This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rainn Wilson ("The Office") stars as an incredibly annoying detective in the incredibly annoying new series "Backstrom" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13).
Well, the series isn't so awful by itself. It's a rather standard procedural crime drama, which was originally developed for CBS.
But "Backstrom" feels like, "Hey, let's make 'House' into a detective!" And Wilson's performance is so affected that the character doesn't feel real for a moment.
There are worse things on TV. But that's about the best thing I can tell you about "Backstrom."
Elsewhere on TV …
NBA (6 p.m., ROOT): Utah Jazz at Milawaukee Bucks
"The Taste" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): A winner is declared in the season finale.
"The Biggest Loser" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): The contestants return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"American Idol" (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): Auditions continue.
"The Vampire Diaries" (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Kai holds Elena captive while he learns to control his newly acquired magic.
"Project Runway All Stars" (7 p.m., Lifetime): The contestants head to Times Square to get an education.
"Mom" (7:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): An unexpected death rocks the family.
"Two and a Half Men" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Walden joins a group for adoptive fathers.
"Bad Judge" (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): The final episode of this canceled series.
"Reign" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Mary tries to save Condé, who's targeted by the Vatican.
"Portlandia" (8 p.m., IFC): There's a rash of medical issues.
"The McCarthys" (8:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Ronny dates a basketball ref his father doesn't like.
"A to Z" (8:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): The final episode of this canceled series.
"Elementary" (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): In the first of a two-parter, Holmes and Watson join forces to prevent a threat to Kitty.
Parenthood (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Amber goes into labor; Camille and Zeek make a decision about Zeek's health.