Tonight's TV Hot List: Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010

Nikita
9/8c CW
Things fall apart at Division when the super-secret shadow agency loses one of its own. When a bank robbery goes wrong, Owen, a Division operative, becomes a fugitive who knows too much about his bosses, and Percy decides to bring him in personally. The trouble doubles when Nikita runs into Owen. Will Percy back down? Maybe he should, because while Percy is hot on Owen's trail, Alex gets busted sneaking into Percy's office and odds are he'd like to know just what his newest recruit is really up to. — Rhoda Charles
Fringe
9/8c Fox
Secretary Bishop, aka Walternate, is as serious as a heart attack, and doesn't look like much of a gambler, but it appears he's about to roll the dice with the real Olivia. By having Broyles insert her into his team with Charlie and Lincoln, the other Fringe Division can learn valuable lessons about crossing back and forth between universes, and, as Broyles says, "begin to defend ourselves." Of course, if her immersion doesn't take, she becomes what every Fringe fan has to fear: expendable. — Joe Friedrich
Grey's Anatomy
9/8c ABC
Meredith has finally been cleared to go back into the OR, but Cristina's PTSD episode last week has her on the shelf. So you can look for Mer and Derek do what they can tonight to get her back where she belongs. Derek will have a distraction, though: His sister Amelia (Private Practice regular Caterina Scorsone) is visiting from L.A., and she's bringing enough baggage with her to make the airline she took to get to Seattle very happy. Meanwhile, Alex might finally be "lead-free," but he has been elevator-phobic since he was shot, and on this show that's a serious no-no. — Paul Droesch
30 Rock
8:30/7:30c NBC
Jack rocks the vote. The network big shot goes before Congress, setting out to win over the legislative body with his wiles and charisma in a discussion about NBC's merger with KableTown. Cut to unflinching Congresswoman Regina Bookman (Queen Latifah), who insists there be more diversity in the programming. In response, Jack quickly enlists Tracy to develop ideas. As for the other Rock stars, Liz locks horns with her rebellious writing staff, and Jenna supports Kenneth's efforts to return to the highly competitive page program. Rob Reiner guest stars. — Dean Maurer
The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town
9/8c HBO
In 1975, Bruce Springsteen was riding so high after Born to Run that he was on the cover of Time and Newsweek at the same time. But it took three years until his next album, Darkness on the Edge of Town, came out, and this indispensable 2010 documentary shows why. The delay wasn't due solely to legal issues, but the number of songs he'd written and the chase for an elusive sound, which is laid bare by terrific archival footage and contemporary interviews with Springsteen, his band and producers. — Joe Friedrich
The Mentalist
10/9c CBS
Last season, when Patrick Jane promised cult leader Bret Stiles, played by Malcolm McDowell, that he hadn't seen the last of him, fans knew it was a matter of time before the two locked psychological horns again. Jane has even more at stake now in his confrontation, as the Visualize leader tells Jane that he has information on both Red John and the missing Kristina Frye. — Bill Ecklund
Jersey Shore
10/9c MTV
Can the roommates finally live in peace now that obnoxious Angelina is once again out of the picture? J-Woww and Snooki think so, which is why the girls set out to make amends with their sometimes friend Samantha. Meanwhile, it seems that Vinny is over the heartbreak he suffered a few weeks ago when his dream girl stood him up. A night out in the club finds him juggling not one but two groups of girls. — Karen Andzejewicz