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

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
10/9c VH1
Watching celebrities in trouble is a guilty pleasure for many TV fans, and Dr. Drew gives those viewers their fix as he welcomes a new batch of famous faces to the drudgery of detox and the rigors of rehab. Substance abusers featured in Season 3 include former madam Heidi Fleiss, country singer Mindy McCready, pageant winner Kari Ann Peniche, actress Mackenzie Phillips, former NBA star Dennis Rodman, actor Tom Sizemore and headbanger Mike Starr. — Fred Mitchell
BCS Championship Game
8:30/7:30c ABC
After preparing for a full month (enough time to stage a four-round playoff, as BCS bashers would gladly point out), Alabama (13-0) and Texas (13-0) are ready to collide in scenic Pasadena in what may not be the only meeting of undefeated teams in the Bowl Championship Series, but it is the only one that awards the winners a crystal football declaring them national champions. If defense wins championships, then Nick Saban's Crimson Tide may have the edge, as a group led by tackle Terrence Cody looks to corral Texas senior QB Colt McCoy as effectively as it shut down Florida's Tim Tebow in the SEC title game. Sophomore Mark Ingram heads Bama's ground attack while hoping to reverse the curse (1-6 record) on Heisman Trophy winners in this game. — Roger Leister
Bear Whisperer
8/7c Animal Planet
No good can come from unintentional interaction between humans and bears, especially in a resort town like Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Every summer black bears come out of hibernation, hungry and looking for a quick meal, and they stumble into this lakeside vacation town full with tourists. Neither party is happy about this except for, maybe, Steve Searles. In this special, viewers get to observe Searles' special gift with bears, which comes in handy as he works to protect both species from potentially tragic outcomes. — Rhoda Charles
American Chopper
9/8c TLC
It's been more than four months since Paul Jr. last stepped foot inside his father's garage. Now he finally returns to OCC, but don't expect this trip to signal the end of the long-running Teutul family feud. Tensions among the warring clan are as high as ever, and it seems that the father-son divide is only getting worse. Rather than focus on the family drama, the rest of the OCC crew stays busy building a one-of-a-kind "wheelchair chopper" for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. — Karen Andzejewicz
Real Housewives of Orange County
10/9c Bravo
After taking a holiday break, the soapy reality show returns, storming into 2010 and squeezing more tart juice from Orange County. This pulp non-fiction delves into the life of Vicki, who, in the wake of a sour year, concocts a lovey-dovey surprise for her husband. Then there's Alexis, who readies her family for church. Elsewhere, Tamra and Simon's reflection on their recent Florida trip takes a stormy turn when they argue over Gretchen. Gretchen herself goes center stage when she takes Lynne's daughter shopping. — Dean Maurer