The Remote

American Idol

8 p.m., Fox

This week we go from 16 to the Top 12. Or, more accurately, the Nine Who Somehow Made It This Far and The Three Legitimate Contenders. Let's put how bad this season is into perspective, shall we? Kris Allen performed Man in the Mirror last year in the Top 36, and that was when I declared him the winner. David Cook performed Hello in the Top 16. David Archuleta performed Imagine in the Top 20. Blake Lewis performed Virtual Insanity in the Top 20, Daughtry performed Wanted Dead or Alive in the Top 24, Ruben Studdard gave us Superstar in the first round of the Top 24, and Bo Bice sang I'll Be in the Top 16. Get my point? Other than Crystal Bowersox being really, really good, Mike Lynche showing potential and a couple of glimmers of hope in two or three of the others, we have so far had no real "ah ha!" moment this season. I'm just saying.

Lost

9 p.m., ABC

More Ben. Or as we like to call him in New L.A. Now, European history teacher. Last week, in the very Sayid-centric episode, Ben's brief screen time was worth every penny. The look on his face when he saw Sayid, and knew that Sayid had gone over to the Very, Very Dark Side (the side Ben used to reside on, you'll remember, but maybe not anymore) was classic. Keep it up, Lost. You're doing fine.

Southland

10 p.m., TNT

Dear TNT: I can never thank you enough for rescuing Southland from the NBC axe, and keeping the Ben McKenzie dream alive. Last week's first new episode (TNT reran all of the first season that aired on NBC), was a pulse-pounding reminder of what made this show so different on network TV. They all brag about gritty realism on their stupid shows like Mercy and Trauma and Drama and whatever else they have, but this show is the real deal. So, TNT, thanks again. Love, The Remote.