Video: Thursday's TV Best Bets

12:39 PM, Aug. 22, 2013  |  Comments
Critic's Corner: SyFy's 'Ghost Shark' looks ridicu...
Critic's Corner: SyFy's 'Ghost Shark' looks ridicu...: USA TODAY's Robert Bianco previews August 22nd's TV lineup from the Critic's Corner, with a SyFy original movie 'Ghost Shark' and repeats of 'The Mindy Project' and 'The Big Bang Theory.'
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"The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men," 8 and 8:31 p.m., CBS.

These comedies stay sharp by finding new ways to mix and match their characters.

For "Big Bang," that's meant adding three women, each as interesting and quirky as the guys. In tonight's rerun, Raj's date with Lucy goes so badly that he's in a deep funk.

For "Men," this rerun has oft-sunny Walden befriending solemn Herb. Opposites mingle in fun ways.


"Clear History" (2013), 9 p.m., HBO.

In real life, Larry David twice quit "Seinfeld," the show he co-created and co-produced. Had he not returned, that could have cost him a fortune. And in this film, he plays someone who quits a company at the wrong time, costing himself a $1 billion.

The bad news is that David makes zero effort to differentiate this character from the cranky one he plays in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" the good news is that we enjoy seeing that guy. Now he has a full-scale movie, with action and a stellar supporting cast that includes Jon Hamm, Kate Hudson, Bill Hader, Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes and J.B. Smoove.


"Ghost Shark," 9 to 11 p.m., Syfy.

Who knew that sharks are so dangerous after their death?

This one is terribly testy. It's also glowing, see-through and capable of striking from any water - lake, swimming pool, puddle, even bathtub. (Please don't ask us if this is scientifically accurate; we don't know anything about dead sharks.)

"Ghost Shark" is an odd mix. The young actors are surprisingly good, the older ones are surprisingly awful and the attack scenes are absurd enough to be oddly, perversely appealing.

Other choices

? "Sharknado" (2013), 7 to 9 p.m., Syfy. Before there was "Ghost Shark," there was this film, drawing big ratings. Chances are, we can expect future films about a shark volcano and zombie sharks.

? "Glee," 8 p.m., Fox. In a change, Fox is rerunning the episode in which the lights go out at the high school. Will and Finn encourage people to try unplugged solos. Also, in New York, Isabelle Wright (Sarah Jessica Parker) asks Kurt to help with a fundraiser.

? "Motive," 9 p.m., ABC. Often, these cops are scrambling to find anyone with a motive. This case is different: Everyone seems to have a motive.

? "New Girl," 9 p.m., Fox. In a rerun, Brooklyn Decker guests as a morose beauty who brings dissension between Nick and Schmidt.

? "The Mindy Project," 9:30, Fox. This rerun has Ike causing Danny's ex-wife (Chloe Sevigny) to show up. Danny fires him ? which is bad timing: The midwives promptly hire Ike, in time for a triathlon competition.

? "Hollywood Game Night," 10 p.m., NBC. Shortly after seeing Max Greenfield as Schmidt in "New Girl," you can see him tackle games. Also playing are two "Office" actresses, Angela Kinsey and Ellie Kemper, plus Keenan Thompson, Minnie Driver and Kal Penn. In addition, last week's hour reruns at 9.

? "Elementary," 10 p.m., CBS. A bad guy, simply known as M, seems to have followed Sherlock Holmes from London to New York.

? "Rookie Blue," 10:01 p.m., ABC. What starts as a routine marijuana bust expands into the first murder case for Traci (Enuka Okuma). Meanwhile, ABC says, many of the guys have retreated to a cabin, for a weekend of male bonding and generator repair.

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