Tonight's TV Hot List: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009

Damages
10 pm/ET FX
So, Daniel Purcell is a liar. He's a cheater, too, with Claire Maddox (Marcia Gay Harden), the polluting corporation's lawyer, and formerly with Patty. And he's a wife beater. But a wife killer? The cops think so, so they must be glad that he's back in jail. And Patty? Who knows what she's thinking, but she is his lawyer and there's that ring to track down. Then there's the pollution angle in West Virginia that the Purcell-tied reporter was onto last week. Tonight Tom and Ellen join him in the Mountain State. — Paul Droesch
Top Chef
10 pm/ET Bravo
Tolstoy has nothing on this. Season 5 has been an epic novel of war and peace, with the chefs doing intense kitchen battle — and divisive Stefan waging warfare on just about everyone. But there's also been sweet harmony, as voyeuristic cameras captured Hosea and Leah in mid-kiss. Peace will likely cede to war in tonight's supersize Super Bowl salute. Here, the foodies go the extra yard in a football-themed food fight against a squad of series all-stars, including Season 4's Andrew and Spike, Season 3's Camille and Season 2's Josie. — Dean Maurer
Lost
9 pm/ET ABC
What's up with the Oceanic 6? You won't find out tonight. They're taking the week off, and most of the action takes place on the island, which is still hopping around through time like a Mexican jumping bean. Offshore (off the British coast, it turns out), Desmond, Penny and their son, Charlie, are rooted in "real" time (three years after the Oceanic 6 rescue). At least, Penny and Charlie are. Des has a dream — or is it a memory? — and now he must find Daniel Faraday's mother. — Paul Droesch
Life on Mars
10:02 pm/ET ABC
After a two-month hiatus, the cop drama with a twist is back on a new night. In tonight's episode, a battle of one-upmanship unfolds between Lt. Hunt's squad and a rival precinct led by Lt. Nunzio (Vincent Curatola), as they compete to solve a bank robbery that may involve the Russian mob. Sopranos fans should be happy to see the familiar face of Curatola, who is best known for his role as Johnny "Sack" Sacramoni. — Fred Mitchell
Biography
10 pm/ET Biography
Heath Ledger's recent Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight makes this profile of the Australian actor, who died in January 2008, all the more poignant. Biography recalls the life of the Perth native, who found success after moving to America and starring in a string of films, most notably 2005's Brokeback Mountain, which also earned him an Oscar nomination. — Bill Ecklund
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America
8 pm/ET PBS (check local listings)
Can we talk? Tonight's concluding episodes of America's comedic history are sure to tickle the funny bone. First, such in-your-face smart alecks as Paul Lynde, Groucho Marx, Chris Rock and Joan Rivers are featured. Then, humorists who skewer politics and pop culture take their bows, including such greats as Mel Brooks, Johnny Carson, Will Rogers, the SNL crew and Comedy Central's zany tag team of punditry, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. — Jeff Gemmill