Tonight's TV Hot List: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008

House
8 pm/ET Fox
Okay, bromance fans, you had quite a House-Wilson doozy last week, and expect further developments tonight, when Lucas returns to snoop on Wilson. But the main focus is on Thirteen's romantic life: She has a one-night stand, and with a lady, no less. But Thirteen's inamorata might not be interested only in her. And then (how conveniently!) she suddenly comes down with a deadly disease that only you-know-who can figure out. — Paul Droesch
For full episodes of House, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
The Mentalist
9 pm/ET CBS
It doesn't take Patrick Jane's rare gift for observation to realize that when a wealthy banker is murdered and it's discovered he was skimming millions from clients, that his death was probably at the hand of a vengeful client. Where Jane's real talents are used is in the mental game he plays with possible suspects to see if one will reveal a secret. — Bill Ecklund
For clips of The Mentalist, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 pm/ET NBC
Last week we finally got to meet Stabler's mother. This week we meet his old Marine mentor, Dick Finley (James Brolin), who eventually left the corps and became a NASA astronaut. When the body of a famous female astronaut is found in Battery Park, Benson and Stabler investigate, but hit a dead end. So they turn to her former NASA colleague Dick for help, giving Stabler a chance to work with his old friend. — Jennifer Sankowski
For clips of Law & Order: SVU, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
The Shield
10 pm/ET FX
With only six episodes to go, The Shield's final death spiral is rapidly gaining momentum, and it all comes out into the open tonight as Shane's murder plot plays out. And if you're in need of a thumbnail review of why it has come to this, you'll get it from Shane's wife, Mara, who fills in an aghast (but not surprised) Corinne during a meeting that's more than a little tense. Meanwhile, Vic has three masters to juggle (LAPD, Pezuela and the Feds), but not for long. — Paul Droesch
For full episodes of The Shield, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
Eli Stone
10:01 pm/ET ABC
Well, God, Sigourney Weaver or whomever certainly works in mysterious ways. Now that the hallucinations — and the aneurysm — have ping-ponged back to the original Stone brother, Eli, it looks like this show will resume the charming, whimsical nature that made the first season so enjoyable. And it doesn't hurt when you can snag a headline-grabbing guest star such as Katie Holmes, playing a woman who sings to Eli in one of his visions, but later meets him for real at a baseball game. — Joe Friedrich
For full episodes of Eli Stone, visit ourOnline Video Guide.