‘Amazing Race’ takes detour to new night

CBS has reshuffled its schedule, moving “Amazing Race 9” (7 p.m.) to Wednesday nights. Its ratings had been sliding on Tuesday nights. In tonight’s competition, several teams experience a meltdown in Sicily.

This move results in the shelving of “Out of Practice” and “Courting Alex.” No loss there. Viewers never got in the practice of watching “Out,” and “Alex” presented folks with the prospect of “Dharma & Greg” in reverse, a comedy nobody really wanted to see. Both sitcoms are supposed to return to the CBS schedule. Don’t hold your breath.

CBS has promised to replace “Race” on Tuesdays with “rebroadcasts of crime dramas.” Looks like another night to watch the “CSI” of your choice.

If viewers grow tired of the grim morbidity of “CSI,” what’s left? NBC used to plug every hole with “Law & Order” and look what happened to them. CBS’ Monday nights remain strong, but I can’t really say why. I’m completely mystified by the continued success of “Two and a Half Men.” Some of the stiffs in Grissom’s cooler seem more animated than Charlie Sheen’s character.

¢ Speaking of ratings, the college drama “The Bedford Diaries” (8 p.m., WB) debuted last week. I think I used the word “sleazy” twice in my review. Sorry for repeating myself. But most viewers seem to agree. “Bedford” premiered to record-setting ratings. Not only did “Bedford” lose out to the other five networks, it lost to the Spanish-language offering on Univision. It takes quite a show to come in seventh! On tonight’s “Bedford,” Owen (Penn Badgley) has a one-night stand with his sister’s roommate. Just what is the Spanish word for “sleazy”?

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Howie Mandel hosts “Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m., NBC).

¢ A bony relic may lead to buried treasure on “Bones” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Small-town residents find themselves poisoned on “Criminal Minds” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ A new vault complicates the scheme on “Heist” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ The votes are tallied and the trap door opens for one “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox)

¢ Hurley finds the island getting on his nerves on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ The staff race against the clock to reopen the facility on “Little Zoo That Could” (8 p.m., Animal Planet).

¢ Young mobsters deliver a grim message on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ A gunman holds a hospital responsible for his sister’s death from AIDS on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ A tragedy inspires a flashback for Goldman (Martin Landau) on “The Evidence” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ Chances are 50-50 that a George Clooney joke will be heard on “South Park” (9 p.m., Comedy Central).