Community returns—unless it doesn’t
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, February 7, 2013. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Community (NBC, 8 p.m.): Real talk: We’re writing this a full 30 hours before “History 101” is set to air, and by the time the article goes live, NBC will still have 20 hours to push October 19 a few more pages deeper into the calendar. So we won’t be able to say for sure if Community is airing tonight until it’s actually airing—because there’s always the off chance that February 7 was determined to be the perfect night to launch the retooled Up All Night—but whenever it does, Todd VanDerWerff will be there: Watching. Lurking. Running. Jumping. Hurdling. Sleeping. No, he can’t sleep. You sleep. Todd VanDerWerff reviews Community.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): Will a tiff between Sheldon and Leonard destroy The Big Bang Theory’s core relationship? Of course it won’t. But Oliver Sava likes pretending that there’s a version of this show that centers around an apartment shared by Sheldon and Amy—even if that fantasy only lasts for 30 minutes.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): Discontent with the walkathons and benefit concerts employed in the search to wipe out other afflictions, The Campaign to Cure Vampirism (unofficial title) heads to a “mysterious island.” If the show doesn’t find its cure there, but does find a polar bear or Hervé Villechaize, Carrie Raisler suggests it stay for a few weeks.
Parks And Recreation (NBC, 8:30 p.m.): Ben fields wedding-caterer advice from Chris, Tom, and Ron. Steve Heisler can already see where this plot ends up, but he can’t wait to see where it stops along the way. (Also: Does Party Down do out-of-state gigs?)
The Office (NBC, 9 p.m.): Let’s stop bagging on Brian the soundman for a second and focus on the Erin-Pete relationship, which—wait, he’s made his way into the episode synopsis? UGH. Erik Adams hopes for the best, but girds himself for the worst.
Person Of Interest (CBS, 9 p.m.): Phil Dyess-Nugent initiates the inaugural gathering of Occupy Person Of Interest while Reese and Finch protect a wealthy tech guru. Because when a show that’s owned in part by two huge media conglomerates and funded by several multinational corporations, someone has to speak truth to power, right?