TV Jots

This outing marks the first time that there are an uneven number of contestants, which of course means that there are also an uneven number of male and female hopefuls. Thankfully, however, forced ethnic/racial segregation is absent during this jaunt, as well. Instead, the players initially form one group with a fairly cushy camp, until a chosen member receives the opportunity to divide them into two tribes on the third day. The winner of the first immunity challenge then gets to remain in the comfy camp, while the losers have to take a hike and make do with the most meager of meager provisions.

Once the basic set-up becomes clear, I imagine superficial discrimination probably won’t seem quite so bad, especially to those participants who wind up with the short end of the stick. Oh, well, too bad. What’s a million dead presidents worth anyway if you don’t have to work your ass off for them? I know—a million bucks is worth a million bucks before (extensive) taxes, no matter what, but you get my point.

Other New Stuff on TV Tonight:

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation—LAW OF GRAVITY: Two words … Grissom returns. [CBS/9:00]
• Grey’s Anatomy—WALK ON WATER: Who needs a two-parter when you can have a three-parter to round out February Sweeps and secure phenomenal ratings? That’s what begins tonight on Grey’s as America’s favorite randy hospital interns encounter situations that are even direr than normal, if that’s actually possible. Please, just no exploding body parts like the eyeball and testicle House so prominently featured last year. My stomach gives copious thanks in advance. [ABC/9:00]
• Men in Trees—NICE GIRLS FINISH FRIST: Funny 7Up Man Orlando Jones (The Evidence) sails through to play the offspring of John Amos’ character Buzz. [ABC/10:01]
• My Name is Earl—BLOW: No, not that kind of blow. Still, oh my friggin’ gawd! Joy discovers she has a half sister (guest star Tamala Jones, One on One) … who’s a wannabe wrestler! Look out, because you just know there’s gonna be some serious throwin’ down in the trailer-park boondocks tonight. [NBC/8:00]
• The Sarah Silverman Program—HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Sweet Sarah shows she might not be so sweet after all, especially when it comes to freeloaders. Who can blame her, right? [Comedy Central/10:30]
• ‘Til Death—THE BACHELOR PARTY: Funny people Margaret Cho (All-American Girl) and Anthony Anderson (The Shield) cruise through again to play hubby and wifey. I’m thinking Asian-Black couples must be the new kind of cool or something. Cool. [Fox/8:00]
• Ugly Betty—BROTHERS: Uh-oh! Forget that Daniel’s brother Alex is now his sister Alexis (new cast member Rebecca Romijn, X-Men trilogy). It looks like Henry and Betty are finally about to hook it all up. What took so darn long?! [ABC/8:00]

• A&E: The First 48 (9:00); Detroit SWAT (10:00)
• ABC: Ugly Betty (8:00); Grey’s Anatomy (9:00); Men in Trees (10:01)
• BBC America: In the City (10:00)
• BET: ComicView (10:30)
• CBS: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (9:00); Shark (10:00)
• The CW: Smallville (8:00); Supernatural (9:00)
• Comedy Central: The Sarah Silverman Program (10:30)
• Court TV: Hot Pursuit (8:00/8:30)
• Discovery: Best Evidence (9:00)
• ESPN: College Basketball (7:00/9:00)
• Food Network: Throwdown With Bobby Flay (10:00); Ace of Cakes (10:30)
• Fox: ‘Til Death (8:00); The War at Home (8:30); The O.C. (9:00)
• HGTV: Divine Design (9:00); House Hunters (10:00)
• MTV: Juvies (10:00)
• MyNet: Wicked Wicked Games (8:00); Watch Over Me (9:00)
• NBC: My Name is Earl (8:00); The Office (8:30); Scrubs (9:00); 30 Rock (9:31); ER (10:01)
• Spike TV: TNA iMPACT! (9:00); Pros vs. Joes (10:00)
• TLC: American Chopper (9:00); Biker Build-Off (10:00)
• TNT: NBA Basketball (8:00/10:30)
• USA: Nashville Star (10:00)

All times are PM and EST/Eastern Standard Time
Survivor: Fiji logo courtesy of CBS