American Idol rages on

The US reigns supreme! But it was a close call. Last night was the season finale of Superstars of Dance and the saving grace was the fact that the show was only a few weeks long. The finale began with a red, white and blue salute to the US care of Michael Flatley's Irish step dance troupe. After that we saw the US popper take third to the Russian ballerina, the Argentinean Tango dancers took it away from the Aussies and finally, our own street dance crew, The Groovaloos took gold for the US and led us to victory. Would I watch this show again? Sure, as long as they replace that Russian judge! Yikes! He was an international incident waiting to happen.

I swore I was done with 24 but I tuned in anyway and was intrigued enough to sit through another episode. It still isn't working for me like it used to but there were a couple of nice twists that kept me on past the commercial breaks. One more week, I think and then I'm done.

I finished my evening with the new DVD release of the old mini-series Captains and the Kings. Richard Jordan stars in this sweeping epic that includes so many familiar faces; Patty Duke Astin, Robert Vaughn, Perry King, Henry Fonda and Blair Brown who you'll also find on Fringe. Nice segue way into tonight on TV, don't you think?

Tonight On TV -- Tuesday, January 27

CBS has the NCIS team investigating a case of treason, The Mentalist is a rerun and on Without a Trace the team searches for Elena's former partner.

ABC is all new tonight with a weird mix of Homeland Security USA, two episodes of Scrubs, and Primetime: What Would You Do?

NBC goes with a new The Biggest Loser 7 and follows with a rerun of Law & Order: SVU.

The CW has reruns of 90210 and Privileged.

FOX has a big night with more auditions on American Idol then it's a case of brain pudding on Fringe.

Over on cable

It's the second season premiere of the BBC America hit Last Restaurant Standing.

Leverage is new on TNT as is Nip/Tuck on FX.

The Bad Girls Club is open for business on Oxygen and check out one of my new favorites, Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC at 10:00.

News and notable

ABC is sidelining Ugly Betty and giving her timeslot to new comedy In the Motherhood and Samantha Who? They say this is no reflection on Betty but you gotta wonder.

The Amazing Race begins again for the 14th time on CBS starting February 15.

ABC is in development on a remake of the '80s miniseries V about alien lizards invading earth.

CBS is giving Shaun Cassidy another shot with his reality program about missing persons investigators appropriately titled Missing You.

According to E! Online, Donny Osmond is thinking about signing up for Dancing with the Stars. I'd love to see that.

Photo credit:
NCIS: Love & War - A slain sergeant's private life is on full display as the team (left to right, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum, Mark Harmon) must determine if a suspected act of treason lead to his death. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS
Fringe: Walter (John Noble, R) is visited by a stranger (guest star Mary Beth Peil, L) from his past. Cr: Craig Blankenhorn/FOX