Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, November 20. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
New Girl (Fox, 9 p.m.): Last year, without (actual) adult supervision, the New Girl roommates tried to thaw a turkey in a dryer. Evidently, they’re looking for some help from people with more Thanksgiving experience this go-round, as the loft welcomes Jess’ divorced parents—played by Jamie Lee Curtis and TV’s Mike “Meathead” Stivic, Rob Reiner—for the very first time. Rob Riggle’s in town, too, attempting to out-douchebag Max Greenfield as Schmidt’s cousin, “Big Schmidt.” Erik Adams hasn’t even sat down to the table yet, but he already wants seconds.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Raising Hope (Fox, 8 p.m.): Because the Natesville City Council apparently runs one of those back-of-the-comic-book, sell-this-crap-and-receive-these-crappier-rewards Ponzi schemes, Jimmy attempts to sell the most candy bars in order to win a prime spot in the Thanksgiving Day parade for himself and Hope. And all Phil Dyess-Nugent got for his troubles was a flimsy glow-in-the-dark Frisbee!
Ben And Kate(Fox, 8:30 p.m.): Fans of ABC Family’s Greek rejoice: That show’s Amber Stevens surfaces here as a former high-school classmate of Kate’s. In the meantime, Molly Eichel will be distributing a petition to secure further TV work for Scott Michael Foster.
Happy Endings (ABC, 9 p.m.): The Happy Endings mythology deepens, via a flashback to the year 2002, when Jane had pink hair, Max wore pants that could become shorts with a single zip, and David Sims was really, really into Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights.
Go On (NBC, 9 p.m.): You’d think Ryan’s first Thanksgiving without his wife would merit a mention in the episode synopsis, but it’s completely glossed over with mentions of out-of-town visitors, tours of the studio, and children. Sonia Saraiya is worried Go On is in denial.
Don’t Trust The B—— In Apartment 23 (ABC, 9:30 p.m.): June’s having the most awkward Turkey Day of all, because she’s spending it with Chloe’s mom and dad—the latter of whom June spent some time “dry rubbing” last season. Emily Guendelsberger wants to know if McGruff is coming to dinner, too.
The Mindy Project (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): With Andy Bernard likely dying of dehydration in the Caribbean, Ed Helms’ Mindy Project alter ego has a chance to return. How much money does David Sims have to pay Helms to stay away from Scranton for a few more weeks?
Vegas (CBS, 10 p.m.): Milwaukee wants Savino dead. And you do not mess with Milwaukee. That’s how Phil Dyess-Nugent ended up stranded in the desert, trapped inside a Bernie Brewer costume.
Parenthood (NBC, 10 p.m.): “Amber gains insight into Ryan’s past during a road trip” goes one part of the synopsis. Todd VanDerWerff can’t think of a better excuse to fold Madison Burge into the Parenthood universe.
Sons Of Anarchy (FX, 10 p.m.): Judging by the direction of the last few episodes and the limited information about this week’s 90-minute installment, Jax has resigned himself to a grim fate. And just when Zack Handlen’s was about to finish his “Charlie Hunnam Forever” needlepoint sampler…
Underemployed (MTV, 10 p.m.): No ambiguity about an ending here: TV Club’s regular coverage of Underemployed concludes tonight. In lieu of flowers, Farihah Zaman requests readers find some better roles for Michelle Ang.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Arrested Development (11 a.m.): From “Forget-Me-Now” forward, Noel Murray requests that his Arrested Development reviews be referred to as the “Hobnob About Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog Log.” Now that’s a mouthful!
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Inventing David Geffen (PBS, 8 p.m.): Notoriously cagy, instinctively private entertainment mogul David Geffen is profiled in a detailed (and wildly stacked with star power, thanks to interviews with the likes of Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Cher) American Masters installment.
Iconoclasts (Sundance, 8 p.m.): The sixth season of the “interesting people have interesting conversations” series ends with the fantastic pairing of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chuck D, a duo that previously teamed up for the documentary On The Shoulders Of Giants. However, the duo has yet to make our dreams come true by creating a project where Abdul-Jabbar peppers D’s verses from It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back with dialogue from Airplane!
Fringe (Science, 8 p.m.): Your refuge for much-loved, little-watched genre fare is the network formerly known as Discover Science, apparently, as the members of the FBI Fringe Division follow the crew of the Serenity into the strange, new world of off-network syndication.
Degrassi (TeenNick, 9 p.m.): Counting its previous incarnations from the 1970s and ’80s, the resilient Canadian teen drama (you can just call it Degrassi again—“The Next Generation” is so 2010) passed the 400-episode mark this year. And after this midseason finale, it will live for no less than 400 more.
To Kill A Mockingbird (AMC, 7 p.m.): Wait, did the old American Movie Classics travel forward in time and replace its 2012 successor? AMC programmers do know this is the adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic of coming of age and racial tolerance, right? They know it’s not the Friday The 13th sequel where Jason slays a tiny bird?
John Carter (Starz, 9 p.m.): Now that Forbes has officially absolved John Carter of being one of 2012’s biggest film flops, it can initiate its ascendance to cult classic. Watch it for Riggins, gang.
College Basketball: Harvard at St. Joseph’s (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.): No matter who wins this matchup, you can rest assured that the losers are still bound to beat the rest of us at life. (In which case: Root against both teams!)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Revolution: Obviously, the only thing keeping Revolution from feeling truly epic was the producers’ inability to score scenes to the monolithic tromp of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Now that he’s witnessed such a scene, Les Chappell still would’ve preferred to watch Giancarlo Esposito stare menacingly into the camera while an endless loop of “Dazed And Confused” played in the background.