NBC, 8:00 p.m. ET
The interplay between the judges here is better than on American Idol this season – but in both shows, it’s become increasingly arguable, even obvious, that the real winners of these shows, publicity-wise, are not the contestants or winners, but those in the judging thrones. Look at what TV has done, in two seasons, for all four judges on The Voice. And it makes me even hungrier to watch the new UK version, which features, among its quartet of celebrity judges in the red chairs, Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Jessie J. YouTube snippets are too enticing. Please, BBC America, make a deal to import that – now!
Fox, 8:00 p.m. ET
Suddenly, on tonight’s new episode, Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) is saddled with an emotionally challenged 11-year-old. Good thing he’s had so much practice all these years, being House’s only loyal friend.
Encore, 9:50 p.m. ET
The more you see of the original films in the Frankenstein series, the more you realize how brilliantly Mel Brooks lampooned them in his 1974 comic masterpiece – and with such a fanatical eye (and a fan's eye) for detail and authenticity. Don’t believe me? Switch between this comedy, which stars Gene Wilder, Teri Garr and Marty Feldman, and 1939’s Son of Frankenstein, which stars Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff, and is shown by TCM tonight, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET.
NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET
In this episode, a Hollywood star shows up to help keep the Marilyn musical dream alive – and she’s played by an actual Hollywood star. She’s Uma Thurman, beginning a recurring role (which tells you she sticks around, at least for a while).
National Geographic, 10:00 p.m. ET
Bob Ballard, like Neil deGrasse Tyson of
Nova, is a scientist who also happens to be a great TV host. Ballard is the undersea explorer who located the landing spot of the Titanic in 1985. And here he is, on the week of the infamous voyage’s 100th anniversary, making a very strong case for what should be done with the ocean liner’s aquatic remains. And, just as crucially, what shouldn’t. For more, read Diane Werts' Titanic dispatch for her
For Better or Werts column
HERE.