‘Fringe’ debut sharp, compelling
Tonight’s must-see
“Fringe” debut, 8 p.m., Fox.. This show wants it all – creepy thrills, occasional action, solid character drama. It succeeds, via smart producers (including J.J. Abrams of “Lost”) and gifted stars.
Two (Anna Torv and John Noble) are Australian, one (Joshua Jackson) is Canadian. All bring quiet intelligence.
Torv plays an FBI agent, probing a mass death. She needs the help of a scientist (Noble), teetering toward madness; she also needs his son (Jackson).
There are some slow stretches and some bumps in logic. Mostly, however, “Fringe” is sharp and compelling.
Tonights’ must-see II
“Privileged” debut, 9 p.m., CW. Within the first few minutes, we love Megan (JoAnna Garcia), an unemployed Yale grad. Then she’s hired to tutor a rich widow’s teen granddaughters.
This suggests “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Nanny Diaries,” in a good way. There is a depth that lets us care about the characters, flaws and all.
Other choices include
“America’s Got Talent,” 8-10 p.m. NBC. Ten acts perform tonight, with the other 10 Wednesday. On Thursday, we’ll learn who’s gone.
“90210,” 8 p.m., CW. Last week’s debut started well, then piled up too many soap extremes. In her first couple of weeks at the new school, Annie Wilson had two hot boyfriends (one flying her to San Francisco) and got in trouble with her parents three times. Tonight, the family tries to have a quiet bowling night, which is interrupted by both guys and more.
“Fashion Rock,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. Against the backdrop of Fashion Week in New York, we get music from Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Fergie, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Timbaland, Chris Brown and more.
PBS’ “Debating Our Destiny II,” 9 p.m., KUID, 10 p.m. KSPS. Jim Lehrer, who has moderated 10 presidential debates, hosts this follow-up, focusing on the 2000 and 2004 debates.
“The Shield,” 10 p.m., FX. Vic’s desperate plan, inciting a gang war between Mexicans and Armenians, has stirred up more violence. A killing spree begins, in a sometimes-disturbing episode.
“The Rachel Zoe Project” debut, 11 p.m., Bravo. Zoe is a stylist to the stars. This opener is fairly interesting, because of her mismatched assistants.