Wednesday’s TV Highlights: ‘The Middle’ on ABC

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TV listings for the week of Jan. 4 - 10, 2015 in PDF format

This week’s TV Movies

SERIES

The Mentalist When Jane (Simon Baker) and his team investigate a botched DEA raid, Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) is blackmailed. 8 p.m. CBS

The Middle Kirstie Alley guest stars in this new episode as a former Mean Girl who went to high school with Frankie (Patricia Heaton). Neil Flynn and Charlie McDermott also star with guest star Gia Mantegna (Joe’s daughter). 8 p.m. ABC

American Idol Hopefuls audition in Nashville, in the season premiere of the singing competition. Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. return as judges, and Ryan Seacrest continues as host. 8 p.m. Fox

Nature This new episode explores the natural wonders of France, with the scenery of Corsica, the Pyrenees and the Alps showcased. 8 p.m. KOCE

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit A visit to New York by Atlanta’s deputy chief (Harry Hamlin) and one of his detectives (Dreama Walker) takes a very unexpected turn when the detective initially claims she’s been sexually assaulted, in this new episode. With Mariska Hargitay and Kelli Giddish. 9 p.m. NBC

Empire This new drama casts Terrence Howard as a family patriarch and entertainment industry tycoon. Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe and Malik Yoba also star in the season premiere. 9 p.m. Fox

NOVA “Rise of the Drones” focuses on the military applications of the flying robots, with engineers and operators discussing their involvement with the machines. 9 p.m. KOCE

Wahlburgers In the season premiere, Donnie tries to come up with a solution when the Chicago location of his wedding to Jenny McCarthy poses a problem, 10 p.m. A&E. The unscripted new series “Donnie Loves Jenny,” which follows Wahlberg and McCarthy after their wedding, premieres at 10:30 p.m. A&E

SPECIALS

People’s Choice Awards 2015 Allison Janney teams with her “Mom” co-star Anna Faris to host these annual honors held at Nokia Theater L.A. Live. Lady Antebellum, Iggy Azalea and Fall Out Boy perform during the ceremony. 9 p.m. CBS

TALK SHOWS

CBS This Morning Tony Schwartz, the Energy Project; Patton Oswalt. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Lena Dunham; Michael Keaton; Maggie Grace; Kym Whitley; John Cena. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. Writer-director Lee Daniels (“Empire”); Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs; Denny Laine performs; Harry Connick, Jr. (“American Idol”). (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Kelly and Michael Forest Whitaker (“Taken 3”); J.K. Simmons; Shaun T. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Michelle Williams; Jerry Springer; Joshua Sasse. (N) 10 a.m. KABC

The Dr. Oz Show A 10-day plan to break the cycle of insomnia; tasty carb replacements; a three-day liver reboot. (N) 10 a.m. KCOP; 2 p.m. KTTV

The Doctors Dr. Phil McGraw discusses weight loss; a young man severely disfigured by a land mine. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL

The Wendy Williams Show Forest Whitaker (“Taken 3”). (N) 11 a.m. KTTV

The Talk Diana Madison; Aarti Sequeira. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS

Rachael Ray Cold and flu season: Dr. Travis Stork. (N) 1 p.m. KABC

Dr. Phil A woman says her mother is controlling, narcissistic and pure evil. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS

Steve Harvey Kym Whitley; Jaclyn Smith. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Chris Pratt; Amanda Peet; Chet Faker performs. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC

Between the Lines With Barry Kibrick Bruce Dern. 9 p.m. KLCS

Charlie Rose (N) 11 p.m. KVCR; 11:30 p.m. KOCE

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Director Ava DuVernay (“Selma”). (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central

Conan Elizabeth Banks; Vinnie Jones. (N) 11 p.m. TBS

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Liam Neeson; Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC

Late Show With David Letterman Julianne Moore; Marv Albert; Catfish and the Bottlemen. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live Bill Maher; Nick Kroll; the Lone Bellow performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

Late Night With Seth Meyers Jane Lynch; Lucy Hale; Haerts performs. (N) 12:36 a.m. KNBC

The Late Late Show Guest host Drew Carey; David Arquette; Jessica St. Clair. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS