Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, November 20. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): Somehow, this show has survived all the haters, subsisting largely on a diet of Emmy nods for Jim Parsons and a quietly expanding understanding of what it means to be female in the modern world. Oliver Sava has been enjoying the hell out of this show all the while, as it’s done that thing that very few Chuck Lorre shows do: Grow up. Tonight’s Thanksgiving episode promises to bring the spirit of nerdy togetherness to our geeky brethern for the seventh season in a row. With a title like “The Thanksgiving Decoupling,” how can they fail?
REGULAR COVERAGE
Parks And Recreation (NBC, 8 p.m.): The last two episodes of Parks until January, for your viewing pleasure. Leslie works on getting fluoride in the drinking water in Pawnee, and Ron and Andy work together on building a crib. Alasdair Wilkins is also giving carpentry lessons, for the interested.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): “Dead Man On Campus” handles a plotline in which a live man, who is not going to die anytime soon no not at all, goes to a place that is not on a campus, and is found there, later. Carrie Raisler senses this episode title might be misleading.
Misfits (Hulu, 8 p.m.): Well, we managed to forget about this Hulu show for four whole episodes, which is a little embarrassing. Anyway, it exists, and while we haven’t been paying attention, Rowan Kaiser has been tirelessly plugging away at weekly reviews.
Reign (CW, 9 p.m.): So it looks like everyone who is supposed to be engaged to everyone else is instead flirting with other people. How do they keep all the long names of their royal crushes straight? Caroline Framke has that problem, like, all the time.
Glee (Fox, 9 p.m.): The episode features songs by Billy Joel. And because they wanted to do a Billy Joel-themed episode, the episode is titled “Movin’ Out.” And because it’s called “Movin’ Out,” the McKinley High seniors start thinking about life after graduation, when they will move out of their childhood bedrooms—and into their parents’ basements. Brandon Nowalk wants to know if that’s all he can get for his money.
The Returned (Sundance, 9 p.m.): Tonight in “Victor,” Lena’s scar gets bigger, which is super scary and must also be very stressful. Erik Adams suggests that if your scars get bigger, you should probably see a doctor. (Unless you’re an undead zombie. In that case you should see a zombie doctor.)
Michael J. Fox Show (NBC, 9 p.m.): This is a Thanksgiving episode called “Thanksgiving” about, we assume, Thanksgiving. Doesn’t get any more classically sitcom than that. Robert David Sullivan feels like he’s in a Norman Rockwell painting.
White Collar (USA, 9 p.m.): Is there really a “seamy side” of Little Odessa? We find this difficult to believe. Anyway, over in the Little Odessa Red Light Criminal District, our heroes go to uncover a smuggling ring. Kenny Herzog found a smuggling ring in his attic the other day, in other news.
Elementary (CBS, 10 p.m.): Holmes and Watson find a serial killer whose cases have gone cold—so they get into a fight with the NYPD. Which we understand. We get into fights with the NYPD all the time. Myles McNutt remembers the incident at the hipster bowling alley. He remembers it too well.
Scandal (ABC, 10 p.m.): Team Pope goes to Vermont, which is a a little disconcerting. What are they doing in Vermont? Hunting? Fishing? Touring the Cabot cheese factory? Standing in line outside the original Ben and Jerry’s? Hey, does anyone want to go to Vermont? Sonia Saraiya suddenly has a hankering for the Green Mountain state.
Parenthood (NBC, 10 p.m.): It’s election day! Which means that at last, this frustrating campaign plot will go away! Todd VanDerWerff encourages you to do your civic duty and vote Kristina Braverman for Not Muddying Up Plotlines With Campaigns in 2013.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (11 a.m.): Zack Handlen’s Outer Space Fictional Station Support Group will be meeting at the usual time, in the usual location. All Romulans are asked to bring photo ID.
WHAT ELSE IS ON?
The 14th Annual Latin Grammy Awards (Univision, 8 p.m.): En vivo a Las Vegas. Los nominados por grabación del año incluyen “Bachata Rosa,” un canción a Natalie Cole y Juan Luis Guerra. Cole va a cantar un dueto con su padre, Nat King Cole, durante la programa. (Nosotros solamente recordamos un poquito de español, pero ¡Duolingo nos ayuda mucho!)
Project Runway: All Stars: (Bravo, 9 p.m.): The designers are inspired by Bonnie & Clyde (the new one)! Hopefully they do not get their hands on any guns, or this competition could get ugly.
True Crime With Aphrodite Jones (Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.): This week, Aphrodite Jones invstigates the death of NFL player Steve McNair. Aphrodite Jones wants answers.
Impact Wrestling (Spike, 9 p.m.): The wrestling will all take place on image macros, with a very large, white font superimposed over the wrestlers. At least we hope it will.
Say Yes To The Dress (TLC, marathon): A continuation of last week’s marathon. It looks like enough of you set your DVRs! This week, Joan Rivers; brides in peculiar sizes, like “tall”; and a bride envisioning a drop-waist gown with a sweetheart neckline. Look, honey, we all want things in this life. That doesn’t mean we get them.
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (Flix, 8 p.m.): Dito Montiel’s memoir of growing up on the former mean streets of Astoria, which are now probably a high-rise condominium complex made of glass. Robert Downey, Jr. and Shia LaBeouf star as the two Montiel brothers. (Brothers?)
The Princess And The Frog (ABC Family, 9 p.m.): Disney’s animated feature-length film starring its first black princess, Tiana, as she turns into a frog and then runs around trying to not being a frog anymore. There are pretty dresses, and also singing.
NBA Basketball: Clippers at Thunder (TNT, 8 p.m.): The Thunder has such a great story, and the Clippers are just this other team from Los Angeles. What are clippers, anyway? Ships? What are ships against the god of thunder and lightning, ZEUS?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Survivor: We-are-sur-VIV-ors / we’re-not-gon-na-GIVE-up / we’re-not-go-nna-STOP / we’re-gonna-work-HARD-er OH oh OH oh OH oh OH oh Ohhh And then Michelle gets a solo, which, whatever, peace-late. Carrie Raisler has politely asked us to stop inserting Destiny’s Child lyrics into her Survivor reviews. We aren’t listening.