Jennifer Hudson
The soundtrack for the last week in TV — and virtually every other medium — was provided by the late and lavishly lamented Whitney Houston. Her sudden, untimely death on the eve of the Grammys helped boost that annual spectacular to its highest ratings since the peak of the Thriller furor (a statistic reminding us of the equally resounding loss of Michael Jackson in 2009). LL Cool J, the Grammys' engaging host, opened the show with a prayer — when's the last time that happened? — as the proceedings took on the feel of a celebration and memorial, when they weren't busy crowning Adele the new Queen of Pop. (And how much fun was she on 60 Minutes?)
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Chad Michael Murray on One Tree Hill
Seems like old times... with longer hair.
Original Tree Hill-ion Chad Michael Murray makes his long-awaited, final season return to the soap that made him a three-named household name, and from the looks of this exclusive behind-the-scenes snap, he's done some changing. Unfortunately, we'll only get a quick reunion for our boy Lucas and his bestie Haley (the perpetually fabulous Bethany Joy Galeotti), since CMM, who left back in '09, is only back for the Feb. 22nd episode.
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Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito's explosive exit as Gus Fring from Breaking Bad last season was one of the most memorable and intense in TV history. But Gus lives on, sort of — Esposito will guest-star in an upcoming ...
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Art Velez and JJ Carrell
Where would TV be without The Simpsons? Thankfully, it will still be a while before we'll ever have to find out. With no end in sight, Fox's landmark animated hit celebrates "the most meaningless milestone of all!" — their words — with Sunday's 500th episode (8/7c), a remarkable run by anyone's measure. Even if you've been taking this show for granted the last few years, or possibly decade, you don't want to miss — though you might want to record — the dazzling opening sequence, a kaleidoscopic montage showing the Simpsons' evolution from no-def to Hi-Def, with more couch gags than the eye and brain can process.
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Jake and the Neverland Pirates
Dead men tell no tales — but cartoon pirates sure do! Disney Junior's smash morning hit Jake and the Never Land Pirates kicks off its second season February 20 (8:30am/7:30c) with a slew of new swashbucklers voiced by well-known names.
Look for movie star Josh Duhamel as landlubber Captain Flynn, who "ends up shipwrecked in the middle of the desert with a first mate who's a camel named Camille," says exec producer Rob LaDuca.
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The Simpsons
Has Springfield finally had enough of the Simpsons clan? On the long-running animated series' 500th episode (titled "At Long Last Leave," airing Sunday at 8/7c on Fox), Homer and family discover that they weren't invited to a secret town meeting. "The point is to kick them out of town for all the crap they've pulled over the last 500 episodes," says Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. "We explore their emotions as they find out that everyone hates them."
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Lauralee Bell
Paula Abdul may no longer have the X factor, but she's still good for a few laughs on Castle! Suds fave Lauralee Bell — aka Christine on The Young and the Restless — will guest star on the ABC mystery series March 19 as the Abdul-esque judge of a hit TV competition show called A Night of Dance. The episode ...
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