Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

The Big Bang Theory: Leonard and Penny spend time alone when Sheldon tries to overcome his fear of birds. (8 p.m. CBS).

Community: Annie (Alison Brie) moves in with Abed and Troy (Danny Pudi, Donald Glover), but her new roommates’ lifestyle soon grates on her nerves in this new episode (8 p.m. NBC).

The Office: Pam (Jenna Fischer) suspects that Jim (John Krasinski) is attracted to the temp (Lindsey Broad) who’ll be replacing her while she’s on maternity leave in this new episode (9 p.m. NBC).

Vietnam in HD: The new episode “A Changing War (1969-1970)/

Peace With Honor (1971-1975)” concludes the historical documentary miniseries (9 p.m. History).

Braxton Family Values: The unscripted series returns for a new season (9 p.m. WE).

The Mentalist: While investigating the murder of a documentary filmmaker, Jane (Simon Baker) is taken hostage by the prime suspect in the case (Josh Randall), who was accused but never convicted of killing his wife two years earlier. Robin Tunney and Amanda Righetti also star in this new episode (10 p.m. CBS).

Chef Hunter: Three out-of-work chefs audition for the executive chef position at Los Angeles Border Grill, in the premiere of this new series that goes behind the kitchen door to give viewers an insider’s look at this uniquely cutthroat interview process that tests culinary skill, business acumen and the tenacity required to be a top chef (10 p.m. Food).

SPECIALS

Salem: Unmasking the Devil: In this new special, author and historian Katherine Howe returns to the site of her ancestor’s execution at the Salem witch trials to discover how the latest research has unearthed a possibility that the infamous trials were actually the result of a cynical plot by an embattled Puritan minister (6 and 9 p.m. National Geographic).

SPORTS

College football: Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (5 p.m. ESPN).

Football: The Oakland Raiders visit the San Diego Chargers (5 p.m. NFL).

Hockey: The Vancouver Canucks visit the Kings (7:30 p.m. FSN).