Critic's Self-help guide to Wednesday TV: Reality Wars (X Factor, Survivor, Top Chef)

Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio It is said "Everything's Bigger in Texas," the episode title for your premiere of Bravo's Texas-set ninth season of Top Chef (10/9c). And additionally it might explain why a ginormous platoon of 29 chef-testants descends round the historic Alamo for your first round of competition, and why the whole process of loss the region with a Top 16 can not be also contained within the first pulse-pounding episode. "They're raising the quantity of intensity pretty fast," states one of the chefs, and below bears that out. There's no room for error without any slack allowed Body body's told to carry along their knives just before the very first dish is even finished - since the 29 are put into three groups, each acquiring another "Being qualified Challenge" simply because they anxiously make an effort to impress the idol idol judges, who instantly determine which chefs get yourself a coat, which ones don't increase the risk for grade which are "round the bubble" and can get a second chance to become listed on the cast. Participating alongside the normal idol idol judges this season: Emeril Lagasse as well as the always entertaining Top Chef Masters veteran Hugh Acheson. Want more TV news? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! Once the year of Top Chef could keep up this pace since it moves the down sides from San Antonio to Dallas and Austin, this might be the most popular reality-competition block every week, combined with provocative Factor of beauty: The Next Great Artist (9/8c), which tonight welcomes executive producer Nicole Kidman just like a guest judge. However, these are hardly really the only game around. America reaches start voting tonight for faves on Fox's The X Factor (8/7c), getting a 2-hour live show show, and let's hope the idol idol judges can start focusing around the entertainers greater than on dissing each other. The final results (through which, we're told, the idol idol judges will choose one of the bottom two functions to go to home carrying out a sing-off) airs Thursday. Which is time for your merge on CBS' Survivor: South Off-shoreline (8/7c), after which it we'll discover if Ozzy's absurdly reckless strategy from the other day takes proper care of, while he faces the indomitable Christine in the Redemption Island challenge after contriving to own themselves selected from his tribe, even giving up his immunity idol inside the bargain. He's thinking that he'll beat Christine, then when he rejoins the sport, he'll the amounts involving the former competing tribes. Hubris? Folly? No less than it provides more hours to relish the antics of Cochran, the fundamental Survivor nerd who's most likely probably the most purely enjoyable players inside a very long time. Look who's raising the sport on NBC's Law & Order: Special Sufferers Unit (10/9c): the fantastic Andre Braugher, in fine form as Bayard Ellis, a formidable defense attorney/civil protections crusader who assumes an African-American rape defendant professional bono, crossing swords while using equally devoted Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). "We have got the very best guy," Olivia challenges him. "Not the right way,In . he shoots back. Are both right, through the finish, there's a mutual agreement that "effective or not successful, they come in a cost.In . There's an excellent moment where Braugher encounters his former Homicide: Existence all the time co-star Richard Belzer, still playing Det. Munch ultimately these years - read Braugher's applying for grants his appearance here. It's also a delicacy to find out Linus Roache for action as Bureau Chief Mike Cutter, approached to handle the mighty Ellis. (It's a indication of techniques much was lost when NBC scuttled regulations & Order mothership.) The episode is notable too for just about any strong guest performance from Medium's Sofia Vassilieva since the victim-of-the-week, a harder-than-she-looks music student who begins to question if while using situation towards the court causes it to be worthwhile. Halloween is finished, but FX's American Horror Story (10/9c) - just restored to no an individual's surprise for just about any second season - continues going. So on crazier with the minute, which is not always a compliment. Probably the most frightening factor relevant for this episode, which concludes the Halloween-evening two-parter, might be the hysterically pitched acting (especially by Dylan McDermott, which has his hands full getting through a peeved wife as well as the psychotic ghost of his mistress) as well as the laughably lurid incoherent plotting. Look close and you'll see Ashley Rickards from MTV's Awkward (now there's an excellent show) one of the mean teens taunting the wacko Tate, about whom we discover more - none from this terribly surprising, if you've been needing to give consideration. Just what else is on? ... Expand your brain and horizons with PBS' The Fabric in the Cosmos, a four-part Nova small-series (9/8c, check local agendas) situated by physicist John Greene, who kicks things off by asking "What's Space?" His answer involves something referred to as "dark energy," which means his theory that space isn't a obvious void. ... PBS returns to earth getting an account in the late Apple visionary inside the hour-extended special Jobs: Any Factor (10/9c, check local agendas). ... Former Secretary of Condition Condoleezza Grain makes her first appearance on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman (11:35/10:35c), placing her new memoir. ... Guest-star gene pool: Blythe Danner and Richard Schiff play Christina Applegate's parents, likely to their new daughter on NBC's Up With The Evening (8/7c). Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!