Tonight, ABC has a Thin Ice, Part 1 sports special.

Over on cable, CMT has the third winter season finale of The Singing Bee, Science has the first season finale of Big, Bigger, Biggest, and Sundance has the fifth season finale of Shameless.

In late night, CMT has the third season finale of Cribs.

Prime Picks

Caprica (Syfy): Repeat. Last week’s episode, “The Imperfections of Memory,” replays, where Graystone’s rival continues to come at him and Joseph is search for his daughter in V-world. A new episode follows.

Caprica (Syfy): New. Daniel sets out to get his daughter’s avatar out of the system. Plays again later. Last week’s episode replays right before.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate (Food Network): New. Stars of the Food Network talk about their favorite foods made up of unexpected combinations. A repeat episode follows. Both play again later.

Other Option

• What Not to Wear (TLC): New. Stacy and Clinton try to help a woman that needs to dress more professionally for her job as a lawyer. A repeat episode replays right before. Both play again later.

Sports Notes

• CBS has NCAA Tournament college basketball action all day.
• NBA TV has the Boston Celtics at the Houston Rockets.

Late Night

• Justified (FX): Repeat. This past Tuesday’s series premiere episode, “Fire in the Hole,” replays.

TV Marathons

AMC has six episodes of Breaking Bad tonight.
Bravo has eight episodes of The Real Housewives of….
Discovery Channel has seven episodes of Howe & Howe Tech followed by five episodes of American Loggers tonight.
History has five episodes of Gangland tonight.
Oxygen has Living Single episodes most of the day.
Spike TV has 15 hours of CSI… episodes.
Syfy has eight episodes of Moonlight early.
WE has five episodes of Amazing Wedding Cakes early and later five episodes of My Fair Wedding With David Tutera tonight.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

Tonight, ABC has the spring season premiere of FlashForward.

Over on cable, FX has the first season finale of Archer, HBO has an Afghan Star special, and HGTV has the series premieres of My First Sale, Selling New York and Tough as Nails.

Scheduled to be on TV Talk today at 4:00 p.m. PT to talk about the week in TV with host Shaun Daily. The show runs from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT and I am usually on right about the halfway point.

On Episode 62, “The One With the Psych Debate,” of the TV times Three podcast, Amrie, Rae and I talk about the week in TV, which included some Chuck, Greek, Lost, and the season finale of Psych.

Prime Picks

Community (NBC): New. Jeff is getting extremely completive in his pottery class. Meanwhile, Pierce takes some of the rest of the group for a ride in his boating class.
Parks & Recreation (NBC): New. Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live) guest-stars as the head ranger that Leslie goes to for help in improving security after Jerry gets mugged in the park.

The Office (NBC): New. The group is letting some new Sabre policies go to their heads.
30 Rock (NBC): New. Liz bumps into Wesley over and over again, which makes her reassess their original decision about each other. Jack is trying to make a place for himself in the new company.

Ace of Cakes (Food Network): Repeat. Duff and the gang are commissioned to make a Harry Potter cake for the premiere of the movie. Plays again later.

Solid Selections

FlashForward (ABC): New. Mark is sent to an FBI therapist before he can get his badge back. Demetri is partnered with CIA agent Vogel, whom he doesn’t like after recent events in Hong Kong. Janis learns some things about Simon. Runs two hours and one minute. I was starting to join the many that started to not like this show anymore. I wasn’t quite there yet, as I was still watching and others had already given up. But, tonight’s two hours has sucked me back in. There are lots of reveals over the two hours, some that are kind of filling time, but others that answer major questions posed in the first part of the season. Some are answered for the audience, but not necessarily the investigators looking into the blackout. Mark finding out more about his flash-forward really helped drive the episode. Ricky Jay (Kidnapped, Deadwood) is excellent as the bad guy. Altogether, there was enough to get me interested in the show again, almost as much as when it first began. Looking forward to seeing where they take things over the course of the rest of the season.

Private Practice (ABC): Repeat. The “Strange Bedfellows” episode from earlier this season replays, where Violet is asked to face her attacker in court. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes.

Sports Notes

• CBS has round one NCAA Tournament college basketball action all day.
• ESPN2 has a second round NIT Tournament game.
• TNT has doubleheader NBA action with the Orlando Magic at the Miami Heat followed by the New Orleans Hornets at the Denver Nuggets.

Late Night

• Caprica (Syfy): Repeat. Last Friday’s episode, “The Imperfections of Memory,” replays.

TV Marathons

Bravo has 13 episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City.
Discovery Channel has eight episodes of Man Vs. Wild.
Spike TV has 10 episodes of CSI….
Syfy has eight episodes of Invasion early.
Travel Channel has six episodes of Ghost Adventures.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

Tonight, ABC has the ninth season finale of Scrubs and CBS has the second season finale of Gary Unmarried.

Over on cable, Comedy Central has the 14th season premiere of South Park and the series premiere of Ugly Americans, Syfy has the third spring season premiere of Destination Truth, and TLC has the series premiere of Addicted.

Prime Picks

Human Target (FOX): New. Chance is out to stop his old partner and trainee from assassinating a foreign dignitary.

Modern Family (ABC): Repeat. Claire is left feeling inadequate after a visit from an old friend, played by Minnie Driver (The Riches).
The Inbetweeners (BBC America): New. Simon drives the guys into London for a wild night out. Last week’s episode replays right before. Both play again later.

Being Erica (SOAPnet): New. Erica gets to see a side she never knew of her brother and returns to confront Kai about things. Plays again tomorrow afternoon.

Solid Selections

Scrubs (ABC): Season Finale. Lucy finds her true inspiration and Cole finds his true calling.
Gary Unmarried (CBS): Season Finale. Gary finds out that his and Allison’s divorce papers were never filed. Allison’s sister comes for a visit.

Throwdown With Bobby Flay (Food Network): New. Bobby competes in a “Stuffed French Toast” contest. A repeat episode follows. Both play again later.

Dinner: Impossible (Food Network): New. Robert has to create a culinary version of the Ironman Triathlon. Plays again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has doubleheader NBA action with the San Antonio Spurs at the Orlando Magic followed by the Milwaukee Bucks at the Los Angeles Clippers.
• ESPN2 has doubleheader NIT Tournament college basketball action.

TV Marathons

Bravo has nine episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
Discovery Channel has eight episodes of MythBusters.
MTV2 has 12 episodes of Nitro Circus early.
Oxygen has 14 episodes of Roseanne early.
Spike TV has 10 episodes of CSI….
Syfy has is playing Leprechaun 4: In Space, Leprechaun 3, Leprechaun 2, and Leprechaun early.
USA has five episodes of NCIS tonight.
WE has five episodes of Secret Live of Women early.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

Tonight, ABC has a FlashForward recap special.

Over on cable, Animal Planet has a The Man Who Injects Venom special, FX has the series premiere of Justified, History has a Samurai and the second season finale of Life After People, and Oxygen has a The Bad Girls Club reunion special.

In later night, HGTV has the series premiere of Marriage Under Construction and Oxygen has the series premiere of Love Games.

Prime Picks

NCIS (CBS): New. A Navy diver going after sunken treasure is murdered and the team works with investigators from the Coast Guard Investigative Service to solve the case.

Lost (ABC): New. Fake Locke gives Sawyer a mission. Last week’s episode, “Dr. Linus,” replays right before.

Justified (FX): Series Premiere. U.S. Marshal Raylen Givens, played by Timothy Olyphant (Damages, Deadwood), is sent to his home state of Kentucky after an incident in Miami. There he takes on a case involving an old childhood friend that is now the leader of a violent white supremacist group. This episode also stars Natalie Zea (Dirty Sexy Money) as Raylen’s ex-wife and Walton Goggins (The Shield) as the old friend. Plays twice and again later. The show is based on an Elmore Leonard character from his short story “Fire in the Hole,” which this first episode follows quite closely. I’ve seen the first two episodes of the series and it instantly went from one of my most anticipated new shows to must watch. Olyphant is perfectly cast as the lead. He is a quick draw no nonsense lawman, much like his character in Deadwood, but set in present day Kentucky. Tonight’s episode is outstanding, as it introduces the character and his new surroundings very well. You can’t ask much more from an introductory episode to a series. First episodes are hard to pull off well, but this is one of the best I’ve seen recently. While I really like NBC’s Parenthood, ABC’s The Good Wife, and the soon to return ABC’s V and USA’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and some of Southland, this is the show I’d watch, if I could only watch one show from this time period, which as you can see is quite crowded. FX has another winner on its hands.

Solid Selections

90210 (The CW): New. Naomi goes on a hike with Ivy and Liam. Annie attempts an ultimatum with Jasper.

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS): New. The team thinks that the younger brother of a recently murdered Marine may also be a target.

Parenthood (NBC): New. Max gets booted from school. Sarah ends things with Jim. Crosby and Jabbar have fun together. Julia doesn’t want to miss out on things in her daughter’s life.

Other Options

• FlashForward (ABC): New. A recap clip show to get you ready for the return of new episodes this Thursday.
• The Good Wife (CBS): New. Will and Alicia are taking on an insurance company that is denying coverage for emergency in-utero surgery.
• Southland (TNT): New. Ben takes his first solo shift. A task force is setup to arrest an ex-banger. Chickie is attempting to work harder. Plays again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has women’s college basketball tournament selection show followed by the play-in game of the NCAA tournament followed by an NIT Tournament game.
• ESPN2 has tripleheader NIT Tournament action.
• NBA TV has the San Antonio Spurs at the Miami Heat.
• Versus has NHL action.

Late Night

• Damages (FX): Repeat. Last night’s episode, “I Look Like Frankenstein,” replays.
• Psych (USA): Repeat. Last Wednesday’s season finale episode, “Mr. Yin Presents…,” replays.

TV Marathons

Bravo has five episodes of The Millionaire Matchmaker tonight.
Discovery Channel has eight episodes of Dirty Jobs.
Oxygen has 15 episodes of The Bad Girls Club.
Spike TV has six episodes of CSI: NY.
Syfy has nine episodes of Destination Truth early.
USA has 17 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
WE has five episodes of Bridezillas early and later has five episodes of Little Miss Perfect tonight.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

First, I would like to acknowledge that his statements are based on his opinion of the way he would rather spend his time, but that he presents them as better for you as well.

Next, I would also like to acknowledge the way Godin ends the article with a thought from Clay Shirky:

Shirky has noticed the trend of talented people putting five or six hours an evening to work instead of to waste. Add that up across a million or ten million people and the output is astonishing. He calls it cognitive surplus and it’s one of the underappreciated world-changing stories of our time.

That sounds about right. But, I would also point out that more than half of the items Godin lists as better than TV would fall under “waste” as opposed to “work.”

Lastly, before I take on his list of activities that are better than TV, I would like to address his following statement:

Broadcast TV was a great choice when a> there weren’t a lot of other options and b> when everyone else was watching the same thing, so you needed to see it to be educated.

To this I once again point out in regards to “a>” that way over half of his listed options have been available for quite some time. Even back when “Broadcast TV was a great choice.”

So, with that I would like to address Godin’s list of activities he says “Now, though, you could” do these things instead of watching TV. His items are in bold and followed by my thoughts on each:

• Run a little store on eBay - Yes, you could run an online store that say, sold TV memorabilia, used TV on DVD sets, or t-shirts with your favorite quotes from TV shows on them. Heck, you could sell TVs.
• Write a daily blog - Yes, you could, like the one you are reading this article on that is about TV.
• Write a novel - Yes, you could, but what makes writing a novel a more valid option than writing a movie or TV show script. Why is a novel a better way to tell a fictional story than TV? I don’t believe that it is. I will mention more about novels below.
• Start an online community about your favorite passion - Yes, this is a good idea, even if your passion is TV. Many online communities exist around TV writing, TV watching, TV shows, TV characters, TV writers, and many other aspects surrounding TV.
• Go to meetups in your town - Yes, meetups are fun, especially if they center around a common interest of those attending that is fun to talk about, like say, a favorite TV show.
• Volunteer to tutor a kid, in person or online - What if in doing so you found that the kid had a passion for storytelling, especially in the form of episodic TV? It’s possible.
• Learn a new language, verbal or programming - Yes, this is a great use of time. If you were to choose programming, you could use it to create the next great delivery system for video online that, yes, would include TV shows.
• Write hand written thank you notes each evening to people who helped you out or did a good job - Or, to your favorite TV production company or network letting them know how much you enjoy their content and how much you would very much like them to keep your favorite show around for another season.
• Produce small films and publish them online - Is it okay if these are done for entertainment purposes? What if these “small films” were episodic in nature and told a story? Wait, that sounds a lot like TV. I’m assuming that if it is a good thing to produce these that you are expecting that people might watch them.
• Listen to the one thousand most important operas - What makes an opera a more valid storytelling option than say a movie, other musical forms, a novel, a play, or yes, a TV show. I would also submit that an opera would be better when performed on stage, as most people listening to an opera would have no idea what is going on in the story, since they don’t understand the language it is being sung in. Yet, most can understand the story and feel the music when watching an opera. You might be able to relive the experience by listening to it after you have seen it, but that visual component seems very much needed to fully comprehend. I don’t really see a difference between going to the opera and watching a great TV show.
• Read a book or two every evening - This is the one that always gets me when people talk about watching TV being a waste of time. Again, I am assuming that since Godin mentions writing a novel above as a worthy way to spend your time that reading one would be okay too. That when he says, “Read a book” that he doesn’t mean only non-fiction. To me a TV show is like a book series. A TV season is a book in the series and each episode is a chapter in the book. The usual retort is that TV is passive and reading is active. If you believe this, then you have been watching the wrong TV shows. Yes, many TV shows may fall under the passive category, but there are many TV shows that you have to watch closely and use you brain to either get the joke or figure out the mystery, etc.
• Play a game of Scrabble with your family - Yes, playing a game with your family is a very valid way to spend your time, but why not play a TV version of “Scene It?” or “Trivial Pursuit.” I would think the point would be spending time with family, not necessarily what game you play.

Yes, I watch more TV than the average person does. And, yes you can get more done by being productive instead of watching TV. Like say, writing an article about why things aren’t better than TV instead of watching TV. But, you can also do so instead of reading a book or playing a game with your family.

In the end, it’s all about what you spend your time on, but using that time to dump on TV over other activities doesn’t seem all that productive to me.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

Tonight, ABC has a 20/20: Inside the Bachelor special, The CW has Life Unexpected moving up an hour and the return of Gossip Girl with new episodes following it, and NBC has the return of Trauma with new episodes following Chuck.

Over on cable, BBC America has the 13th season premiere of Top Gear, BET has a Rip the Runway special, HGTV has the series premiere of Home Rules, Showtime has the third season finale of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and VH1 has the series premieres of Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty and Transform Me.

Prime Picks

Chuck (NBC): New. Casey gets accidentally arrested for treason, so Chuck and Sarah must break him out of jail and help clear his name. Robert Patrick (The Unit) guest-stars as Casey’s old commanding officer.

24 (FOX): New. Cole and Jack are on their way to save Hassan’s daughter and capture someone they believe is behind the upcoming attack.

Greek (ABC Family): New. Things get even tenser between Cappie and Casey when his parents visit and suggest going on a camping trip.

Solid Selections

Life Unexpected (The CW): New. Jones asks Lux to the Winter Formal, which brings up the past for Baze and Cate, especially after Baze finds a condom in Lux’s room.

Trauma (NBC): New. Rabbit and Nancy get closer. Marisa deals with a new partner.

Damages (FX): New. Patty and Ellen are trying to track down Carol Tobin, who seems to have vanished. Arthur Frobisher is about to launch his new foundation. Plays twice and again later, plus replays multiple times throughout the week.

Other Options

• Gossip Girl (The CW): New. Lily and Rufus don’t like Jenny’s relationship with Damien. Vanessa and Dan are trying to date other people.
• House (FOX): New. A high school student passes out on a school trip and then begins hallucinating after.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS): New. Jeff’s friend’s bachelor party has been canceled, but Jeff doesn’t tell Audrey.
• Unwrapped (Food Network): New. Some favorite “Citrus Sensations” are looked at. A repeat episode plays right before. Both play again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has doubleheader NBA action with the Detroit Pistons at the Boston Celtics followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at the Golden State Warriors.
• Versus has NHL action.

Late Night

• Psych (USA): Repeat. Last Wednesday’s season finale episode, “Mr. Yin Presents…” replays.
• White Collar (USA): Repeat. Last Wednesday’s season finale episode, “Out of the Box,” replays.

TV Marathons

Discovery Channel has six episodes of Overhaulin’.
History has six episodes of American Pickers twice.
Oxygen has 12 episodes of America’s Next Top Model.
Spike TV has six episodes of CSI: NY.
Syfy has eight episodes of Destination Truth early.
Travel Channel has seven episodes of Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern.
USA has 12 episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent early.
WE has 10 episodes of Platinum Weddings early followed 14 episodes of The Golden Girls.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.

Tonight, FOX has the series premiere of Sons of Tucson and NBC has the series premiere of Minute to Win It and the ninth season premiere of The Apprentice with another celebrity edition.

Over on cable, ABC Family has the TV movie premiere of The Cutting Edge 4: Fire & Ice, Animal Planet has a Killer Aliens special and the series premiere of Fatal Attractions, E! has the second season premiere of Kendra and the series premiere of Pretty Wild, ESPN has the TV movie premiere of 30 for 30: Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks, Food Network has the third season premiere of Ultimate Recipe Showdown, HBO has the miniseries premiere of The Pacific, HGTV has the seventh season premiere of Holmes on Homes and the series premiere of The Antonio Treatment, MTV has a Summit on the Summit special, Style has the second season finale of Giuliana & Bill, TLC has a The Man with Half a Body special and the series premiere of Hoarders: Buried Alive, and Travel Channel has the series premiere of America’s Worst Driver.

Prime Picks

The Simpsons (FOX): New. Homer and Marge have to talk with Principal Skinner about Bart and his lack of turning in homework. A repeat episode follows.

The Pacific (HBO): Miniseries Premiere. Based on the real-life journeys of three World War II Marines, Sgt. John Basilone, played by Jon Seda (Homicide: Life on the Street), is sent to the Pacific, Robert Leckie, played by James Badge Dale (The Black Donnellys, 24), joins up with the Marines, and Eugene Sledge, played by Joe Mazzello (Matters of Life and Death, is attempting to enlist. This is a 10-part miniseries from the people that brought us the Band of Brothers miniseries. It follows these three men from the battle with the Japanese on Guadalcanal to when they returned home. From the footage I’ve seen, it looks spectacular. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.

Brothers & Sisters (ABC): New. Kitty’s new popularity is causing problems for her family. Luc may be deported. Nora goes to Tommy for some help. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes.

Solid Selections

The Amazing Race (CBS): New. The racers compete in a WWI reenactment challenge.

Desperate Housewives (ABC): New. Supermodels Heidi Klum and Paulina Porizkova guest star in this episode that has Gaby and Angie heading to New York. Runs 61 minutes.

Cold Case (CBS): New. A dockworker murdered in 1986 that was also moonlighting as a professional wrestler has his case reopened when the squad gets new direction.

Other Options

• 30 for 30: Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks (ESPN): TV Movie Premiere. See and hear from those that were there for Reggie Miller’s amazing performance against the Knicks in the 1995 playoffs. Runs 90 minutes.
• The Cutting Edge 4: Fire & Ice (ABC Family): TV Movie Premiere. Francia Raisa (The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Brendan Fehr Roswell are the latest mismatched pair to go for the figure skating gold. Runs two hours. Plays twice. The first three Cutting Edge movies play leading up to tonight’s newest edition.
• Ultimate Recipe Showdown (Food Network): Season Premiere. Four home cooks compete to create the best “Comfort Food” dishes. Plays again later.

Sports Notes

• ABC has a college basketball conference tournament game followed by NBA action with the Boston Celtics at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• CBS has a couple of college basketball conference tournament games followed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.
• ESPN has college basketball conference tournament game.
• FOX has NASCAR racing action with the Sprint Cup Series: Kobalt Tools 500.
• NBA TV has the Toronto Raptors at the Portland Trail Blazers.
• NBC has NHL action followed by the final round of the WGC-CA Championship golf tournament.

Late Night

• Damages (FX): Repeat. Last Monday’s episode, “You Haven’t Replaced Me,” replays.

TV Marathons

A&E has 12 hours of Parking Wars episodes.
ABC Family is playing The Cutting Edge, The Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold, The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream, and The Cutting Edge 4: Fire & Ice.
BBC America has 10 episodes of The Inbetweeners.
Comedy Central has 10 episodes of Futurama.
Oxygen has 16 episodes of Snapped.
Spike TV is playing Star Wars Episode I-III today.
TLC has five episodes of Untold Stories of the E.R.
TNT has eight episodes of Law & Order early.
Travel Channel has the five-part 101 Chowdown Countdown early and 12 episodes of Man vs. Food later.
truTV has six episodes of Top 20 Most Shocking.
TV One has 12 episodes of Turn of the Heat With G. Garvin early.
USA has five episodes of House tonight.
WE has 10 episodes of Platinum Weddings.

• Printable Spring 2010 TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated: 2.10.2010 - Added some new shows and premiere dates
• Printable Spring 2010 Cable TV Schedule v1.01 (PDF) - Last Updated 2.10.2010 - Added some shows.