Tonight's TV Hot List: Tuesday, May 18, 2010

NCIS
8/7c CBS
The first of a two-parter that concludes with the season finale has the team investigating the murder of a colleague, and in the course of the inquiry finds Gibbs discovering a link to the case that surprises him. Rena Sofer returns as attorney Margaret Allison Hart, and Marco Sanchez is back as Alejandro Rivera. — Bill Ecklund
Lost
9/8c ABC
Last week, we were told that Locke's motives would become clear. Locke, it turns out, was on the show for only a few seconds, but we do now know why Jacob and the Man in Black have been at loggerheads for, what, 2000 years? And don't the Man in Black and the Locke Monster share a certain smoky characteristic? So there. As for the Locke Monster, he makes a strategic move in the series' penultimate episode, while the island's Jack faction searches for Desmond. And old friends Ana Lucia, Rousseau and Alex turn up. The episode's title is "What They Died For." What who died for? — Paul Droesch
Glee
9/8c Fox
Neil Patrick Harris guest stars as Will's old schoolmate Bryan Ryan, and the two duet on Aerosmith's "Dream On." But they're not old friends. In fact, Bryan is on the school board, and there's a budget to cut. Meanwhile, Rachel's voice is back after last week's bout with tonsillitis. Jesse is back as well, but she's preoccupied — with her mother. And Artie dances — in his dreams. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon directed the episode. — Paul Droesch
V
10:02/9:02c ABC
Normally, the birth of a child is cause for celebration, but then again most mothers don't go into labor while being chased by an alien soldier. Val gets ready to cradle a new bundle of...something; Erica scores a dinner invitation for two to the mothership; and Chad finally wises up to Anna in the reboot's first-season finale. — Michael Chant
90210
8/7c CW
Relationships take a serious blow as the second season comes to an explosive end. An idyllic boat ride leaves Annie in hot water with Liam, while on land her mother is shaken by a secret Harry has kept from her. But it's Spence (Ryan O'Neal) who needs to watch out when Teddy seeks revenge against his father for trying to bribe Silver. — Rhoda Charles
NBA Draft Lottery
8/7c ESPN
For one night in Secaucus, N.J., executives and die-hard fans of the NBA's also-ran franchises cling to the long-shot chances of landing a Top 3 draft pick in June. After a woeful 12-70 season, the nearby New Jersey Nets are this year's 4-to-1 favorites to nab the top pick from a crop of prospects led by Kentucky guard John Wall. Teams with the next-best chance of celebrating are the Timberwolves (19.9 percent), Kings (15.6), Warriors (11.9), Wizards (7.6), 76ers (7.5) and Pistons (4.3). The Jazz are also in the lottery after getting the Knicks' first-round pick from a 2004 trade. — Roger Leister
One Nation, Overweight
10/9c CNBC
Perhaps it's all that comfort food we've turned to in the face of tough economic times, but America's communal waistline continues to grow at an astounding rate, costing the nation an estimated $147 billion — and many lives — a year. Scott Wapner reports on the problem and the efforts to contain it, including the Biggest Loser Resort in Utah, a pharmaceutical company that's developing an anti-obesity drug and businesses that are helping employees to shed excess pounds. — Jeff Gemmill