Tonight on Alcatraz an innocent man returns to commit crimes. Tuesday night on American Idol semifinalist boys perform. Wednesday night on American Idol semifinalist girls perform. Thursday night is the Series Premiere of Awake. Friday night on Who Do You Think You Are? Reba McEntire is featured. Saturday night Lindsay Lohan hosts Saturday Night Live. Sunday night is the Series Premiere of GCB.
US television highlights for the week of February 27, 2012. Times are ET, shows are new unless noted as repeats. Tagged for your pleasure: tvtw .
Monday
American Masters, Cab Calloway: Sketches. PBS, check local listings for time.
Archival footage, animation and interviews tell the story of jazz musician and dancer Cab Calloway, whose talent and showmanship helped him rise above racial boundaries and become one of the first African-American music artists to tour the South. 1hr.
CBS Comedies, All New. 8pm - 10pm, CBS.
How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men, and Mike & Molly are all new.
House, Love is Blind. 8:00pm, Fox.
House and the team take on the case of a successful blind man who has been struck down by a mysterious illness just as he's about to ask for his girlfriend's hand in marriage; House's mother surprises him to tell him about her new beau.
Alcatraz, Clarence Montgomery. 9:00pm, Fox.
The only innocent man in Alcatraz returns to present day, but now he is committing crimes and it's up to Rebecca, Hauser and Dr. Soto to figure out why.
Hart of Dixie, Tributes & Triangles. 9:00pm, CW.
George is named Bluebell's Man of the Year and Lavon is expected to host a party in his honor, but when Zoe agrees to help him with the party, it takes a turn for the worse when she has to improvise a speech at the gathering.
Smash, The Cost of Art. 10:00pm, NBC.
Karen gets her first glimpse into the true world of Broadway and she must adapt quickly and learn to advance; Derek hosts a party for an in-demand and youthful star; Eileen tries her hand at a sly new strategy for raising money for the musical.
Hawaii Five-O, Lekio. 10:00pm, CBS.
Five-0 crosses paths with a retired NYPD bomb expert who is now a private investigator in Oahu, when they investigate the murder of a famous radio DJ.
Castle, Once Upon A Crime. 10:00pm, ABC.
A woman dressed as Red Riding Hood is found dead in the woods with claw marks covering her body, and soon after a dead Snow White is discovered with a poison apple in her hand, Castle is on a hunt to catch a fairytale killer before he kills again.
Pawn Stars, James Gang Rides Again. 10:00pm, History.
Before the challenging negotiations take place, the Vegas staff must determine the origins and values of photographs of notorious Old West outlaw Jesse James, a Leslie organ speaker from the 1950s, and a 1930s Boy Scout first-aid kit.
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Tuesday
American Experience, The Amish. PBS, check local listings for time.
An in-depth look is taken at the contemporary Amish culture and faith, including how the separatist community was able to survive and thrive in the midst of one of the world's most independent societies and what their future holds. 2 hrs.
American Idol, Semifinalist Boys Perform. 8:00pm, Fox.
The 13 remaining male hopefuls sing their way through a stressful performance in front of the judges; viewers get their first chance to vote as the first half of the competitors perform, hoping to be sent on to the next round or saved as wild cards. 2 hrs.
NCIS, Need to Know. 8:00pm, CBS.
NCIS investigates the murder of a Chief Petty Officer with top-secret clearance to a research laboratory who also had connections to an international arms dealer; Probationary Agent Ned Dorneget tries to butter up Gibbs in hopes of joining the team.
Cougar Town, Lover's Touch. 8:30pm, ABC.
Jules is deep into wedding planning mode until Travis is in an accident and is rushed to the hospital; the guys invent a game to cheer up Grayson, who is feeling neglected by Jules; things get dangerous when Laurie and Ellie want to play the game.
The River, Peaches. 9:00pm, ABC.
After the Magus crew is run aground by another vessel, they soon learn that the crew of the ship, who seemed very welcoming and claim to have come to their rescue, have a very different agenda planned which causes a dire, life-threatening situation.
NCIS: Los Angeles, Blye, K. Part 2. 9:00pm, CBS.
The NCIS team continues to scramble for answers and new evidence to prove Kensi Blye's innocence after a private meeting involving her deceased father's sniper unit and a CIA agent suddenly turns deadly, leaving the team worried for her safety.
Ringer, P.S. You're an Idiot. 9:00pm, CW.
Andrew proposes again and Bridget realizes she is in over her head; Olivia becomes increasingly suspicious of Malcolm while he is working at Martin/Charles; Juliet makes a decision that forces her mother, Catherine, to take drastic measures.
Body of Proof, Home Invasion. 10:00pm, ABC.
When the parents of a perfect family are murdered and discovered by their son, the team realizes that what seems like perfection is not always the case; Curtis is having a hard time with his new position; Megan's newly acquired love life heats up.
Unforgettable, Blind Alleys. 10:00pm, CBS.
Al and Carrie are forced to sit on the sidelines by a negotiator when the grieving father of a suspect that Roe shot takes members of the Queens Police Department, including Nina, hostage in a last desperate quest for justice.
Parenthood, My Brother's Wedding. 10:00pm, NBC.
The Braverman family gathers to celebrate a momentous union; Joel and Julia struggle to overcome the emotional aftereffects of the adoption; Crosby and Adam must decide what will happen to the Luncheonette; Sarah makes a difficult decision.
Justified, The Man Behind The Curtain. 10:00pm, FX.
Raylan becomes frustrated with the crimes being committed by the Detroit mob and Quarles, so he decides to unleash his own brand of justice, which gets the attention of the FBI, as well as their complete disapproval of his actions.
Southland, Fallout. 10:00pm, TNT.
Officer Tang is forced to endure a very difficult day as she is served legal papers in the early hours of the day and then must survive a shooting in the later half of the evening; Sammy refuses to forgive Ben after he fails to support her.
White Collar, Judgement Day. 10:00pm, USA.
Peter is forced to choose a side when he discovers that Agent Kramer's review of Neal's case will possibly put the commutation of his prison sentence in jeopardy; Neal decides to help his case by attempting to correct a past mistake.
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Wednesday
Survivor: One World, One World is Out the Window. 8:00pm, CBS.
Dysfunction continues to frustrate each team, especially the women, who desperately need supplies; a huge storm wreaks havoc on the island, leaving the competitors irritable, hungry and rainsoaked; poor communication leads to challenge missteps.
ABC Comedies, All New. 8pm - 10pm, ABC.
The Middle, Suburgatory, Modern Family, and Happy Endings are all new.
American Idol, Semifinalist Girls Perform. 8:00pm, Fox.
It's America's second chance to vote as the remaining 12 female hopefuls take the stage; the girls that remain in the competition perform in front of the judges, hoping to be given high marks for their originality; front-runners begin to shine. 2 hrs.
Criminal Minds, A Family Affair. 9:00pm, CBS.
The BAU team travels to Atlanta to help investigate the murders of women, but the clues they find lead them to look for an "unsub" who is not working alone; the team cheers on Hotch as he completes the FBI triathlon.
Rock Center with Brian Williams. 9:00pm, NBC.
Built around the week's most prevalent and interesting events with meaningful and in-depth stories, Brian Williams and an all-star cast of journalists draw on the unparalleled strength of America's premiere news organization to keep viewers informed.
Revenge, Scandal. 10:00pm, ABC.
The murder at the Fire & Ice party disrupts the Hamptons, and someone is to blame; as the Graysons form a united front, Emily grows more restless; Ashley steps up for the family; Jack is not the only one who questions where Amanda has gone.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI Unplugged. 10:00pm, CBS.
A child abduction occurs during a city-wide blackout, leaving the CSI team to revert to their old-school methods in hopes of finding the missing child.
Top Chef, Fire and Ice. 10:00pm, Bravo.
The final three chefs must marry fire and ice in their latest dishes, which represent the scorching Texas heat and their new-found Canadian chill; the competitors must make one dish and an accompanying cocktail representative of their journey.
psych, Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger. 10:00pm, USA.
When Shawn and Gus are tasked with finding a valuable old dagger before it can be obtained by the leader of a gang of art thieves, they realize that they are in need of assistance from the elusive art thief Pierre Despereaux.
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Thursday
NBC Comedies, All New. 8pm - 10pm., NBC.
30 Rock, Park & Rec, The Office and Up All Night are all new.
Big Bang Theory, The Wiggly Finger Catalyst. 8:00pm, CBS>
Penny thinks she may have found the perfect woman for Raj when she sets him up with a one of her friends, but things do not turn out like she expected; Sheldon decides to make all of his inconsequential decisions by rolling dice.
American Idol, Finalists Chosen. 8:00pm, Fox.
The remaining contestants look for their names to be called as America's first round of votes reveals who's going home and who moves on to the last round of auditions; the judges prepare to make their choices for wild card, saving a few rising stars. 2 hrs.
Awake, Pilot, 10:00pm, NBC.
* Series Premiere * After a car accident, a detective realizes that he is waking up in two realities and in each one, a different member of his family died in the accident; the man is determined to hold on to both worlds and uses his unique perspective to solve crimes.
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Friday
Who Do You Think You Are?, Reba McEntire. 8:00pm, NBC.
Country singing legend Reba McEntire embarks on a journey to find out more information regarding her mother's side of the family; after traveling to Raleigh, N.C., Reba finds startling information regarding her ancestor's struggles coming to America.
A Gifted man, In Case of Heart Failure. 9:00pm, CBS.
Michael discovers that a patient at the clinic has a very special connection to Anna; Michael reunites with an old friend of his who is suffering from a rare illness and deals with his overbearing mother in the process of trying to heal him.
Grimm, Three Coins In A Fuchsbau. 9:00pm, NBC.
Nick and Hank go on a hunt for rare coins after a botched robbery of a jewelry store ends in murder; Nick discovers the coins have a disturbing effect on whoever possesses them; an old family friend comes to Nick with information about his family
Blue Bloods, Women with Guns. 10:00pm, CBS.
Frank's close friend, a high-profile reporter, is almost assaulted while she is in town investigating a story, leading Danny and Jackie to try and track down her would-be attacker; Jamie's undercover case finally comes to a head.
Merlin, Lancelot Du Lac. 10:00pm, Syfy.
New, no info.
Real Time with Bill Maher, 10:00pm, HBO.
Scheduled guests: ex-Senator Russ Feingold; businessman Bob Lutz; political consultant James Carville; astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson; and journalist John Heilemann.
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Saturday
The Firm, Chapter Nine, 9:00pm, NBC.
A desperate father hires Mitch and Ray to help with the mysterious death of his son, and their investigation leads them into a world ruled by "terror law," where national security trumps civil liberties; Tammy gets a new job to help the Holt case.
Saturday Night Live, New. 11:30pm, NBC.
Actress Lindsay Lohan hosts and musicial guest Jack White performs.
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Sunday
60 Minutes. 7:00pm, CBS.
Scheduled: a look at the Stuxnet, a sophisticated computer worm that sabotaged Iran's nuclear program in 2010; the archbishop of Dublin and his criticism for the Irish Catholic Church; a look at the rising trend of "redshirting" children in school.
The Amazing Race 20, Bust Me Right in the Head with It (Asuncion, Paraguay). 8:00pm, CBS.
The teams feverishly travel to Paraguay where they struggle to find their footing during a challenge that ends up being fruitless for some; balance and agility come into play, as the competitors must adjust to local customs in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The Simpsons, Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart. 8:00pm, Fox.
Bart goes undercover as a graffiti artist and paints Homer's unflattering image all over Springfield, but one night he is caught by established street artists who invite him to exhibit his artwork in a gallery show; a new health food store opens up.
Once Upon a Time, Dreamy 8:00pm, ABC.
Mary Margaret and Leroy team up to help the Storybrooke nuns sell their candles, but Leroy makes a promise that he may not be able to keep; Emma looks into David's wife's disappearance; Grumy finds forbidden love with a beautiful but clumsy fairy.
Napoleon Dynamite, FFA. 8:30pm, Fox.
The Future Farmers of America's state competition is coming up, but when Napoleon's partner drops out he asks Pedro to be his teammate in order to beat his rival for the second year in a row, but loses focus when the FFA Queen puts the moves on him.
The Good Wife, After the Fall. 9:00pm, CBS.
Alicia and Caitlin face off against an old foe, Nancy Crozier, when a documentary filmmaker gets blamed for a student's suicide; power grabs are being made at the firm; Peter learns the price of taking the moral high road.
Desperate Housewives, She Needs Me. 9:00pm, ABC.
Susan says she'll help with his and Julie's baby after Lynette tells Porter that she won't help raise her future granddaughter; Orson talks Bree into going to Maine, and might not come back; Karen begs Gaby not to tell Roy about her condition.
Family Guy, Burning Down the Bayit. 9:00pm, Fox.
Overwhelmed with his financial troubles, Mort asks Peter and Quagmire for help in saving his pharmacy, however, things take a turn for the worse when the three of them decide to burn it down to collect the insurance money.
The Celebrity Apprentice, How Much is That Celebrity in the Window?. 9:00pm, NBC.
Each team is presented with the task of creating a live and eye-catching window display for the Ivanka Trump Collection, but several of the participants find themselves lacking creative ideas; the teams lose faith in their appointed leaders. 2 hrs.
Luck. 9:00pm, HBO.
While Ace presents an argument he hopes will secure him part-ownership of the racetrack, Michael Smythe forces Nathan Israel to spy for him; Joey's worsening depression becomes deadly; Rosie and Leon worry about the race.
Shameless, Parenthood. 9:00pm, SHO.
Steve steps up to the coaching position for Carl's football team; Lip quits school, but promises to get a GED, and finds Karen selling their baby to the highest bidder; Mickey vows to kill Frank if he spills the beans about him and Ian.
CSI: Miami, No Good Deed. 10:00pm, CBS.
When a neighborhood do-gooder gets mysteriously murdered, Horatio and the CSIs discover that the man was planning to blow the whistle on something big.
GCB, Pilot. 10:00pm, ABC.
* Series Premiere * After her marriage ends, a former high school "mean girl" returns to Dallas where she grew up and begins to realize that even though she may not be the same person anymore, there are many people from her hometown who still hold a grudge.
Breakout Kings, An Unjust Death. 10:00pm, A&E.
The gang is tasked with pursing a sadistic serial killer, who Lloyd Lowery helped send to prison eight years before, but unexpected news from Charlie and a devastating loss has everyone worrying about their future as a team.
The Walking Dead, Judge, Jury, Executioner. 10:00pm, AMC.
Dale begins to believe that the group is relinquishing their sense of compassion in order to ensure their own survival after he learns of Rick and Shane's decision; a series of unforeseen events are set in motion as a result of Carl's actions.