Tonight's TV Hot List: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009

Smallville
8 pm/ET CW
You'd think that having such a powerful friend as a protector would keep Chloe away from all the action. But no, the spunky reporter has been taken captive yet again. Tonight Brainiac and the Persuader make their presence known in Smallville, and Clark gets a hand from the Legion (Rokk, Imra and Garth) to help save his blonde buddy. Heck, what are best friends for? — Rhoda Charles
For full episodes of Smallville, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
9 pm/ET CBS
Grissom's gone. Tonight's the night CSI fans have been dreading ever since William Petersen announced he would be leaving the series midway through the 2008-09 season. Yes, Grissom exits the lab, but criminal pathologist Raymond Langston (the excellent Laurence Fishburne) enters it when Gil offers him a job. The two join forces on Grissom's last case to solve a murder that may be connected to an imprisoned serial killer. — Tim Holland
For clips of CSI, visit our Online Video Guide.
Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew
10 pm/ET MTV
Nine new crews begin strutting their stuff and vying for the $100,000 cash prize as MTV's hit dance contest launches its third season, which promises to be the most physically challenging yet. Back from last season are host Mario Lopez, and judges JC Chasez, Lil Mama and Shane Sparks. — Karen Andzejewicz
For clips of Dance Crew, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
Grey's Anatomy
9 pm/ET ABC
The chief's confessional last week succinctly summarized Seattle Grace's litany of woes, and the continued presence of the determinedly undead Denny Duquette might do the same for the series, so Izzie's deepening commitment to Alex sure looks like good news. The bad news: Jeffrey Dean Morgan is in tonight's guest cast. So is Eric Stoltz, likely ensuring Derek's disgust with death-row inmate William Dunn continues. But at least Derek will have his mother (Tyne Daly) to provide emotional support. — Paul Droesch
For full episodes of Grey's Anatomy, visit ourOnline Video Guide.
The Beast
10 pm/ET A&E
"Take hope from the heart of man, and you make him a beast of prey." That quote appears at the beginning of tonight's pilot for this crime drama, which stars Patrick Swayze as an unconventional FBI veteran paired with a rookie (Travis Fimmel). Hope is an operative word for the show's personable star, who was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer during filming. In tonight's opener, Swayze's FBI vet goes undercover with his new partner to break up a weapons-smuggling ring. — Bill Ecklund
For more Patrick Swayze, visit our Online Video Guide.