By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 3, 2012) -- High-Definition TVs are now in more than 50 million U.S. homes and there are scores of high-def programming choices.

But which shows should you watch? And why?

Every day here at TVPredictions.com, I scan the HD programming aisles and serve up 10 programs so good -- so hot! -- that you can't miss them. Sports, movies, primetime comedies and drama -- they're all there and in beautiful high-def.

We call this list, "The Hottest Shows in HDTV!" And here they are for Thursday, May 3, 2012. (All times Eastern -- and don't forget the link below to today's 'HD Hottie -- in fact, today there are 10 of them!)

Bonus Picks:
Drive
Ryan Gosling shines as a Steve McQueen-channeling stunt car driver who moonlights as the getaway ride for the criminal element. His life takes an unexpected turn when he falls for his next-door neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her young son whose lives become entangled with a series of mobsters and madmen. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive's mix of moody atmospherics and synth pop instrumentals often plays more like a style-over-substance 1980s Michael Mann movie. But the film holds your attention from beginning to end thanks to Gosling and a strong supporting cast that includes comedian Albert Brooks playing a bad guy, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks as an 'in-over-her-head' mob moll and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston as Gosling's sad sack pal. Very good movie.
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Christina Hendricks.
Video on Demand, various times. Also now available on Blu-ray.

America's Live
Get the latest on Wall Street's fast climb from anchor Megyn Kelly.
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Megyn Kelly.
Fox News Channel, 1 p.m.

General Hospital (new)
Sam (Kelly Monaco) has difficulties!
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of GH's Kelly Monaco.
ABC, 3 p.m.

The Weather Center
Get the latest storm activity from new Weather Channel babe Crystal Egger.
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Crystal Egger.
The Weather Channel, 7 p.m.

1. NBA Basketball Doubleheader
Heat at Knicks, followed by Thunder at Mavs.
TNT, 7 p.m.

2. The Big Bang Theory (new)
Leonard says something in the bathroom that offends Penny, or so says the program descript. (Yeech).
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Kaley Cuoco.
CBS, 8 p.m.

3. Missing (new)
Ashley Judd plays a butt-kicking, former CIA operative who goes all rogue on people when her 18-year-old son disappears while aboard. Think of it as a female Taken (Liam Neeson). Tonight, Violet and Dax try to apprehend Becca (Judd.)
ABC, 8 p.m.

4. The Vampire Diaries (new)
CW, the network for the saucy set, tries to ride the Twilight wave with this series about studly vampires and the obligatory hot chicks they seduce. Tonight's program descript: "Klaus tries to leave town with Elena (Nina Dobrev) but runs into a surprising foe."
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Nina Dobrev.
CW, 8 p.m.

5. American Idol (new)
Ready or not, it's back! Wanna-bes from across the nation will line up to sing their little hearts out for the likes to JLo, Steven Tyler and that other guy. Tonight, one more contestant will get the heave-ho, as opposed to the heaves, which he or she will get later backstage. Plus, Carrie Underwood will perform!
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Carrie Underwood.
Fox, 8 p.m.

6. 30 Rock (new)
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, the best comedy team on TV since the Colgate Comedy Hour graced the airwaves, are back! And tonight, Liz finds herself in a feud. Better that than another live show.
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of 30 Rock's Katrina Bowden.
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of Elizabeth Banks
NBC, 8:30 p.m.

7. Touch (new)
Kiefer Sutherland returns to episodic television as the father of a young boy who refuses to communicate other than scribbling numbers on a page. Needless to say, the boy is no ordinary mute; he apparently can predict the future with those scribblings, or so says a psychic played by Danny Glover. Sound complicated? Well, perhaps, but the early reviews have been pretty good. Tonight, an astronaut loses contact with Earth. Huh?
Fox, 9 p.m.

Bonus Pick:
Parks and Recreation
Program descript: "Chris finds a cure for his depression."
See our 'HD Hottie' profile of P&R's Rashida Jones.
NBC, 9:30 p.m.

8. Awake (new)
Jason Isaacs shines as a cop who's life is split into two dream worlds after a tragic accident involving his wife and son. Tonight, the mysterious Captain Harper may turn up the heat on Mike (Isaacs).
NBC, 10 p.m.