Tonight in HD: May 23

Series Premiere: Breakout Kings (TV3, 9.30, 5.1) US Marshals form a special team of convicts that have previously escaped from prison to help track down other prison escapees. Like TV2 with GCB, TV3 is debuting this lighthearted action hour within days of its cancellation in the US. However, it was popular enough to last two seasons and earned largely grudging reviews. “It does not — repeat, not — take a con to catch a con,” argued The Hollywood Reporter about the show’s tagline. “That is by now a very tired television cliche and one that’s embraced by Kings. But the series overcomes this crutch to become a mostly interesting diversion from going to work five days a week.” Acknowledged the Los Angeles Times: “After four years with Prison Break, creators Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora know their way around this world, and Breakout Kings starts out with a promising blend of character and plot, action and dialogue, sweet and savoury.” Prison Break fans will be pleased to see Robert Knepper reprise his role as T-Bag in episode three. ✮✮✮

Sky Movies Premiere: Red Riding Hood (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke fumbles this reinterpretation of the Grimm fairy tale that re-imagines the heroine as a young woman in love with a woodcutter but betrothed to another while lurking in the woods is a werewolf that only has fangs for her. What should have been a fun spin on an old favourite never realises its ambitions of being sexy, adult or frightening, and arguably has the worst creature effects since the original Wolf Man. Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman and Julie Christie star. (2011) ✮✮

Home & Away (TV3, 5.30) Sasha shuts Xavier out; Hayley returns to Summer Bay; Casey clashes with one of his teachers. ✮✮

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) Ross finally finds out about Monica and Chandler, after renting Ugly Naked Guy’s apartment. ✮✮✮✮

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Callum struggles to forgive and forget; Chris fears his family is falling apart; Ula cuts off her last lifeline. ✮✮✮

Two and a Half Men (TV2, 7.30, 5.1) When a huge storm traps Walden, Alan, Zoey and Lyndsey in the house on Valentine’s Day, arguments and physical fights arise. ✮✮

Road Cops (TV3, 7.30) Boy-racers are investigated after reports of a burnout party; a young male is found semi-conscious on the side of a road; Constable Turner pulls over a van with little regard for the law. ✮✮

2 Broke Girls (TV2, 8.00, 5.1) Max shows her softer side when Earl has a heart attack and ends up in the hospital after seeing Sophie dressed up; Caroline tries to rekindle an old flame. ✮✮

The GC (TV3, 8.00) Nate has his big audition; Cole’s father arrives to help with the gym renovations; Jade Louise has a confession that Tame won’t see coming. ✮✮

The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 8.30, 5.1) When Sheldon is forced to take a vacation by the university, he goes to work with Amy in her neurobiology lab, which leads to a turning point in their relationship; Bernadette wants Howard to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. “Last week’s episode benefited from putting Sheldon in a submissive role, and by continuing the trend, The Big Bang Theory has one of its best episodes ever with The Vacation Solution,” said the AV Club. “An episode that gives this much focus to Amy is going to be good, and [Mayim] Bialik’s dry line delivery is perfect for the character who so casually switches from apathy to admiration.“ Among Amy’s best lines: “Parental pressure can be daunting, I remember the battle with my mother about shaving my legs. Last year, I finally caved in and let her do it.” ✮✮✮✮

The Almighty Johnsons (TV3, 8.30, F) Season finale: On the day of Gaia’s actual 21st it sucks to be mortal, and being a God isn’t exactly plain-sailing, either. ✮✮✮

Happy Endings (TV2, 9.00, 5.1) Max wonders if he is good enough to for his seemingly perfect new boyfriend. ✮✮

Castle (TV One, 9.30, 5.1) When Castle and Martha are taken hostage in a bank robbery, Beckett negotiates to save them. ✮✮

Nikita (TV2, 10.30, 5.1) Percy attempts to take over the CIA, Alex goes rogue, and Michael finds himself trapped inside Division, unable to help Nikita, whose life is in danger after helping Alex. ✮✮

This Is Not My Life (TV One, 11.55, R) Believing Alec has gone, Jessica agrees to Gordy’s big plans. ✮✮