Highlights
Highlights
"American Idol" (Channel 5 at 8) returns, so meaningful life can resume! But don't expect the same old story; new judge Kara DioGuardi (profiled on Page C1) debuts as the show kicks off Season 8 in Phoenix.
On "Homeland Security USA" (Channel 7 at 8), a Tennessee man better have an explanation ready when the cops find a handgun and a human skull (!) in his van.
On "90210" (Channel 50 at 8), Annie sneaks away for some unsupervised time with Ethan while Mom and Grandma quarrel about her getting a new car.
The two-hour documentary "The Ascent of Money" (Channels 22, 26 at 9), hosted by historian Niall Ferguson, breaks down the origins of economic crises and the lessons that can be learned.
Megan sets aside her family problems and rushes to jail to bail out her sister Lily, who swears she had nothing to do with the drugs found in her backpack on "Privileged" (Channel 50 at 9).
Even the unflappable Patrick Jane is stunned on "The Mentalist" (Channel 9 at 9) when a woman claims (a) she's a witch and (b) she cast a spell on a murdered high school football star.
An unstoppable -- and unlikely -- duo of doctors team up on "Scrubs" (Channel 7 at 9, 9:30) to get the evil new chief of medicine (Courteney Cox) kicked out of the hospital.
See who flips out on the hidden-camera series "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (Channel 7 at 10) when a woman cuts in line at a store and then wins $500 for being the "5 millionth customer."
New series "Chopped" (Food Network at 10) challenges food lovers to create delicious meals using unlikely ingredients, from animal crackers to octopus.
Though going undercover has never served her well, Olivia Benson pretends to be a madam on "Law & Order: SVU" (Channel 4 at 10).
"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (Channel 4, 11:35) hosts Golden Globe-winning actor Mickey Rourke, actress Toni Collette and a performance by singer John Legend.
Actress Salma Hayek and comedian Jimmie Walker appear on "Late Show With David Letterman" (Channel 9, 11:35).
-- Emily Yahr



