Tonight’s Premiere Week Spotlight…Thursday, September 23, 2010

If you thought figuring out what to watch on Monday was tough, then Thursday nights must be downright scary. I’ve got two DVRs and I’m still nervous. There’s just so much on TV. But I’ve looked over the schedule three or four times now and I think I’ve got it sorted out. Hopefully. Yikes!

Today’s going to be a BIG day on GMMR, so be sure to stop by throughout the morning and the afternoon for news, interviews, special features, LIVE chats and everything else you’ll need to properly welcome back Thursday night TV.

Help Kath and Team GMMR ‘Light the Night’
Before we get to the shows, I wanted to announce that I will be participating in the upcoming ‘Light the Night’ walk to help raise money for lifesaving cancer research. I just signed up and the walk is October 3rd so I’ve got a lot of fundraising to do in a very short time. If you have the means to donate, it would be so very much appreciated. Be sure to leave “(GMMR)” after your name on the donation page, so we can see just how much impact the GIVE ME MY REMOTE readers make. Donate to cancer research on behalf of your favorite television series today! Click here to learn more and donate to Kath’s ‘Light the Night’ efforts.

Ok, now on to the shows! Here are a few highlights from tonight’s TV lineup…

My Generation | 8pm on ABC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
A documentary crew follows the lives of seniors at a Texas high school and checks back in with them 10 years after graduation; overachiever Steven returns home after learning he has a 9-year-old son with a former classmate. [GMMR: Marisa Roffman loved this pilot, check out her chat with the creator.]

The Big Bang Theory | 8pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“The Robotic Manipuation”
In the fourth-season opener, Sheldon goes on a date with Amy Fowler—-his first date ever—and Penny finds herself accompanying them. [GMMR: BBT is back on a new night & time with a hilarious new episode. Will it still bring in big numbers for CBS? Weigh in below. But first check out our tribute to the first three years of the show.]

Community | 8pm on NBC | Season Premiere
“Anthropology 101”
As the new semester begins, the study group gathers to tackle Anthropology 101; Jeff struggles to establish decorum with Britta and Annie; Senor Chang enrolls as a student and clearly wants to join the study group. [GMMR: Hilarious season opener. So glad I got caught up over the summer. This show got so good! GMMR’s Korbi Ghosh recently visited the set. Check out her chat with creator Dan Harmon.]

Bones | 8pm on Fox | Season Premiere
“The Mastodon in the Room”
Season 6 begins seven months after the Jeffersonian team went its separate ways, but they’re summoned back to Washington, D.C. by Caroline Julian when a case involving the body of an unidentified young boy could cost Cam her job. [GMMR: I wonder if anyone will be watching this tonight? Ha! Here’s to hoping GMMR doesn’t crush under the weight of tonight’s LIVE BONES chat – we’ll be chatting LIVE during and after the episode for viewers in both the EST and PST time zones. Will you be joining us?]

The Vampire Diaries| 8pm on The CW
“Bad Moon Rising”
Elena, Damon and Alaric go to Duke University to find Isobel’s research into the paranormal and look for clues to the mystery surrounding the Lockwood family; Stefan faces a new danger in the woods; Tyler makes a shocking discovery about Mason. [GMMR: Even with all the new and returning favorites, this is what I’ll be watching first tonight. GMMR’s Korbi Ghosh got an exclusive interview with the gorgeous Ian Somerhalder today, so read up before watching this evening.]

$#*! My Dad Says | 8:30pm on CBS | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
The premiere of the sitcom based on Justin Halpern’s popular Twitter feed about the outrageous observations of his politically incorrect father. In the opener, the grumpy dad (William Shatner) invites his son (Jonathan Sadowski) to move back home after the young man loses his job as a writer for a men’s magazine. [GMMR: With so many shows on Thursday nights, this $#*! isn’t making my list. Will you be watching?]

30 Rock | 8:30pm on NBC | Season Premiere
“The Fabian Strategy”
Season 5 opens on Jack interfering with Liz’s blooming romance with Carol (Matt Damon) in an effort to help her finally win a man’s heart. There’s give-and-take in Jack’s own love life when Avery revamps his apartment. Meanwhile, Tracy copes with Kenneth’s termination as NBC page. [GMMR: Liz Lemon returns and she’s bringing Matt Damon along! Two great things that go great together.]

The Office | 9pm on NBC | Season Premiere
“Nepotism”
Season 7 begins with Michael hiring a new office assistant (Evan Peters), whose bad attitude rubs the staffers the wrong way. Meanwhile, Erin flirts with someone other than Andy, and Pam tries to impress Jim by pulling an office prank. [GMMR: Um, YAY!! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my Dunder Mifflinites. My God I need a Jim Halpert fix. See ya tonight, Krasinski… Oh and to tide us over until then, Marisa Roffman’s talk with Mindy Kaling and Greg Daniels.]

Grey’s Anatomy | 9pm on ABC | Season Premiere
“With You I’m Born Again”
Trauma counselor Andrew Perkins (James Tupper) is brought in to help staffers cope with the shooting rampage–and to assess their fitness to return to work. Meanwhile, Derek resigns as chief and rushes back into surgery. Someone plans a wedding. [GMMR: I’m still reeling from last season’s finale. Am I ready to go back to Seattle Grace? Absolutely. Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter GMMR’s GREY’S ANATOMY/PRIVATE PRACTICE DVD giveaway. Have you signed up?]

Nikita | 9pm on The CW
“Kill Jill”
Nikita rescues a journalist trying to expose a conspiracy; Michael and Percy suspect Birkhoff is Nikita’s mole; Jaden, Alex and Thom help Michael find his latest target. [GMMR: Are you guys still watching? Will you be, now that Thursday night is so crowded? Let us know in the comments below.]

CSI | 9pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Shock Waves”
As Langston fights to survive after being attacked, the rest of the team attends the funeral of an officer, which endangers more lives. [GMMR: My parents will be very pleased. Yeah, that’s all I got.]

Fringe | 9pm on Fox | Season Premiere
“Olivia”
In the third-season premiere, Olivia struggles to free herself from the alternate universe, while her auburn-haired counterpart works alongside the oblivious Peter and Walter. [GMMR: Welcome back Josh Jackson (to what universe I’m not sure). Marisa’s got quality time with Pacey Witter for your viewing pleasure today!]

Project Runway | 9pm on Bravo
“Race to the Finish”
The designers are tasked with creating a high-fashion look and there’s a hefty reward at stake. Will their designs be enough to keep them around to design another day or will they be auf’d? [GMMR: I’ve watched all season long, but my DVR canceled tonight’s viewing in favor of Saturday’s rerun. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.]

Outsourced | 9:30pm on NBC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
American Todd Dempsy moves to India to head up a call center for a novelties company in the premiere of this comedy series. After meeting his eccentric employees, Todd realizes he has to teach them about American culture in order to help them sell the humorous products from the company’s catalog. [GMMR: Here’s to hoping no one watches this hideous show so NBC will cancel it and bring back PARKS & REC sooner!]

Private Practice | 10pm on ABC | Season Premiere
“Take Two”
As the doctors mourn Dell in the fourth-season opener, Violet and Pete anxiously prepare for their wedding–perhaps too anxiously. Meanwhile, Naomi must care for both Maya and Maya’s baby. She also worries about Dink’s parenting skills. And things take a surprising turn for Addison and Sam. [GMMR: Listening to The TV Talk Podcast, you know where I stand with this show – I’ve never missed an episode, yet it’s always low man on the totem pole when it comes to watching. Bizarre. Do you have any shows like that?]

The Mentalist | 10pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Red Sky at Night”
In the third-season opener, the CBI is tasked with finding a prominent lawyer who was kidnapped, but Jane questions his future with the team following his encounter with Red John. [GMMR: File this under the category of ‘shows I wish I were watching. Simon Baker is delicious.]

The Apprentice | 10pm on NBC
“Ice Cream”
When the teams are asked to sell ice cream on the streets of New York, one team sabotages the other; a project manager attacks another player. [GMMR: Why?]

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia | 10pm on FOX
“Mac Fights Gay Marriage”
Dennis’ marriage to Maureen Ponderosa hits a snag, as does Charlie’s marriage to Frank. And Dee, it seems, has come between Bill Ponderosa and his wife. [GMMR: This is probably the funniest show that I’m not watching. But Korbi’s peeping it. Check out her chats with DeVito and Charlie Day]

Also playing…

• The League | 10:30pm on FOX: The married guys atone for Vegas with an adult weekend for Kevin and Jenny, a terrific lady day for Ruxin and Sofia; The gang is plagued by Rafi, Ruxin’s brother-in-law.

• Jersey Shore | 10pm on MTV: An inebriated Snooki interrupts J-Woww and her boyfriend’s private time, and then ends up in Vinny’s bed again.

So this is where I tell you what I’m watching live, DVRing, saving for a later viewing and skipping altogether. Now don’t panic…just because I’m not watching doesn’t mean it’s not being covered by GMMR (yes, I’m talking to you BONES and FRINGE fans!)

8pm

• Watching live: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
• DVR #1: COMMUNITY
• DVR #2: THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30pm

• DVR #1: 30 ROCK

9pm

• Watching live: THE OFFICE
• DVR #1: GREY’S ANATOMY

10pm

• DVR #1: PRIVATE PRACTICE

Now it’s your turn. What will YOU be watching tonight? What will you be watching LIVE, DVRing, skipping, etc?  Let us know!

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