Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, March 14, 2013. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The Office (NBC, 9 p.m.): Rather than discerning—like a person who’s paid to watch TV—that The Office’s recent trips to Schrute Farms were building up to The Farm’s backdoor pilot, Erik Adams just read every previous mention of “Dwight” and “family” and immediately called out “IT’S THE FARM!” Now branded The Boy Who Cried Rejected Pilot, he hopes you believe him when he tells you tonight’s episode is titled “The Farm”—and that it portrays life at the Schrutes’ B&B&B. That’s “bed and breakfast and beet farm,” and this is definitely The Farm.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): Howard discovers a letter from his absentee father, and it stirs up all kinds of complicated emotions. Just wait ’til you see the look on his face when he discovers it’s a prank letter written by Oliver Sava!
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): This show’s been off since Second Opinions Week (Remember that? Good times)—which makes sense, considering the Major Turn its last episode took. But now Elena’s back at school and joining the cheerleading squad, so Carrie Raisler assumes that everything’s peachy keen and the show will soon change its title to The Totally Normal Teen Girl With No Supernatural Connections Diaries.
Community (NBC, 8 p.m.): With Advanced Documentary Filmmaking, Community completes a trilogy—though for Abed, it’s a quadrilogy, provided you count “Six Candles” from “Introduction To Film.” As such, Todd VanDerWerff is hoping for more of a Return Of A Jedi situation, and less of an Alien Resurrection.
Parks And Recreation (NBC, 8:30 p.m.): Leslie Knope’s latest cause is the humble neighborhood video store, a dying breed that needs all the unfettered enthusiasm and promises of help a Leslie Knope can provide. And when she’s done with that, maybe she can give a boost to Steve Heisler’s favorite hot dog stand.
Person Of Interest (CBS, 9 p.m.): Donald Trump* personally guarantees that this Person Of Interest trip to Atlantic City will be the classiest, most glamorous episode of a CBS procedural ever.