The Mentalist 10 p.m., Channel 4
By bringing in Terry Kinney as the cop who has now taken over the Red John case, “The Mentalist’’ creator Bruno Heller accomplished two goals: 1.) He found a way to explain the Red John history to new viewers and 2.) He has given Simon Baker’s Patrick Jane a formidable foe. When Jane and Kinney went head-to-head last week, the show invited us to see Jane as a bit of a charlatan.
Private Practice 10 p.m., Channel 5
At least Izzie isn’t on this show, which returns for a third season. But still, the “Private Practice’’ plots tend to be outrageous, and not humorously so. Amy Brenneman’s Violet struggles for her life tonight, after last season’s finale in which a deranged lady cut Violet’s baby out of her body. Can Addison and the gang save their friend?
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea 8 p.m., Channel 2
Next to duct tape, of course.
SNL Weekend Update Thursday 8 p.m., Channel 7
Freakin’ live TV.
FlashForward 8 p.m., Channel 5
A glimpse of LSD trips to come.
Extreme Cuisine With Jeff Corwin 9 p.m., Food Network
He catches some dinner.
E! Investigates Stalkers 9 p.m., E!
Who are probably at home watching E!
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