There was a brief moment last year when it did not look like The Sarah Silverman Show would be returning for a third season. Comedy Central had cut the show's budget and its creator refused to settle for the diminished resources. Fortunately, Logo swept in, subsidized the difference and Silverman was back in production by April, shooting tonight's third season premiere, in which Sarah comes to grips with the fact that she was born a hermaphrodite. Who is excited?
The Sarah Silverman Program [10:30 PM, Comedy Central]
If you don't OD on subtle humor during the season debut of Important Things with Demetri Martin at 10 PM, then glide right into tonight's gender-rocking premiere of Sarah Silverman. Sarah's sister (played by Sarah's real life sister) reveals that Sarah was born with both kinds of genitalia and then cuts back her allowance, leaving Sarah with no choice (or waxing money) but to grow out her mustache. Later this season, Andy Samberg and Ed Asner guest-star.
The Office [9 PM, NBC]
Kathy Bates lends her Oscar-winning chops to The Office in the show's first new episode since the holidays. Guest-starring as Jo Bennett, CEO of a mysterious printer selling company that takes over Dunder Mifflin, she delivers Michael (Steve Carell) a new set of company policies. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) interview with a local daycare. Tonight's episode, "Sabre," is also Krasinski's directorial debut.
Surviving Survivor [8 PM, CBS]
CBS finds another way to squeeze blood out of its Survivor franchise tonight in a reunion of ten castaways including first season winner and recent tax-evader Richard Hatch. The group will remember their time in the sun and recall their most successful back-stabbing schemes. As always, Jeff Probst will chaperone.
Just Friends [8 PM, TBS]
Ryan Reynold's Sundance breakou Buried was only the latest proof that the Green Lantern star is destined for a much more respectable film career than you imagined when you first saw Van Wilder. Before he starts getting award nominations that don't include the word "Choice" in the title though, let's look back on his brief foray into the under-explored genre of fat-suit romcoms. In this 2005 Roger Kumble cable classic, Reynolds stars as a successful music exec who returns home and discovers that his high school crush (Amy Smart) is still crush-worthy after all these years. Anna Faris and Chris Klein co-star.