TV critic's choice: This week

Last update: November 7, 2009 - 5:03 PM

Sunday

Seth MacFarlane inches a step closer to becoming TV's most oversaturated personality with a self-serving variety program, "Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show" (7:30 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9), sandwiched between two episodes of "Family Guy" (7 and 8 p.m., KMSP, Ch. 9). Hey, we love Peter Griffin as much as the next degenerate, but there's only so much we can take.

Monday

You would think that after "The Matrix," ol' Morpheus would stay away from a three-part series. Turns out Laurence Fishburne isn't easily spooked. The star's character, Ray Langston, will appear this week in all three "CSI" series, starting with "CSI: Miami" (9 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4), tracking down a case in which female body parts are strewn across the country.

Tuesday

If anyone needs some flirting time, it's Julianna Margulies in "The Good Wife" (9 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4), the freshman series that deserves its strong ratings. That being said, the title character must get a little sunshine in her life if we're going to go the distance with her. It's promising that tonight's episode allows her to make goo-goo eyes at her co-counsel, played by Chris Bowers.

Wednesday

Melissa Lee, who reported on the adult-film industry in July, now tackles the mysterious, underground, taboo world of ... soda pop. "Coca-Cola: The Real Story Behind the Real Thing" (8 p.m., CNBC) may not have the fizz of the previous documentary, but it provides a sweet, cool taste of what it takes to become one of the world's iconic items. The special's best attribute: It's caffeine-free!

Thursday

Looks like "Grey's Anatomy" (8 p.m., KSTP, Ch. 5) has tossed in another insurance chip in case Katherine Heigl bolts permanently to rom-com land. Kim Raver, memorable in "24" and dismissible in the "Sex and the City" ripoff "Lipstick Jungle," joins the cast as Teddy Altman, a doctor who served alongside Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd, the show's real McDreamy) in Iraq. Speaking of Heigl, her character returns to rounds tonight.

NEAL JUSTIN

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