Mike Hughes 12:02 a.m. PDT March 16, 2015
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE: "Dancing With the Stars" opener, 8-10:01 p.m., ABC. OK, many of these people aren't really stars; they are, however, a varied bunch. They range in age from 14 (Willow Shields, the "Hunger Games" sister) to 68 (Suzanne Somers) and 70 (Patti LaBelle). There are athletes: Michael Sam was the first openly gay pro-football draftee; Nastia Liukin is an Olympic gold-medal gymnast, paired with frequent winner Derek Hough. There's also a farmer (Chris Soules, fresh from "The Bachelor"), a wounded Iraq veteran (Noah Galloway) and a "Shark Tank" investor (Robert Herjavec), plus Rumer Willis, Riker Lynch, Charlotte McKinney and Redfoo.
TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE II: "The Big Bang Theory," 8 p.m., CBS. For comedy fans, the bad news is that basketball is taking over the next two Thursdays. That leaves "Big Bang" plus "Odd Couple" and "Mom" temporarily homeless. The good news is that "Big Bang" gets a Monday spot tonight, for a funny rerun. The guys consider investing in the comic-book store, after it's gutted by fire; also, Raj's girlfriend is cold to Penny.
TONIGHT'S ALTERNATIVE: "The Returned," 10:01 p.m., A&E. Quietly compelling, this drama catches the way people might really react understated, maybe unstated when the impossible happens. In the opener, Camille calmly walked home, unaware that she had died; she's still 15, her twin sister is now 19. There was much more, including a murder; now the probe turns to Simon ... who's not aware he died six years ago. This sounds goofy, but it's done with a solid sense of what normal people might do in a paranormal situation; like the French mini-series it's based on, "Returned" is thoroughly involving.
Other choices:
"Jamaica Inn," any time, acorn.tv. With their gothic mood, Daphne du Maurier's stories were a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock. He made two into successful films ("Rebecca," "The Birds"), but stumbled with "Inn." Now it's a British mini-series that reaches the U.S. over the next three Mondays. Jessica Brown Findlay (Sybil in "Downton Abbey") plays a penniless beauty who finds dark deeds in her aunt's inn. The performances and visuals are splendid, but the story is grim and predictable.
"The Voice," 8-10:01 p.m., NBC. The "battle rounds" continue through Tuesday, with the possibility of stealing members of other teams. Next week brings the "knockout round."
"Gotham," 8 p.m., Fox. In a rerun from November, assassins attack Wayne Manor. Bruce and Selena (the future Batman and Catwoman) are on the run.
"The Following," 9 p.m., Fox. Last week, Ryan's FBI boss was kidnapped and brutally killed. Enraged, Ryan makes a risky move.
"Bates Motel," 9 p.m., A&E. "Unhinged women seem drawn to you," Norma Bates tells her son. She soon shows signs of being the least-hinged of all. Obsessed with the disappearance of a gorgeous prostitute whom Norman knew, Norma seems increasingly (an interestingly) berserk.
"Strange Inheritance," 9 and 9:30 p.m., Fox Business Network. While other small towns lose movie theaters, Berwick a Pennsylvania borough of 11,000 has clung to its theater. Inheriting it from her grandfather (who had it for 40 years), the new owner says it has no profits and great importance.
"Castle," 10:01 p.m., ABC. A relentless Hong Kong detective helps probe a New York case. Soon, however, Castle suspects that many of the people aren't who they claim to be.
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Source: http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/life/2015/03/16/willow-shields-joins-dancing-stars/70282392/
