Tonight in HD: December 8

SoHo Highlight: Treme (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Albert presses Councilman Ron Singleton to reopen housing projects; Annie fails to embrace Sonny’s houseguest; the city celebrates the return of displaced residents with a second-line parade. “Five episodes in, what started as a rambling, atmospheric show is developing a definite thread and focus,” Time said, “while still widening its scope in this very strong episode. New Orleans is coming home. For better and for worse.” Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly noted the latest guest star was “a cut above the usual oh-look-there’s-a-famous-face. Tim Reid played a tough but fair-minded judge. Reid, best known as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati, was the co-creator (with Hugh Wilson) of the 1987-88 dramedy Frank’s Place, a beautiful mood-piece set in New Orleans that never got the audience it deserved. It makes complete sense that Treme‘s David Simon might have admired that show, and invited Reid on to allow us to make connections between two rare New Orleans shows that play against cultural stereotypes.” ✭✭✭✭✭

Chuck (TV2, 10.30)

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) The gang throw Rachel a small going-away party where she says a tearful goodbye to each of her friends individually – except for Ross. ✭✭✭

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Maxwell sees a glimmer of hope; Lana misses her chance; Hunter lashes out. ✭✭✭

The X Factor USA (TV3, 7.30, 5.1) Only five remain … ✭✭

Chuck (TV2, 10.30) A romantic Valentine’s Day is interrupted when the team is sent on a mission to a masquerade ball in England; Morgan ponders a big move. Critic Alan Sepinwall praised it as “one of the rare episodes these days to not only feature the entire cast but to give them all something of note to do … It is, in other words, a much denser episode of Chuck than we often get, and one that handled almost all of its assignments superbly.” But the AV Club thought otherwise: “This has become a show where wheels are spun in the name of churning out generic-feeling drama and advancing the plot by indicating that, in fact, it’s next week where the advancement is taking place.” ✭✭✭✭

Diplomatic Immunity (TV One, 11.35, R) ✭✭✭

Underbelly: The Mr Asia Story (TV3, 11.45, R)  Terry Clark’s UK murder trial reaches a sensational climax. But can Allison Dine testify against her former lover?  ✭✭✭✭

Criminal Minds (TV One, 12.05, R) ✭✭

The Vampire Diaries (TV2, 2.30, R) ✭✭✭