While the rest of TV is distracted by finales and upfronts, Cougar Town sneaks two episodes onto the air

By Erik Adams | May 15, 2012 | 5:00am

TV Features TV

Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Tuesday, May 15. All times are Eastern.

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Cougar Town (ABC, 8:30 p.m.): Sure, ABC’s desire to hasten the cul-de-sac crew’s transition to TBS is a more accurate representation of tonight’s double shot of red wine and Penny Can, but let’s just pretend that the gang is getting an extra adventure because TV bigwigs are paying attention to bigger things. In other words: Cougar Town’s parents are out of town for the week! Party! Pre-game at Ryan McGee’s place.

REGULAR COVERAGE

Glee (Fox, 8 p.m.): In a nod to Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, The Change-Up, and countless others, Glee spices up New Directions (Original Formula)’s final trip to Nationals with some inexplicable (or “explicable by way of Lindsay Lohan’s guest appearance”) body swapping. Thanks to the powers of narrative irony, the byline of tonight’s review might read “Todd VanDerWerff,” but it’s actually Ryan Murphy’s doing.

TV CLUB CLASSIC

The Muppet Show (noon): Bob Hope’s schedule was so full during the late 1970s, he barely had time to appear onscreen during his episode of The Muppet Show. By contrast, pop vocalist Teresa Brewer opens her guest shot with a loooooong trip through Leadbelly’s “Cottonfields.” Guess which one Erik Adams liked better.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

90210 (The CW, 8 p.m.): The title of tonight’s fourth-season finale, “Forever Hold Your Peace,” implies a wedding—but one isn’t mentioned in the plot capsule. Perhaps Steve Hyden, the Internet’s biggest (and only?) 90210 fan can explain that mystery.

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 9 p.m.): The procedural adventures of The G.O.A.T., Robin, the former champion of Portugal’s Dancing With The Stars equivalent, Billy Kwan, and Vaughn have supposedly improved by leaps and bounds this season. Since CBS procedurals aren’t known for their impenetrable mythologies, the two-hour season-three capper is a good candidate for confirming those rumors. Or for making jokes about the size of Eric Christian Olsen’s nipples.

Fashion Star (NBC, 10 p.m.): Who will win the first season of the fashion-design contest, and will we ever hear from them again in realms outside of Macy’s clearance racks? Did they even have a hope of being more famous than Jessica Simpson’s baby to begin with?

Pregnant In Heels (Bravo, 10 p.m.): Just in time to capitalize on impending What To Expect When You’re Expecting-mania, maternity guru Rosie Pope returns to Bravo to put up with the demands of the rich and knocked-up. It’s funny, because hormones and designer diapers and silly baby names and such.

Bring It On (ABC Family, 7 p.m.): Now that it’s kosher to own up to loving Clueless, perhaps it’s time for the cult of Bring It On to declare, loudly and proudly, that this dumb cheerleader comedy (spiked with flimsy social commentary) is funnier than it has any right to be.

Death Wish (AMC, 8 p.m.): Unlikely to make the admission mentioned above: The hard-boiled action junkies who will be too busy watching their hero take back the streets of New York through deadly force and the sheer power of Mandom. All the world loves an architect-turned-vigilante.

NBA Playoff: Game 2: Pacers at Heat (TNT, 8 p.m.): When Frank Vogel called the Miami Heat the “biggest floppers” in the NBA, it cost the Pacers coach $15,000. The Pacers look to flip-flop the momentum in this second-round series after Sunday’s loss in Miami.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

How I Met Your Mother: No, after seven seasons, the show isn’t interested in answering your cries of “How did he meet The Mother?” any time soon. Thankfully, Donna Bowman is interested in breaking down the latest season finale for you.