Tonight's TV Hot List: Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010

The Big Bang Theory
8/7c CBS
Could there be a more fitting pairing of a series and a cameo role than The Big Bang Theory and Apple legend Steve Wozniak? "The Woz" makes his appearance amidst a crisis for Sheldon, who comes up with a plan to extend his life when he realizes to his horror that he won't see the day when technology can download his consciousness into a computer. Some, though, would argue that it already has been. — Bill Ecklund
Bones
8/7c Fox
Now that Caroline got the band back together, the team digs into a case involving a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park. As we saw last week, however, the "mastodon in the room" was not just a prehistoric mammal in the lab, but the fact that Booth has a new girlfriend from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Tonight we meet war correspondent Hannah Burley (Katheryn Winnick), though time will tell if she'll be drawn into another battle — namely with Brennan over Booth. — Joe Friedrich
Vampire Diaries
8/7c CW
Let's see. Caroline is a vampire. Mason is a werewolf. Tyler is probably going to become a werewolf. And Elena's doppelganger, Katherine, is a blood-sucking nightmare who is out to destroy Elena and everyone she loves. Tonight, Katherine visits Stefan and reveals to him secrets about what really went down in 1864 when she turned him and Damon into vampires. As for the werewolves, Tyler corners Mason to get the truth about their family's moonlit curse. — Tim Holland
The Office
9/8c NBC
A musical number kicked off last week's Season 7 premiere, but it was Michael who then had to face the music. Business nepotism reared its ugly head when he hired his grown nephew, Luke, as an office assistant. But Luke emerged as the poster boy for bratty disobedience, prompting Michael to give him a good spanking (literally) smack in the middle of the office. Because of that physical confrontation, corporate pushes Michael into counseling sessions tonight. Worse, the sessions are with his workplace nemesis, Toby. Meanwhile, Dwight seeks revenge against the mall-shop owner who rebuffed him; and Pam tries to change her job title. — Dean Maurer
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
9/8c CBS
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, a shark attacks. Only this being Las Vegas, the jaw-dropping creature isn't in the ocean...it's in a swanky swimming pool at a casino's day club. And this being CSI, it's a good bet the shark is being used to commit murder. But who's the real shark behind the crime? That's what Catherine and crew intend to find out. Elliott Gould, Method Man and Holly Madison guest star. — Tim Holland
The Apprentice
10/9c NBC
The early going in Season 10 found the aspiring business moguls creating modern-day workspaces and, in last week's episode, selling ice cream. From that dairy tale we take a Trump jump to tonight's episode, with the Donald enlisting the candidates to operate a dog day care and spa. Ruff trade it will be. The fur is ruffled during the big challenge when one team member's poor behavior irks a project manager. And it's not much better on the other team when a member is miffed at being placed in charge of the dogs. An appearance by Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer) rounds out the show. — Dean Maurer
Private Practice
10:01/9:01c ABC
"I've never been any good at marriage," Pete conceded to Addison after marrying Violet last week, and given series creator Shonda Rhimes' predilection for relationship-shuffling on her shows, there's no reason to believe that he'll suddenly get any better at it. One sticking point is likely to be Violet's friendship with Cooper, and Pete and Coop do clash tonight, but it's job-related (over a patient played by Justine Bateman). Sheldon and Charlotte, on the outs with each other since she dumped him for Cooper, have a work fight as well. And what'll people think about Addison and Sam? She's worried about it. — Paul Droesch