Matt's Picks: May 2-5

Castle(Monday, 10/9c, ABC)
Enjoying a ratings boost this spring thanks to its Dancing With the Stars lead-in, this enjoyable light mystery swaps coasts as Detective Beckett goes rogue, defying orders as she heads from New York to L.A. (where the Heat Wave movie based on Castle's books is in production) to find the killer of her former partner. Castle, naturally, tags along, which means a visit to the movie set. Among the guest stars: Gene Simmons, playing himself. In another behind-the-scenes scenario on a competing show, Hawaii Five-0 (10/9c, CBS) investigates the murder of a playboy photographer (Rick Springfield) killed while on assignment to shoot a swimsuit edition of a popular sports mag. Danno gets to grill the models, and for once he's not complaining.

NCIS(Tuesday, 8/7c, CBS)
As seen on this week's cover of TV Guide Magazine, this episode takes us back to Tony DiNozzo's pre-NCIS career as a Baltimore detective, his memories triggered by the slaying of his ex-partner, an apparent victim of the Port-to-Port killer. From the slap-me-upside-the-head department: Fans should be especially keen to see what happened when Tony first met Jethro Gibbs. Later in the evening, on CBS' The Good Wife (10/9c), we finally get to witness the emotional fallout from Alicia's discovery of Peter's fling with Kalinda. That's gotta hurt. Added bonus: a return appearance by Raising Hope's Martha Plimpton as sharp-tongued lawyer Patti Nyholm, who goes from being the firm's adversary to client when her own firm fires her mid-case.

Modern Family(Wednesday, 9/8c, ABC)
It's a mother of a Mother's Day on TV's best comedy as Claire and Gloria decide it's a good idea to take the kids hiking. (You know that can't end well.) Back home, Phil and Jay stay home to do the cooking. (Repeat earlier that-can't-end-well thought.) And on the Cameron-and-Mitchell front, guess which stay-at-home dad becomes queasy at the thought of being designated the "mother" of the household? Earlier, on The Middle (8/7c), Frankie's Mother Day gift is a day off from motherly duties. But, as usual, things don't go exactly according to plan.

Grey's Anatomy(Thursday, 9/8c, ABC)
Now that we've all recovered from the royal wedding, get ready for a slew of fictional betrothals during the May sweeps. One of the most tumultuous is bound to be the union of CalZona — as fans call the relationship of Callie (now recovered from her car accident) and Arizona — as they prepare for their unconventional wedding day. Back at the hospital, Alex inspires envy among his fellow residents as he continues to maneuver for the Chief Resident position.

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