TV tonight: 'Dance,' 'Middle,' Griffith tribute

By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Posted July 17, 2012

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TCM salutes the late Andy Griffith with a prime-time run of four of his films, including 'A Face in the Crowd.' (Credit: Warner Home Video)

•Have you been wondering how this new So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8 ET/PT) arrangement, with the performance and result shows rolled into one, is going to work?

You'll find out tonight with the debut of the season's first combo installment.

•There are episodes on The Middle (ABC, 8 ET/PT) where all of the plots are so strong, it's hard to pick a favorite — and this is one of them.

Is it Axl admitting he hasn't studied for his PSATs? Brick admitting he is being bullied at school? Or is it Sue trying out for cheerleading? ("No one is going to judge me on my past. Everyone is going to judge me on my cheerleading talent alone." "She keeps saying that like it's a good thing.")

Not that it matters.

Watch, enjoy, and if Thursday morning the series fails once again to pick up any major Emmy nominations, try to figure out why.

•TCM salutes Andy Griffith with a prime-time run of four of his films. You get the two best first, A Face in the Crowd (8 ET/5 PT) and No Time for Sergeants (10:15 ET/7:15 PT), followed by Hearts of the West (12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 PT) and Onionhead (2:15 a.m. ET/11:15 PT).