It’s election night in Pawnee as Parks And Recreation’s fourth season comes to a close
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, May 10. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Parks And Recreation (NBC, 9:30 p.m.): It’s a big night for finales, with half of TV Club’s regular Thursday-night lineup heading out for summer vacation at the end of the night. But before Parks And Recreation can do so, it needs to sort out all these city-council ballots and determine what becomes of the Parks Department staff in the event Leslie defeats Bobby Newport. Steve Heisler’s suggestion: Send the cast to Cape Canaveral where, while touring an experimental spacecraft, Jerry accidentally initiates a launch procedure, stranding Leslie and company in space for the (still uncomfirmed) fifth season…
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): …unless that’s the big ending planned for Howard and Bernadette’s pre-spaceflight wedding. Real-life NASA engineer Mike Massimino appears as himself, quashing Oliver Sava’s concerns that NASA’s representation on The Big Bang Theory lacks verisimilitude.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): “Stefan and Damon leave Mystic Falls on a mission”—to Mars? No, John Carpenter definitively proved that the supernatural and moviegoers’ least-favorite planet don’t mix. Carrie Raisler thinks we’ve definitively proven that the “finales in space” gag is getting old.
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): In a bit of cautionary wisdom for current competitors, season-seven champ David Cook returns to the Idol stage to perform his upcoming, self-released single “The Last Song I’ll Write For You.” The “you” in this case could very well be Cook’s ostensible label home, RCA, in which case Claire Zulkey has this to say to the top four: Run.
Community (NBC, 8 p.m.): Abed thinks the Dean who says he’s the Dean isn’t the real Dean—and he is obviously, because the real Craig Pelton wouldn’t dare cut his only form of contact with Jeff Winger. Todd VanDerWerff joins Abed in his hunt for the truth.
30 Rock (NBC, 8:30): Jack has doubts about Avery’s fidelity while she was held captive in North Korea. Which is unfair, what with Jack and Avery’s mom and the thing with their lips. When did 30 Rock get so soapy? Meredith Blake wouldn’t mind it if the characters suddenly started speaking in upper-crust British accents and the title of the show was changed to Rockton Abbey.