Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon (Jim Parsons) turns to Penny (Kaley Cuoco) for advice on being a better boyfriend to Amy (Mayim Bialik) in this new episode (8 p.m. CBS).

The Vampire Diaries: Elena, Bonnie and Matt (Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, Zach Roerig) surprise Caroline (Candice Accola) with an 18th birthday party in an unusual place in this new episode (8 p.m. KTLA).

Rob: Rob Schneider stars in this new sitcom about a man who marries into a Mexican-American family and has to adjust to the culture shock. Cheech Marin costars (8:30 p.m. CBS).

The Finder: This new series, a spinoff of “Bones,” is a procedural about a man (Geoff Stults) with an extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable. Michael Clarke Duncan also stars (9 p.m. Fox).

Up All Night: Chris (Will Arnett) is embarrassed when Reagan (Christina Applegate) shows her ultracompetitive side during a New Year’s Eve game night in this new episode (9:30 p.m. NBC).

The Mentalist: When a top divorce attorney is murdered on his speedboat, Jane (Simon Baker) and his colleagues try to narrow down a very long list of suspects (10 p.m. CBS).

American Stuffers: A grieving woman asks Daniel to mount her beloved pet raccoon (10 p.m. Animal Planet).

SPECIALS

Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: The top movies from 2011 as selected by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn. are honored in this ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium. Director Martin Scorsese will be honored. Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer host the event (8 and 10 p.m. VH1).

SPORTS

College basketball: Wisconsin at Purdue (4 p.m. ESPN); Clemson at Boston College (4 p.m. ESPN2); Virginia at Duke (6 p.m. ESPN); Tennessee at Mississippi State (6 p.m. ESPN2); Gonzaga at St. Mary’s (8 p.m. ESPN2).

Pro basketball: The New York Knicks visit the Memphis Grizzlies (5 p.m. TNT); the Orlando Magic visit the Golden State Warriors (7:30 p.m. TNT).

Hockey: The Ducks visit the Calgary Flames (6:30 p.m. FS Prime); the Dallas Stars visit the Kings (7:30 p.m. FSN).