Fri, 10pm, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Five
A double bill of the crime drama kicks off with a bizarre missing-persons case for Stabler and the gang. In ‘Pure’, the SVU detectives encounter a man claiming to be a psychic (guest star Martin Short, in a part miles away from his goofy Father of the Bride and Three Amigos roles) with information on a missing teenager. When the man’s predictions start proving strangely accurate, Stabler wonders if he’s more involved in the case than he’s letting on.
In the second episode of the night, ‘Intoxicated’, the world-weary ‘tecs encounter what appears to be a modern-day Romeo and Juliet – the latter played by Danielle Panabaker, previously seen as James Woods’ infuriating daughter Julie in Shark. The girl’s mother (Cathy Moriarty of Raging Bull) is unhappy about the relationship – did this have something to do with her then being found bludgeoned to death?
Sun, 9pm, Burn Notice, FX
A young man who house-sits for the fabulously wealthy is Michael’s client this week, desperately hoping that the former spy can rescue his fiancée from a gang of kidnappers. It seems that the man’s willingness to let the young lady believe that he was the owner of the luxury pad has made the kidnappers think he’s got a $5 million ransom to hand… whoops. Michael might be a bit distracted though – he’s started looking into his burn notice and is about to put himself in a spot of danger. Star Jeffrey Donovan can currently be seen on the big screen, playing opposite Angelina Jolie in new Clint Eastwood thriller Changeling.
Sun, 9pm, Fringe, Sky1
Savour this episode, Fringe fans – it’s your last one before the show takes a break. It’s back next year, but until then you can get your teeth into the mysterious case of a robber found embedded in the wall of a bank vault. Walter is shocked to discover that the people he’s after can not only defy the laws of physics but are after something that only he has…
Sun, 10pm, Desperate Housewives, E4
As if last season’s deadly tornado wasn’t enough, the Wisteria Lane residents now have another disaster to contend with: a raging inferno at the Battle of the Bands. As the flames lick the walls, it soon becomes apparent that not everyone is going to survive… Elsewhere in the episode, Julie returns – with surprising new boyfriend in tow; Gabby and Carlos find out they’ve had a rather nice windfall; and Lynette finds out that Porter and Anne (guest star Gail O’Grady, NYPD Blue) plan to leave Fairview.
Sun, 10pm, John from Cincinnati, FX
There’s a new face in town this week as Shaun’s mother Tina arrives in Imperial Beach. Played by Chandra West (whose credits include parts on NYPD Blue and the new 90210, as well as doomed rookie Holly Gribbs in the first-ever CSI), Tina is an adult-film star… so she’s bound to cause a stir. Also this week, John falls foul of some thugs, Kai makes a connection with Butchie and Vietnam Joe brings Dr Smith a new patient.
