TV is bringing out the big guns and its best storylines to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, November sweeps:
“New Girl” (Tuesday, 9 p.m., Fox)
Ever since “Happy Endings” got axed, Mama has been awaiting the return of Damon Wayans Jr. to this comedy, which snagged him for its pilot before he was obligated to return to the struggling ABC comedy. His character, Coach, now wants to move back in with his loft roomies, who replaced him with another — completely coincidentally, I’m sure — black character. And if you didn’t think this show had enough eye candy, the very watchable Taye Diggs shows up for Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and Cece’s (Hannah Simone) girls’ night out.
“Parenthood” (Thursday, 10 p.m., NBC)
Mama kind of misses back when Kristina (Monica Potter) had cancer. This Kleenex drama is at its best when the Braverman family is at its worst. But alas, this season we’re back to the ups and downs of Drew’s (Miles Heizer) love life and Max’s (Max Burkholder) latest obsession. But the good news is that it looks like the writers are setting up Julia (Erika Christensen) for a bout of infidelity and an ensuing family crisis. Yay!
“The Mentalist” (Sunday, 10:30 p.m., CBS)
The gang’s all here — and by gang, I mean the list of guest stars who play the possible Red John suspects. Jane (Simon Baker) is finally prepared to gather them all in one place, since he’s already narrowed it down to the conservatory with the lead pipe. Michael Gaston, Malcolm McDowell, Drew Powell, Reed Diamond and Xander Berkeley are all on hand for the big reveal.
“Inside the Actors Studio” (Thursday, 8 p.m., Bravo)
Many of the original cast members join creator Mitch Hurwitz for an “Arrested Development” reunion, which would have been a lot more exciting if they hadn’t ruined the show’s legacy with that Netflix relaunch. But at least this gives James 
Lipton a chance to interview himself, as he had a recurring guest gig as the prison warden on the short-lived comedy.
Whoa, Daddy: Not only do the Christmas-themed shows intrude earlier every year, but this year there are dueling holiday movies starting Saturday night, so that you must choose between Lifetime’s “A Country Christmas Story,” starring Dolly Parton, and Hallmark Channel’s “Snow Bride,” about a tabloid reporter in love, which of course wins Mama’s heart.