Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

The Big Bang Theory: Famed physicist Stephen Hawking guest stars as himself on a new episode (8 p.m. CBS).

American Idol: The Wanted performs, and Jennifer Lopez debuts her latest video, on the results show “(8 p.m. Fox).

Up All Night: Megan Mullally and “SNL’s” Fred Armisen guest star on a new episode of the sitcom (9:30 p.m. NBC).

Scandal: Kerry Washington and “Lost’s” Henry Ian Cusick star in this new drama about a crisis-management firm in Washington D.C. (10:01 p.m. ABC).

SPECIALS

Comic Books Unbound: This new special examines how the once-lowly comic book became fodder for some of Hollywood’s biggest hits — and flops (6 and 9 p.m. CNBC).

The Real American Reunion: Jason Biggs, one of the stars of the upcoming “American Pie” sequel, attends his own high-school reunion in this special (8 p.m. E!).

Secret Lives of the Apostles: This new special profiles some of Christianity’s founding fathers (9 p.m. Nat Geo), followed by “Search for the Head of John the Baptist” at 10 p.m.

Tent City U.S.A.: This documentary visits a community formed by homeless people in Nashville, Tenn. (9 p.m. OWN).

MOVIES

The Abyss: “Titanic” director James Cameron helmed this effects-laden 1989 undersea adventure/sci-fi tale; Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio star (8 p.m. Encore).

SPORTS

Baseball: The Red Sox take on the Tigers (10 a.m. ESPN2); the Nationals visit the Cubs (11:10 a.m. WGN America); the Marlins meet the Reds (1 p.m. ESPN2); and the Dodgers play the Padres (4 p.m. FS Prime).

Golf: The 2012 Masters Tournament tees off in Augusta, Ga. (noon ESPN).

Hockey: The Rangers face the Penguins (4 p.m. NBCSP) and the Kings welcome the Sharks (7:30 p.m. FS Prime).

Basketball: The Knicks meet the Magic (4 p.m. TNT), the Celtics battle the Bulls (6:30 p.m. TNT) and the Clippers challenge the Kings (7 p.m. FSN).