Tonight's TV Hot List: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010

Modern Family
9/8c ABC
No one can deny that Cameron has a theatrical side, and tonight he seeks to pass it on to Lily when a talent scout wants to put her in a commercial for a children's furniture store. Of course, the idea doesn't sit well with Mitchell, so it might be time for Cameron to come up with a stage name to protect her identity — and to keep Mitchell from finding out. Meanwhile, a faulty fire alarm at the Dunphys has Phil so worked up that it will probably detect the smoke coming out of his ears. — Joe Friedrich

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College Football
7/6c ESPN2
As the calendar turns to November, college football teams start counting down to the six wins normally needed for bowl eligibility (a 5-7 team may just go bowling this season...stay tuned). Rutgers and South Florida both sit 4-3 overall, so tonight's Big East contest in Tampa is pivotal to their momentum for the home stretch. Last weekend's bye allowed Greg Schiano's Scarlet Knights extra time to regroup from both the devastating spinal-cord injury to lineman Eric LeGrand and a 20-point loss at Pittsburgh, while USF and first-year coach Skip Holtz (Lou's son) have been on a high for 10 days after an upset win at Cincinnati. — Roger Leister
Circus
9/8c PBS
Circus life is more than peanuts, clowns and high-flying acrobats. This six-hour look at life beneath and behind the big top of the Big Apple Circus begins with "First of May," which finds the traveling act's entertainers and crew descending on Walden, N.Y., to map out a new show for its annual 350-performance tour. "One Ring Family" continues with preparations for the first dress rehearsal not going so well, especially for the trapeze act. — Jeff Gemmill

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit9/8c NBC On several occasions, this show has visited Benson's complicated past, including her mother's rape and alcoholism. Tonight, Benson is surprised to find herself reflecting on her past again when she bonds with a crime victim's daughter (Maria Bello). The case that leads her to this point involves an environmentalist who turns up dead, followed by the discovery of more victims. This episode marks a mini ER Season 4 reunion for Mariska Hargitay, Bello, and fellow guest star Alex Kingston. — Jennifer SankowskiBiography9/8c BioA long-running series boldly goes in a direction it doesn't often go, profiling fictional characters...in this case, the captains of the Star Trek television franchise. The Starfleet leaders of each new generation are assessed, and their successes and failures are examined. Included are comments from experts along with behind-the-scenes stories, photos and clips. — Bill Ecklund
What are you watching tonight? Tell usLA Ink10/9c TLC Just last week, Kat Von D and Nikki Sixx called it quits, and tonight, she surprises everyone by showing up to the grand opening of her Wonderland Gallery with a brand new beau in tow. If you read the tabloids, you won't be surprised to find out who he is. Hint: he's Sandra Bullock's ex. — Karen AndzejewiczIn the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville10:01/9:01c ABC Robin Roberts interviews LeAnn Rimes in her home about the breakup of her marriage and her affair with actor Eddie Cibrian, who also comments. Roberts chats with Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley at their estate outside Nashville. Carrie Underwood talks about her marriage to hockey star Mike Fisher. In the fourth segment of this talkfest, Miranda Lambert discusses her nine CMA nominations and the fact that, for part of her childhood, her family was homeless and bankrupt. — Fred Mitchell