consider it ‘interactive TV’ as I like to drink countless glasses of wine along with Jules and her friends.]

Terriers | 10pm on FX
“Change Partners”
To secure a loan, Hank must prove that the bank manager’s wife is cheating on him but what he finds is much kinkier than infidelity. [GMMR: Any GMMRers watching this show? Speak up. I want to hear if you’re loving it as much as I am.]

The Whole Truth | 10pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
A legal drama that follows cases from both sides stars Maura Tierney as prosecutor Kathryn Peale and Rob Morrow as defense lawyer Jimmy Brogan, her friend and law-school classmate. In the opener, a high-school teacher is charged with killing a student with whom he had been in frequent contact. In fact, Peale claims he had been stalking her. But she’s worried that Brogan knows something she doesn’t. “He’s too smart,” she says, “to take on a case he didn’t think he could win.” [GMMR: Solid procedural show.  Not necessarily going to make my list of TV shows to watch, but I really think some of you will dig it. Give it a watch tonight.]

The Defenders | 10pm on CBS | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
Two charismatic defense lawyers, Nick (Jim Belushi) and Pete (Jerry O’Connell), represent a variety of clients in Las Vegas. In the opener, the guys defend a young man accused of murder who rejects a lenient plea bargain in order to face a jury. Meanwhile, the firm’s newest associate, a former exotic dancer, begins work and represents a teen accused of kidnapping. [GMMR: Sorry, just not my cup of team.  I’ve never been a big fan of the combo leading this show. Jerry O’Connell lost me some time after his ‘Stand by Me’ years.]

Top Chef: Just Desserts | 10pm on Bravo
“Cocktails with a Twist”
The 11 still-standing dessert culinarians must whip up sweet delectables from cocktails, but one chef’s actions sour the others. Pastry chef Elizabeth Falkner is the guest judge. [GMMR: Did you guys watch last week? Some of these contestants are insufferable. Blech.]

Also playing…

• Top Chef: Reunion | 9pm on Bravo: Andy Cohen hosts a reunion installment featuring the reassembled culinarians, who dish on Season 7’s well-seasoned dramas and field viewer questions. Series figures Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Eric Ripert are also on hand.

*Note: Despite what my handy dandy TV chart above might say, LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES doesn’t premiere until September 29th

Here’s my schedule for the night….

8 – 9pm

• Watch LIVE: Survivor
• DVR #1: Better with You
• DVR #2: The Middle

9 – 10pm

• Watch LIVE: Modern Family, Cougar Town

10-11pm

• DVR #1: Terriers
• DVR #2: Top Chef: Just Desserts

Speak to me. What will YOU be watching? What’s going on the DVR to watch tonight…or later in the week?