Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Monday, September 26, 2011

Tonight is the series premiere of the highly-anticipated TERRA NOVA! Will you be tuning in?

There are tons of other shows tonight, including the series premiere of HART OF DIXIE, the season premieres of GOSSIP GIRL and MIKE AND MOLLY (congrats on your Emmy, Melissa McCarthy!), and the season finales of ALPHAS, WEEDS, and THE BIG C.

Lots more where that came from, so read on for the rest of your choices!

Terra Nova | 8pm on Fox | Series Premiere
“Genesis, Parts 1 and 2”
From executive producers Steven Spielberg and Peter Chernin comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making. TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as part of a daring experiment to save the human race. The Shannon family joins the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the first colony established in this beautiful yet foreboding land. Jim Shannon, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new world of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, is a trauma surgeon and the newest addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. Josh is their 17-year-old son who is torn to leave life as he knows it behind; upon arriving at the settlement, he finds himself instantly drawn to the beautiful and rule-breaking Skye. Maddy, Josh’s endearingly awkward 15-year-old sister, hopes Terra Nova will give her a chance to reinvent herself. Although Elisabeth’s medical training secured the family a spot on the pilgrimage, a secret involving their five-year-old daughter, Zoe, soon endangers their place in this utopia. Upon the Shannons’ arrival, they are introduced to Cmdr. Nathaniel Taylor, the charismatic and heroic first pioneer and leader of the settlement. Taylor warns the travelers that while Terra Nova is a place of new opportunities and fresh beginnings, all is not as idyllic as it initially appears. Along with blue skies, towering waterfalls and lush vegetation, the surrounding terrain is teeming with danger – and not just of the man-eating dinosaur variety. There is also a splinter colony of renegades led by the battle-hardened Mira, who is vehemently opposed to Taylor and his leadership.

Dancing with the Stars | 8pm on ABC
“Episode 1304”
The second week of performances features the couples performing either the jive or the quickstep.

The Sing-Off | 8pm on NBC
“Season Premiere, Part 2”
The second set of eight groups perform together and individually for the judges with the hopes of being named the a cappella champion and receiving the $200,000 cash prize and a Sony Music recording contract. Nick Lachey hosts and Sara Bareilles, Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman serve as judges. Groups performing include: The Collective, Dartmouth Aires, Messiah’s Men, North Shore, Pentatonix, Sonos, Soul’d Out and the University of Delaware Deltones.

Gossip Girl | 8pm on The CW | Season Premiere
“Yes, Then Zero”
Serena loves her new job in Hollywood, but makes a costly misstep when she tries to impress her boss. Chuck and Nate arrive in Los Angeles as the last stop of their Lost Summer trip, joining Serena at a glamorous Hollywood Hills party, where Nate meets a sexy older woman. Blair and Louis return from Monaco and begin planning their royal wedding, but when Louis refuses to stand up to his family and support Blair’s choices, his weakness threatens their relationship. A magazine is planning to run an excerpt of Dan’s book until an unlikely ally steps in to help him kill the story.

How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS
“The Ducky Tie”
After Ted runs into an old girlfriend, he tries to make amends with her since he cheated during their relationship. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily make a bet with Barney that could force him to wear Marshall’s ducky tie.

The Lying Game | 8pm on ABC Family
“Escape from Sutton Island”
Questions surrounding Emma arise when Thayer returns to Phoenix and everyone deals with Eduardo’s accident. What does Emma know about the accident, and why does Thayer seem to know more about the situation even though he has been in L.A.? Sutton’s friends are tired of the lies and demand answers from Emma. Not exactly knowing the whole story surrounding Eduardo’s accident, will Emma finally tell Mads and Char about the switch to save their friendship, or will she risk it to save Sutton’s secret? Meanwhile, Sutton finds more trouble than she expected at Dowinger Clinic as she finally comes face to face with her mother.

Two Broke Girls | 8:30pm on CBS | Timeslot Premiere
“And the Break-Up Scene”
Caroline innocently interferes with Max’s plan to break up with Robbie by taking it upon herself to facilitate the matter.

So much more. Keep reading…

Hart of Dixie | 9pm on The CW | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
Fast-talking New Yorker Zoe Hart has her life all figured out until she is turned down for a prestigious fellowship she had been certain she would get. Desperate, she decides to finally accept the offer of a kindly stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, whom she met at her medical school graduation, and who had proposed she join his small medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama.

Two and a Half Men | 9pm on CBS
“People Who Love Peepholes”
Judy Greer is introduced as Bridget, Walden’s ex-wife, on part two of the ninth season premiere.

Mike and Molly | 9:30pm on CBS | Season Premiere
“Goin’ Fishin’”
After their engagement, trouble arises when Molly wants to start planning their wedding, while Mike wants to go fishing with the guys.

Castle | 10pm on ABC
“Heroes and Villains”
When an ex-con is mysteriously slain in an alley, Castle and Beckett believe a vigilante is behind the murder. But efforts to identify their suspect are thwarted when they discover that he roams the city in a Superhero costume — and may indeed be a Superhero. Can they capture and unmask the killer before he strikes again?

The Playboy Club | 10pm on NBC
“The Scarlett Bunny”
The bunnies are excited to learn there will be a contest to be a Playboy magazine covergirl, but for some it means revealing their past. As new Bunny Mother Carol-Lynne begins training the women, especially new Bunny Maureen to be the perfect bunny, she discovers a dark secret Maureen has been hiding. Meanwhile, Nick gets Mayor Daley’s support to run for District Attorney with a little help from an unlikely source.

Alphas | 10pm on Syfy | Season Finale
“Original Sin”
Red Flag escalates the war on the Department of Defense under the leadership of Stanton Parish.

Hawaii Five-O | 10pm on CBS
“Ua Lawe Wale”
Gov. Denning assigns Officer Lori Weston to Five-0 to make sure McGarrett and team follow the new rules set by him and also apply her excellent profiling skills to the task force. Meanwhile, as Five-0 investigates the kidnapping of a teenage paddleboard champion, Internal Affairs Capt. Vince Fryer continues his interrogation of Kono.

Weeds | 10pm on Showtime | Season Finale
“Do Her/Don’t Do Her”
In the seventh-season finale, Silas turns the tables on Nancy as Shane tries to keep her out of harm’s way and the clutches of Det. Ouellette. Meanwhile, Doug schemes to keep alive his hedge-fund scam.

The Big C | 10:30pm on Showtime| Season Finale
“Crossing the Line”
In the second-season finale, Lee’s passing has a profound effect on Cathy and she decides on a special way to ring in the New Year. Meanwhile, continued financial woes lead Paul to try a different tack with the insurance company; and Adam and Dr. Todd make a surprising connection.

Also playing…

• Ridiculousness | 10pm on MTV: “The Dingo”

Leave a comment and let us know what you will be watching!