That's what friends are for Two of TV's best sitcoms hope to lure in new viewers with some tantalizing reunions. On "The Middle" (7 p.m. KSTP, Ch. 5) Patricia Heaton welcomes her former "Everybody Loves Raymond" mother-in-law Doris Roberts, playing a teacher who -- surprise, surprise -- doesn't approve of a certain someone's parenting skills. Even more anticipated is the appearance by Jennifer Aniston on "Cougar Town" (8:30 p.m. KSTP, Ch. 5), playing Courteney Cox's psychiatrist. Hard to believe that character waited this long to get a shrink.
Jazz hands Wynton Marsalis' "Jazz Symphony" gets its U.S. premiere when the New York Philharmonic Orchestra opens up its 2010 season as part of "Live From Lincoln Center" (9 p.m. KTCA, Ch. 2).
What's new, pussycat? Here we go again. When Joaquin Phoenix last popped by "The Late Show With David Letterman" (10:35 p.m. WCCO, Ch. 4), he became a mumblemouth sensation and the appearance became an integral part of the new documentary, "I'm Still Here." Will Phoenix be just as incoherent this time around? We can't wait to find out -- or to hear the still great Tom Jones perform. Thank goodness he's still here.
