On Tonight: American Idol, 30 Rock and the Paul Reiser Show

Thursday, April 14

American Idol, 8 p.m., Fox

Were you shocked by last week’s ouster? I wasn’t. Pia could sing, but she had no personality. Which puts to rest the theory that the reason Idol isn’t doing so well anymore in the ratings is because the singers aren’t as good. If we want to listen to good singers, we can put on our parents’ old records and listen to Lena Horne and Mel Torme. This is 2011, people. We want personalities. We want great stories. We want tight pants and too much mascara. Here’s hoping Jacob is put out of my misery tonight, but I’m guessing Stefano will make his fourth and final visit to the Bottom 3.

30 Rock, 10 p.m., NBC

Liz’s efforts to find new work in the wake of the “forced hiatus” left me in tears, but Jack and Devin’s go-round left me largely cold this time. I can’t wait to find out where Tracy actually is and I look forward to discovering why this episode is called “I Heart Connecticut.”

The Paul Reiser Show, 8:30 p.m., NBC

I never liked Mad About You. I never really liked Helen Hunt and I could not stand Paul Reiser. Imagine my chagrin, then, when I discover this on the schedule. “The series picks up a few years after Reiser’s hit series went off the air as he continues writing and producing television out of the spotlight. The show will follow his adventures with a new group of “friends,” most of whom are obligatory since they’re husbands of his wife’s friends and dads of his children’s classmates.” First Larry David, then Matt Leblanc, now this. Sheesh. Count me out. (And the reviews are bad.)