This is a good sign. "The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons has been tapped to do the Emmy announcement honors on July 16 along with "Grey's Anatomy" star Chandra Wilson.

Emmy officials usually get past winners to do the honors at the crack of dawn. It's clearly a hint that the Emmy folks see Parsons as a cinch for a comedy actor nom.

He'd better get one, or there's gonna be trouble...

Thursday update: "The Big Bang Theory" and Jim Parsons get some love rom the Television Critics Assn., with noms for comedy series and comedy performer.

The predictions were true! CBS' hot-shot drama "The Mentalist" is bound for the post-"CSI" berth on Thursday. That should make things interesting on the night. ("Mentalist" star Simon Baker and CBS boss Leslie Moonves pictured above.)

Another big move that I surely didn't see coming was the shift of my fave comedy "The Big Bang Theory" to Monday 9:30 p.m. behind "Two and a Half Men." Just call it Chuck Lorre's hour of power.

I didn't think CBS would move "Big Bang" because it's been such a stronger starter for the night at 8 p.m. But rock on with your bad selves, Chuck, Bill Prady, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, et al. Not only is the "Big Bang" mob the best cast and creatives in sitcomville, they're also the nicest bunch of folks you'd ever want to meet (or conduct a panel sesh with).

Here's the sked. New series descriptions and links to clips after the jump.

(N means new show; NT means new time period)

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM              HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (NT)

8:30-9:00 PM              ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (N)

9:00-9:30 PM              TWO AND A HALF MEN

9:30-10:00 PM            THE BIG BANG THEORY (NT)

10:00-11:00 PM          CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM              NCIS

9:00-10:00 PM            NCIS: LOS ANGELES (N)

10:00-11:00 PM          THE GOOD WIFE (N)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-8:30 PM              THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE

8:30-9:00 PM              GARY UNMARRIED

9:00-10:00 PM            CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM          CSI: NY

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM              SURVIVOR

9:00-10:00 PM            CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

10:00-11:00 PM          THE MENTALIST (NT)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM              GHOST WHISPERER

9:00-10:00 PM            MEDIUM

10:00-11:00 PM          NUMB3RS

SATURDAY

8:00-9:00 PM              CRIMETIME SATURDAY

9:00-10:00 PM            CRIMETIME SATURDAY

10:00-11:00 PM          48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM              60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM              THE AMAZING RACE

9:00-10:00 PM            THREE RIVERS (N)

10:00-11:00 PM          COLD CASE (NT)

Here's more evidence that there's just not enough time in the day to watch everything that you should.

Readers of this blog know I'm a mega-fan of Craig Ferguson and of "The Big Bang Theory," and so I'm sorry to say that I'm just now catching up with the appearance by "Big Bang" co-star Jim Parsons (pictured right) on the Oct. 1 edition of CBS' "The Late Late Show."

It's Parsons' first-ever latenight TV appearance, as he notes right off the bat, getting the audience on his side (as if they could resist him anyway).

Parsons seems to go in and out of playing himself and his "Big Bang" geekster character Sheldon in this 10-minute seg, but no matter. It makes for engaging live (to tape) TV because you can see some genuine nervousness on Parsons' part, but his natural wit and charm carries him through just fine.

Ferguson isn't easy on him -- it's nothing like a typical plug-the-show/where-you-from chatshow interview (for one thing, a few coffee cups go flying) -- but the tangents he takes give Parsons more opportunities to score.

TV's Craig Ferguson has reason to be feeling a little feisty these days. He's enjoying a slight ratings bounce so far this season. "Late Late Show" won the week ended Oct. 10 and is essentially tied with NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" for season-to-date bragging rights in the 12:35-1:35 a.m. time slot.

Ferguson's uptick is fueled in part by CBS' solid momentum in primetime, and NBC's lack thereof. But I like to think that talent, as evidenced by the Parsons clip, has something to do with it too.