The hills are alive with a live NBC special
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Thursday, December 5. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The Sound Of Music Live! (NBC, 8 p.m.): Oh, yeah. This is happening. This is a real thing. Carrie Underwood is going to headline a live, three-hour production of the beloved musical that still makes us cry when we watch it, and we don't understand why, because it's not going to be as good, and nothing is going to look right, and look, Christopher Plummer is just really, really handsome in the original. Still, NBC is doubling down on this weird thing, giving it all of Thursday night's "Must See TV" primetime space. Who's going to watch this? Are we all going to watch it? Is Julie Andrews going to watch it? Do you think she's going to watch it and cackle, in her perfect, melodious voice? Caroline Siede can't be sure, but she will be covering this behemoth for us, so bring your best renditions of "Edelweiss" to the table.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): Leonard disproves Sheldon's scientific theory, which is hilarious. We are fine with more plotlines that disprove Sheldon's anything. Oliver Sava calls dibs on relativity.
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8 p.m.): Nina struggles with her demons, Elena grows concerned about Damon, Stefan struggles with his own pain, and Aaron decides on a desperate course of action. Carrie Raisler takes notes to write a review.
Misfits (Hulu, 8 p.m.): It's the first anniversary of the Storm. And Rudy is so scared by the future sweater that Maggie gives to Jess that she ends their relationship. Rowan Kaiser would be similarly worried by a future sweater, if he knew what that was.
Reign (CW, 9 p.m.): Mary and Francis unite to save a castle under siege! Mary and Francis unite to save a castle under siege! Fary and Mancis untie to cave a sastle sunder ueige! Genevieve Valentine subs for Caroline Framke tonight. Neither of them like our jokes much.
Glee (Fox, 9 p.m.): Tonight's midseason finale is titled "Previously Unaired Christmas," which is confusing us. It doesn't appear to actually be a previously unaired episode, because everyone is still doing all the stuff they've been doing for the whole fifth season. Do you ever worry that Glee is just lying to you? Because Brandon Nowalk knows they are.
The Returned (Sundance, 9 p.m.): An electrical outage strikes the town, and Camille is now viewed by some as a prophet. Erik Adams knows the feeling.
White Collar (USA, 9 p.m.): Neal gets obsessed with the Codex, and Peter takes a case with an FBI agent who happens to be his ex-girlfriend. We had a dream, no lie, where White Collar got crossed over with NPR. It was strange. But anyway, Kenny Herzog is going to review this one, and also, not talk about his dreams.