Critic's corner

The Rachel Maddow Show 9 p.m., MSNBC

Her show is a little redundant, paired as it is with "Countdown With Keith Olbermann." But hey, talking-head TV is, by definition, redundant. It's all blah-blah-blah all the time. Rachel Maddow (above) has quickly become the sanest of the TV left-leaners, as she monitors the lame-duck presidency ("Quackitude") with her sharp, but never grating, wit. She's not as heavy with the hammer as Olbermann; she has enough faith in her choice facts to let them stand on their own without bluster. Good luck after Jan. 20, Rachel.

Grey's Anatomy 9 p.m., Channel 5

Another season, another "Grey's"-gate. The sudden departure of Erica Hahn (above, played by Brooke Smith) last week has insiders saying that ABC was nervous about forking over so much airtime to her lesbian relationship with Callie. Tonight, Melissa George begins a stint as a bisexual intern, so presumably ABC is more comfortable with that label. (So is Fox, with bisexual characters on "House" and "Bones.") Also tonight: Mary McDonnell joins the cast as a surgeon.

30 Rock 9:30 p.m., Channel 7

Jennifer Aniston is "Single White Female"!

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9 p.m., Channel 4

Gil is lonely!

Rachel Ray's Thanksgiving in 60 8 p.m., Food Network

Hungry-Man is forever!

Ace of Cakes 10:30 p.m., Food Network

Fenway is frosted!

ER 10 p.m., Channel 7

Dr. Greene is alive! (But in the past. In someone's flashback. Which is deader than dead.)