We’re not 100-percent sure right now what else the college theme will entail, but we’ve got a few guesses:
• Tyra Mail will no longer be written in crayon.
• Miss Jay’s runway lessons won’t literally have to begin with the instructions “place one foot in front of the other.”
• Tyra’s use of French “words” and “accents” will increase tenfold.
• Tyra and her fellow judges will remind us at least four times per episode that it takes brains and beauty to succeed in modeling.
• Shelves of the Top Model house will contain books as well as shiny objects.

Are you smizing over the news that Top Model will continue to bring its patented brand of fierceness to The CW schedule? What do you think of the college them? Sound off below!

THE SHOW | NBC’s Awake (Thursdays at 10/9c, premiering March 1; watch pilot here)

THE COMPETITION | CBS’ The Mentalist, ABC’s Private Practice and Scandal (premiering April 15), FX’s Archer/Unsupervised

THE CAST | Jason Isaacs (Brotherhood), Laura Allen (Terriers), Wilmer Valderrama (That ’70s Show) and BD Wong (SVU)… Jason Isaacs, Dylan Minnette (Lost), Steve Harris (The Practice), Michael McManus (Vampire Diaries) and Cherry Jones (24)… and Laura Innes (ER).

Save the Dates: February Premieres and Finales!

THE SET-UP | Isaacs is Michael Britten, a police detective who in the wake of a tragic car accident finds himself toggling between two realities: one where his wife Hannah (played by Allen) perished in the crash, and another where it was their son Rex (Minnette) who died. In sessions with his LAPD-assigned therapist (played alternately by Wong and Jones), Britten details this dual existence yet declines to accept the diagnosis that the other “world” is but a dream-slash-coping mechanism. Valderrama and Harris play Britten’s respective detective partners in his “red” (where Hannah’s alive) and “green” realities, Innes their police captain; McManus is Rex’s tennis coach.

More Winter TV First Impressions: ABC’s The River, NBC’s The Firm,
Showtime’s House of Lies, NBC’s Smash, Fox’s Alcatraz

THE PROS | Awake, as you might surmise, is not the easiest show to follow, but to make the effort is damn rewarding. The pilot, which is just this side of brilliant, economically lays the foundation for the dual narrative — including the added wrinkle of how Britten’s homicide investigations in either reality beget clues for the other. (For example, a parking space number translates into a critical street address.) Among the cast, Isaacs is excellent, rendering a character who is at once besotted by loss and yet quietly satisfied to have stumbled upon a way to hold onto those he lost; similarly, Allen does well as a wife and mother struggling to move on yet hampered by her own forms of denial. Minnette at first seems saddled with TV’s favorite tired trope, The Angry Teen, but a pair of breakdowns (in the pilot and then Episode 3) flesh out the lad nicely.
    Of the first episodes screened, the pilot is tightly plotted and solid as a rock, No. 3 delivers a visceral and thrilling white-knuckle race against time, and the one that will air fifth addresses head-on a conspicuous question — namely, for how long can Britten pass off the otherworldly clues he gleans as mere “hunches”? — as well as introduces an element that threatens to unravel one of Michael’s existences.

THE CONS | Episode 2, while a serviceable follow-up, serves mainly to plant the seed for a larger mythology that at first blush risks seeming a tad contrived — though in the long run, it might give the series needed momentum. In the early going, conversations that Britten has with his shrinks (à la “You need to let go of your ‘dream’ reality”) and his partners (“You mind explaining this hunch of yours?”) grow a bit repetitive: fortunately, the therapy sessions are later used more sparingly and weave in other topics. Until you commit to memory a “Who’s who?” of the two realities, it can be easy to “lose your place,” though the show provides cues in the form of a red/green rubber band Michael wears on one wrist and an overall warmer visual tone to scenes in the “red” world.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE | While Awake, when first reported on, was likened to Inception, I’d say Fringe is a slightly better comparison — it’s as if Peter Bishop switched universes each time he fell asleep and woke up. As such this is a show you must pay attention to, and in a world where inane fare developed to appeal to the LCD attracts the big crowds, I can’t help but worry about this smart and stellar drama’s prospects in a time slot that already this season has played host to two short-lived freshman NBC series. All we can do is hope for the best, and patience on the Peacock’s part.

Watch a video preview for Awake, then vote in our poll below.

Based on a Dutch series, Penoza centers on the (yet-to-be-cast) widow of an assassinated criminal who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family.

Though no details were immediately available on Tergesen’s role of Steven, in the Dutch serial that character was a foot soldier for a drug runner named Irwan.

Pilot Season Lingo Guide (Including the ‘Scary’ Second Position), Plus a List of Picked-Up Pilots

Since exiting Oz, Tergesen has filled myriad TV roles, including runs on Wanted, Desperate Housewives, Generation Kill, Life on Mars and Army Wives. Next Tuesday, he begins an arc on ABC’s The River as the MIA father of Eloise Mumford’s character.

On the big screen, Tergesen recently appeared in the George Lucas-produced WWII action drama Red Tails.
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“I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners,” O’Brien said in a statement Wednesday. “This means I’ll be taping episodes of Conan well into the Ron Paul presidency.”

Conan debuted in November 2010, nearly a year after O’Brien’s controversial ouster from NBC’s Tonight Show.

Ready for more of today’s TV dish? Well…

• Jeanne Tripplehorn is leaving the drama behind with a multi-episode arc on Fox’s hit comedy New Girl. Per EW.com, the Big Love alumna will play the manipulative ex-wife of upcoming guest star Dermont Mulroney, who, as we first reported, will soon join the freshman series as a handsome new love interest for Jess.

• Pop singer Katy Perry will appear in the March 6 installment of Raising Hope, playing a prison attendant who claims to be Sabrina’s close friend.

• Juliet Landau (who played Buffy’s Drusilla) and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Freddy Krueger) will guest-star in an upcoming episode of Criminal Minds, EW.com reports, respectively playing the ghost of a once-psychotic actress and a detective helping with a murder investigation.

• X Factor finalist Rachel Crow has signed an overall talent deal with Nickelodeon, with the cabler developing a comedy series for the 14-year-old to star in, Deadline reports.

• Perfect Couples‘ Christine Woods will play an ambitious reporter in an episode of Castle, which is slated to air in March, TVGuide.com reports.

• Ready for the cutest thing you’ll see all day? Landon Pigg (a talented singer/songwriter and the boyfriend of star Mae Whitman) teamed with the entire cast of Parenthood (Michael B. Jordan included!) on a cover of LFO’s ’90s pop anthem “Girl on TV,” and the result (courtesy of Teen Vogue) is a must, must see music video. (Watch it below!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Which TVLine Items have you talking today?

Also making our latest pilot casting roundup is Mad Love‘s Tyler Labine and Kings alum Chris Egan. 

• High School Musical alumna Tisdale  joins the aforementioned untitled project — which revolves around a group of young people trying to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times — as Petra, the beautiful, sarcastic assistant to a New York-based vintage clothing designer. Deadline first reported the news.

• Egan has landed the first role in ABC’s reimagining of the classic Disney fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. He’ll play Gorrick, a Gaston-like character who is the fiancé of the show’s embattled leading lady, Grace.

* Labine will co-star opposite Justin Kirk in NBC’s single-camera comedy Animal Kingdom. The project centers on a House-like veterinarian (Kirk) who loves animals but usually hates their owners. Labine will play a fellow vet.

Which pilot castings have your interest piqued?

Playing Grace, a onetime model-turned-fashion industry icon, Sims will interact with Reshma Shetty’s Divya when she complains of tightness in her chest. But as a character who’s also wheelchair-bound, Grace stands as an example of the cable network’s Characters Unite initiative to combat prejudice and discrimination, by in this case accurately depicting someone with a disability.

Specifically, USA and Royal Pains show bosses Michael Rauch and Andrew Lenchewski worked with the AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities) to do right by Sims’ character.

Press PLAY below for a first look clip at Divya’s effort to get Grace to “sleep” with her. Elsewhere in the season-ender, Hank struggles to cope with Jack’s passing, while Evan teams with Boris’s cousin, Claudette (guest star Judith Grodreche), on an experimental product that may help a patient.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Elsewhere, it was business as usual, with NCIS topping the night in both total viewers (holding steady at 19.6 million) and in the demo (down a tenth to a 3.8).

Over on Fox, Glee‘s winter finale (7.4 million viewers/2.9 rating) inched up a few percentage points, New Girl (6.25 mil/3.0) was relatively flat, and Raising Hope (4.85 mil/2.2) saw a tiny uptick.

Michael Slezak’s Glee Recap: A very Special Cliffhanger

The good-ish news for Ringer fans is that with an audience of 1.4 million and a 0.5 demo rating this Tuesday, the CW freshman gained some 25 percent versus its unarguably dreadful week-ago tallies.

A few other notes….

* Teeing up Cougar Town, Last Man Standing held steady at 7.5 mil and a 2.2. Come 9 pm, ABC’s The River was flat in Week 4 with 4.8 million viewers and a 1.7.

* NCIS: Los Angeles (15.9 mil/2.9) was down 9 percent in the demo to a season low.

* At 10 o’clock, Unforgettable (10.6 mil/1.9) dropped 17 percent to an all-time low demo rating, yet still led the hour. Parenthood, with 4.9 mil and a 1.7, was up 10 and 6 percent and placed second in the demo. Body of Proof (6.5 mil/1.4) gained 5 and 17 percent.

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The episode, titled “Last Known Surroundings,” finds Murray’s beloved Lucas coming back to Tree Hill to lend a helping hand to his dear friend Haley, who has decided to conduct her own investigation into Nathan’s mysterious abduction.

Tree Hill Hot Shots: Chad Michael Murray Returns!

Press PLAY below to watch a doting Lucas lay eyes on his nephew Jamie for the first time in years, and then hit the comments with your early snappy judgements on Murray’s triumphant Tree Hill return.

In one corner, you have General Hospital mob boss Sonny Corinthos; in the other, One Life to Live‘s relentless Todd Manning. And in yet another corner, there’s do-gooder lawman John McBain.

What exactly happens when all three formidable fellas come together in the same tiny, sudsy town? Based on the following crazy-fun new promo, all bets are off when some of Llanview’s elite relocate to Port Charles in a few weeks.

General Hospital Jilts One Life to Live’s ‘Jolie’ Fans

Also highlighted in this teaser video: the Scorpio clan is back in town (sob), Luke is in hot water (again) and Patrick is working feverishly to save Jason (who is still in the dark about the fate of his dear friend Robin).

But to quote our girl Blair Cramer (who for some reason is toasting our other girl Carly Jacks), “To never lookin’ back.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

8 pm American Idol (Fox) | The singers have one last time to impress the judges, as the selection for the Top 24 begins tonight. (Check out Michael Slezak’s latest recap and the most recent episode of Idology.)

8 pm Survivor: One World (CBS) | Castaways jump off the deep end in an Immunity Challenge that requires a delicate balance; a group of misfits band together, finding an unlikely leader.

8:30 pm Suburgatory (ABC) | When Jill turns to the newly-single Dallas for inspiration and support, her marriage with Noah gets rocky; Dallas begins spending a lot of time with her hot younger boyfriend (guest star Wilmer Valderrama), causing tension with George.

Exclusive One Tree Hill Video: Watch Chad Michael Murray’s Reunion With [Spoiler]!
One Tree Hill Hot Shots: Chad Michael Murray Returns Tonight!

9 pm Criminal Minds (CBS) | The BAU team investigates a series of brutal home invasions and murders that are seemingly gang-related, but their investigation uncovers a more sinister motive. One Tree Hill‘s Paul Johansson guest-stars.

9:30 pm Happy Endings (ABC) | Instead of a groundhog, the friends wait for Brad and Jane’s “spring smackdown” — aka their yearly blowout of a domestic squabble — to let them know when winter will end/Max will come out of hibernation.

2012 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Axed? What’s on the Bubble?

10 pm Royal Pains (USA Network) | Season finale: Hank struggles to cope with Jack’s death, distracting himself by treating three brothers who made a daring home movie à la Jackass. Molly Sims (Las Vegas) guest-stars.

10 pm CSI (CBS) | When a house is stolen completely off its foundation, the CSIs are on the case in search of answers. Hmm, does the old man from Up! have an alibi…?

10 pm 20/20: Before They Were Famous (ABC) | In this Oscars-themed edition, Robin Roberts highlights the early lives and careers of this year’s nominees, including The Descendants‘ George Clooney, Albert Nobbs‘ Glenn Close, The Help‘s Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, and The Artist‘s Jean du Jardin.

10 pm Law & Order: SVU (NBC) | When Benson’s romantic weekend with Haden is interrupted by news that an underage prostitute has gone missing, the line between their personal and professional lives starts to blur.

10 pm Top Chef: Texas (Bravo) | In the Season 9 finale, the final three cheftestants battle it out in the frigid cold of Vancouver with a fire-and-ice theme. Unfortunately Victoria Grayson will not be a guest judge.

10 pm Face Off (Syfy) | Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s LeVar Burton guests as the contestants compete to create extraordinary extraterrestrials.

Which of the above is must-see for you? Also, hit Comments to offer your own tune-in suggestions.