There's Nothing On...Thursdays

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New series are blocked in red; returning series in a new time slot are blocked in orange.

One of the chief complaints about television programming is that there's nothing on.  This is the fifth part in a daily series to look at what actually is on each night.  The focus will be on broadcast network programing and some of the key offerings on cable; there's no way to cover the hundreds and hundreds of cable networks.

The Big Gun:  The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

I don't think there is a more powerful scripted show on television right now than The Big Bang Theory.  It's original broadcasts are at the top of the ratings pile each week.  The reruns on TBS regularly beat new scripted programming on the broadcast networks.  Famous pop astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson recently made a twitter joke about the soaring popularity of the comedy series over the actual big bang theory.  and the show is one of the best comedies around.  Sure, it's still a bit too raunchy at times, but the addition of Mayim Bailik (Amy Farfah Fowler) and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) really made the show shine.  The have even been successful in mining the serialized nature of the characters and their relationships. 

DVR Gridlock:  Thursdays at 8:00

CBS has The Big Bang Theory and the transplanted Two and a Half Men, which will dominate the night in terms of numbers.  Fox airs more X Factor for them that care (and they are legion).  NBC airs the final season of 30 Rock and the second season of the revamped Up All Night, which will focus more on the home storylines, as Ava (Maya Rudolph) finds her show cancelled.  The CW airs the super fine and super cool The Vampire Diaries.  In a somewhat smart move of counter programming, ABC launches the submarine thriller Last Resort.

Excising X Factor, I have four shows I really dig.  I can't see abandoning 30 Rock in its final run.  Up All Night was uneven at best, but I always found it heartwarming; it gets the pity DVR-slot by being paired with 30 Rock.  We'll tape Big Bang Theory in the bedroom, because we like to watch it instead of a Seinfeld rerun sometimes.  That leaves the Sophie's Choice of Vampire Diaries or Last Resort.  The Vampire Diaries is the old favorite.  I have an unnatural attachment to Candice Accola and her Caroline, but I know that contractually she won't be on every episode.  Last Resort has to be one of the most shocking hours of television.  Shocking only because of how involving it is.  It is an intense thrill ride that brings up the best of 24 and Crimson Tide.  I'm writing up a full review soon, but if you at all like action thrillers, then this is the must watch of the season.  I have to give the other lot to Last Resort and count on The CW's multi-platform distribution system to get me my Caroline and company.

Most Eagerly Anticipated Returning Show:  Scandal (ABC)

I can't rave enough about Scandal, the Kerry Washington vehicle about a former Presidential campaign consultant who now runs a Washington D.C. firm that specializes in controlling headline grabbing scandals for the wealthiest and most powerful of our nation. How good is Scandal?  Remember how good Grey's Anatomy was when George was alive and running off to get married to Callie and Yang was with Burke and Addison was a regular?  It's better, and Kerry Washington should be a much bigger star than she currently is.  I love this show.

Most Promising New Series:  Last Resort (ABC)

Andre Braugher stars as a submarine captain who when refusing to follow suspicious orders finds himself fired upon by his own country.  He leads his crew and their nuclear sub to a tropical island, where he declares himself president.  I know it sounds hokey and I question the long term prospects of sustained storytelling, but boy howdy is Andre Braugher great and the first act the most intense 17 minutes I've seen on television since Breaking Bad.  It's phenomenal.  Really, and I only hope enough men will pull themselves away from Big Bang Theory to give it a decent shot.

Also:

--I was shocked to realize that I was anticipating Scandal more than Parks and Recreation, one of my all time favorite shows.  Perhaps last season didn't start well.  Perhaps the season finale would have made a more than satisfactory series finale.  Perhaps I have the overwhelming feeling that NBC is wanting to move away from niche comedies to more mainstream fare like Guys With Kids and Go On.  Don't get me wrong, I won't miss an episode; I love these characters and Pawnee too much.  But there's a feeling of bittersweet that I can't shake.

--I really want to like Elementary.  I love Sherlock and I don't want this to be a carbon copy of that.  I hope that it can stand on its own.

--Oh, Glee.  I once really liked you.  I will watch a few week, because it's starting early, and I am curious to see how the split storytelling of high school and post high school stories actually works.  But I remember all too well the Degrassi episodes when Paige, Marco and Ellie went away to school.  Ugh.

--I am excited that early series mastermind Greg Daniels is returning for the final season of The Office.  We've been told that we will learn something about the people filming the documentary this season.  I'm hoping for one last Michael Scott episode.

--It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a show I constantly forget that I love.  I don't know why that is.

Series blocked in green get an unequivocal recommendation; series blocked in yellow are recommended but cautiously.