NGTV Guide: Thursday, September 24

Here it is. The day when a Nice Girl has to prioritize what to watch live, what to DVR for later tonight, and what to keep until the weekend. Perhaps we should carbo-load? After all, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

The Vampires Diaries – the CW 8/7c
“Friday Night Bites” – Elena tries to ignore Bonnie’s warnings about the disturbing vibes she got from Stefan. Tyler tries to embarrass Stefan by throwing a football at him, but Stefan effortlessly catches and passes the ball back, impressing everyone with his skill. Mr. Tanner (guest star Benjamin Ayres) reluctantly lets Stefan join the football team. Elena invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner, hoping that the two will bond, but the evening is disrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of Damon  and Caroline. Finally, the town is shocked by an act of violence.

Bones – FOX 8/7c
“The Bond in the Boot” – Brennan and Booth investigate the body of a man murdered for the undisclosed contents of a briefcase. Early evidence leads the team to suspect secret operatives are at work, and their theories are supported when the liquefied remains of a CIA agent are discovered in the trunk of a car. When Brennan and Booth interrogate the CIA’s Assistant Director of Intelligence, they are left unsure of his allegiance to the U.S. Meanwhile, Brennan’s best-selling book leads to financial success and serves as a point of contention with Booth, and Jeffersonian intern Wendell (guest star Michael Grant Terry) loses his scholarship, leaving the team to look for alternative funding to keep him around.

Primetime: now with 100% more vests! The Mentalist returns tonight. / CBS

FlashForward – ABC 8/7c – SERIES PREMIERE
“No More Good Days” – It’s just another normal day in Los Angeles. FBI agent Mark Benford and his partner, Demetri Noh, are in the middle of a car chase monitored by their boss, Stanford Wedeck, and colleague Janis Hawk; Mark’s wife, Dr. Olivia Benford, is in the middle of surgery; Dr. Bryce Varley is weighing a potentially life-ending decision; Mark’s friend, Aaron Stark, is working high above the ground on power lines; and Nicole Kirby — baby-sitter to Mark and Olivia’s daughter, Charlie — is in the throes of passion with her boyfriend when suddenly, and without warning, every person on Earth blacks out for two minutes and seventeen seconds and sees a series of events from their own future, taking place on April 29, 2010 at 10:00 p.m., Pacific Time. For some the future will be joyous and hopeful; for others, shockingly unexpected; and for a few, it simply doesn’t seem to exist.

Supernatural – the CW 9/8c
“Free To Be You And Me” – Not sure he trusts himself anymore, Sam decides to give up hunting, but a late-night visitor (guest star Adrianne Palicki) won’t let him off the hook that easily. Dean, intent on stopping the Apocalypse, continues hunting on his own and teams up with Castiel to find the Archangel Raphael, as Castiel believes Raphael knows God’s location.

Fringe – FOX 9/8c
“Night of Desirable Objects” – A highway construction worker in rural Pennsylvania goes missing when he is mysteriously drawn into an underground tunnel filled with human remains. Meanwhile, back in the lab, Walter is attempting to simulate travel between realities on frogs. When it’s discovered that the disappearance in Pennsylvania is not an isolated incident, the Fringe team travels to the crime scene to unearth evidence.

Community – NBC 9:30/8:30c
“Spanish 101” – When Señor Chang assigns a project which requires the class to partner up in pairs of two, Jeff conspires to become Britta’s partner. Much to Jeff’s dismay, his valiant attempt backfires and he ends up with an unwelcome partner. Meanwhile, Shirley and Annie help Britta with her latest social justice cause.

The Mentalist – CBS 10/9c – SEASON PREMIERE
“Redemption” – Jane and Lisbon learn that the Red John case has been reassigned to a new CBI team led by the straight-shooting officer Sam Bosco (Terry Kinney).