Top 55 TV Programs for March 29-April 2, 2009
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of March 29:
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
◊“Any Dream Will Do” (7 p.m. on BBC America): Graham Norton (“The Graham Norton Show”) hosts this new series in which judges and British viewers search for someone with star quality to take on the lead role in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Tony Award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is the head judge.
◊“Cold Case” (8 p.m. on CBS): The team reopoens the 1958 murder case of a successful newlywed real estate developer when new evidence indicates he may not have been killed were his body was found. Ken Howard (“The White Shadow”) and Johnathon Schaech (“That Thing You Do!”) guest star.
◊“A Conversation With … Lee Allan Smith” (6 p.m. on OETA-13): OETA broadcast journalist Dick Pryor talks to Lee Allan Smith about his life and some of the events he helped promote, including the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival and the Centennial Parade and Spectacular in 2007.
◊“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): The team helps a family dedicated to protecting the wildlife community build a stronger and safer home, as well as an improved sanctuary for the dozens of animals they rescue. Justin Chambers (“Grey’s Anatomy”) helps welcome the family back on reveal day.
◊“G4 Underground” (8 p.m. on G4, channel 191 on Dish Network, 258 on Cox Digital Cable, 310 on DirecTV): Morgan Webb (“X-Play”) hosts this new documentary series examines controversial issues, tech phenomena and unique personalities that have impacted today’s pop culture.
◊“Hannah Montana” (6:30 p.m. on Disney): Vicki Lawrence (“The Carol Burnett Show”) guest stars as Miley and Jackson’s Mamaw, who returns to keep an eye out when Robby heads off to his high school reunion.
◊“Jim Gaffigan: King Baby” (8 p.m. on Comedy Central): This new stand-up comedy special taped at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, proves that no other comedian working today can romanticize laziness and over-indulgence like Jim Gaffigan (“My Boys”).
◊“Masterpiece Classic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): “Little Dorrit,” one of Charles Dickens’ lesser-known novels, becomes a five-part miniseries set in a world of chronic debt and financial collapse. Matthew Macfadyen (“Pride and Prejudice”) plays hero Arthur Clennam, newcomer Claire Foy is Amy “Little” Dorrit and Tom Courtenay (“The Golden Compass”) is her father, who has been incarcerated for 25 years for insolvency.
◊“The Mighty Boosh” (midnight on Comedy Central): This new British comedy follows wannabe glam rocker Vince Noir and jazz aficionado Howard Moon, who are in a band and living alongside a freelance shaman and talking gorilla.
◊“Nature” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new installment “Kilauea: Mountain of Fire,” filmmaker Paul Atkins witnesses the cataclysmic meeting of 2000 degree lava and 75 degree ocean water in Hawaii. The latest eruption of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, began in 1983, and it hasn’t stopped since, creating 544 acres of new land and cosuming 200 homes.
◊“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (7 p.m. on HBO): Grammy winner Jill Scott stars as
Precious Ramotswe, the sensible and wise proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. The new series is based on Alexander McCall Smith’s mystery novels and was filmed in Botswana.
◊“Predator X” (7 p.m. on History): This new special unveils the discovery of one of the largest ocean predatorsd ever found. Just 800 miles from the North Pole, a team of paleontologists unearthed the fossilized remains of a Jurassic-Age Pliosaur estimated at 50 feet long, 45 tons and 150 million years old.
◊“Storm Stories” (7 p.m. on The Weather Channel, 66 on Cox Cable, 214 on Dish Network, 362 on DirecTV): Storm reporter Lanny Dean and police officer Tim Buckman find themselves on the open road during the Greensburg tornado on May 4, 2007. For both men, spotting severe weather is part of the job, but the job that day involved dodging an EF-5 tornado packing 200-mile-an-hour winds.
◊“Thrillbillies” (7 p.m. on Fuel TV, 265 on Cox Digital Cable, 618 on DirecTV): This new action comedy series follows a group of redneck friends who are on a journey for the ultimate thrill.
MONDAY, MARCH 30
◊“Atom TV” (1:30 a.m. on Comedy Central): Returning for a second season is this comedy show featuring a selection of random and hilarious web videos, each one of them developed or handpicked by the network.
◊“Chuck” (7 p.m. on NBC): When Chuck expresses his feelings about his complicated relationship with Sarah, a heartless female agent (Tricia Helfer, “Battlestar Galactica”) is sent to evaluate Sarah’s performance as Chuck’s handler.
◊“Greek” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): A secret sorority spy and a new freshman (Jesse McCartney, “Summerland”) stir up some trouble as classes resume at Cyprus-Rhodes University.
◊“Heroes” (8 p.m. on NBC): Now that Nathan’s ability has been revealed and he has lost control of his operation, he and Claire go into hiding in Mexico. With Emile Danko (Zeljko Ivanek, “Damages”) now in control of the government operation, his plan to destroy everyone with abilities is set into motion.
◊“House” (7 p.m. on Fox): Mos Def (“Be Kind Rewind”) guest stars as a man injured in a bicicyle accident who is unable to move or communicate verbally. The episode was shot predominantly from the patient’s perspective.
◊“Medium” (9 p.m. on NBC): Allison dreams about a game show that detects whether or not you’re telling the truth, and when she awakes a game show buzzer goes off in her head whenever someone lies to her. Her newly acquired talent becomes very useful during the murder investigation of a young couple. Mark Steines (“Entertainment Tonight”) guest stars.
◊“Rules of Engagement” (8:31 p.m. on CBS): After getting invited to a much cooler party, Jeff and Audrey lie to Jennifer and Adam to get out of a dinner they are hosting. At the party, Russell hits on the girlfriend of Jerry Rice (former NFL wide receiver).
◊“Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): While investigating the murder of a jogger, Grace worries for her nephew when his father starts dating again. Emmy winner Kathy Baker (“Picket Fences”) guest stars.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Warren Beatty was born on this day in 1937, and TCM will celebrate by airing five of his films, including 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait” (7 p.m.) and 1974’s “Parallax” (11 p.m.).
◊“Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): Charlie joins Alan, Herb and his next door neighbor (Michael Clarke Duncan, “The Green Mile”) in a night of alcohol-fueled reminiscences after Chelsea finds nude pictures of another woman on Charlie’s phone.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
◊“100 Greatest One Hit Wonders Of The ‘80’s” (9 p.m. today through Friday on VH1): Judah Freidlander (“30 Rock”) hosts this five-part special that revisits the era that brought songs that we can’t get out of our head. The special features new interviews with some of the 1980’s top one-hit wonders, including Stacey Q, Animotion, Musical Youth, Frank Stallone, The Mary Jane Girls, Nu Shooz, Thomas Dolby, Kajagoogoo, Bow Wow Wow, Toni Basil and A Flock of Seagulls.
◊“According to Jim” (7:30 p.m. on ABC): When Jim realizes that Cheryl has taken a strong interest in yoga with a male instructor she raves about, he joins her class to find out what the hype is all about. Penny Marshall (“Laverne & Shirley”) directed the episode.
◊“Bad Girls Club Reunion” (8 p.m. on Oxygen): All eight bad girls reunite for one final fling in this special hosted by gossip blogger Perez Hilton (www.perezhilton.com). Hilton does his best to referee as tempers flare and gummy bears fly when the girls rehash all their disagreements.
◊“The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m. on NBC): The contestants get a blast from the past this week with visits by Season 5 winner Ali Vincent and Season 6 winner Michelle Aguilar, both filling in as host while Alison Sweeney is on maternity leave. The contestants are also surprised by the arrival of some old friends, whose return promises to shake up the competition.
◊“Cupid” (9 p.m. on ABC): This new romantic dramedy stars Bobby Cannavale (“Will & Grace”) as Trevor Pierce, a larger than life character who may or may not be the Roman god of love, Cupid, sent to earth to bring 100 couples together before he is allowed to return to Mt. Olympus.
◊“Frontline” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): As the economy continues to spiral and a new administration promises to deliver comprehensive health care reform, “Frontline” correspondent T.R. Reid investigates the failures and future of the private insurance industry.
◊“My Boys” (9:30 p.m. on TBS): Get ready for a third round of good friends and good times. When the new season opens, P.J. will land her own newspaper column while also starting a new relationship that could finally prove to be “the one.”
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): Gibbs and the team must work with the shady CIA agent Trent Kort to put away one of NCIS’s most wanted. Christian Clemenson (“Boston Legal”) guest stars.
◊“Osbournes: Reloaded” (8:20 p.m. on Fox): This new series starring Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne will feature audience interaction, rowdy comedy and hilarious stunts that will shock and amuse. The show will also venture off-stage with recurring segments including “Osbourne in the USA,” where members of the family go to work in places such as a fast-food drive-thru; and “Osbournes Meet the Osbournes,” where the family goes cross-country and lives with other Osbourne families.
◊“Pretty Wicked” (9 p.m. on Oxygen): DariDee English (“America’s Next Top Model” Season 7 winner) hosts this new series in which 10 divas put their looks aside and compete to see who is the most beautiful on the inside for a grand prize of $50,000.
◊“Trust Me” (8 p.m. on TNT): When Cochrane’s group is allowed to join in the pitch for a beer account that Sarah brought into the advertising agency, Tony’s temper sends him into an uncontrollable spin. Donna Murphy (“Hack”) guest stars.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
◊“Babar” (2:30 p.m. on ION): The animated series starring the internationally renowned elephant king returns to television, premiering first on ION and then airing Saturday morning on NBC. In this new episode, Alexander learns a hard lesson about responsibility when he lets his rowing team down.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The team must profile a self-confessed serial killer who turns himself in but sends them on a massive manhunt to find his latest victims before it is too late. Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”), Ali Landry (“Eve”) and Nicholas Brendon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) guest star.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): The murder of a corporate “fixer” takes the CSIs into the disparate worlds of political corruption, personal betrayal and silicone dolls. Mykelti Williamson (“Forrest Gump”) guest stars as Chief of Detectives Brigham Sinclair.
◊“Ethanol Maze” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): This special tracks a corn growing season with a Nebraska farmer who hopes the push toward more biofuel production will boost corn prices. It also takes a look at alternative fuels research at the Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago.
◊“The Final Inch” (7 p.m. on HBO2): This Oscar-nominated documentary chronicles the work, spirit and resilience of the millions of frontline workers in the Indian polio eradication program. More than 465,000 health workers go door-to-door every six to eight weeks, vaccinating more than 58 million children under age five, overcoming physical, logistical and sometimes cultural barriers to ensure every child takes the oral polio vaccine.
◊“I Get That a Lot” (7 p.m. on CBS): Celebrate April Fool’s Day with this new special featuring celebrities working ordinary jobs and confusing customers. Celebrity participants include Jessica Simpson (“The Dukes of Hazzard”) working at a computer repair store; Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”) working the counter at a pizza place; Jeff Probst (“Survivor”) running a cashier at a grocery store; Ice-T (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) posing as an athletic shoe salesman; LeAnn Rimes (“Northern Lights”) taking food orders at a Nashville diner; and Mario Lopez (“Extra”) selling hot dogs in New York’s Central Park.
◊“Jerusalem: Center of the World” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This new documentary delved into the historical facts and religious beliefs that have led so many thousands to live and die for this city.
◊“Life on Mars” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): In the series finale, Sam Tyler’s past, present and future all confront him when he receives a phone call with instructions on how he can return to 2008. All he needs to do is complete three tasks, but a dizzying set of circumstances inside and out of the 1-2-5 makes him think twice.
◊“Rate My Space With Angelo Surmelis” (7:30 p.m. on HGTV): Host Angelo Surmelis returns with a third season of his big-budget makeover series. The premiere episode features an updated craftsman family room.
◊“Reno 911!” (9:30 p.m. on Comedy Central): Two new cops join the squad for Season 6. Sergeant Jack Delan (Ian Roberts) is a macho, by-the-book cop while Deputy Franky Rizzo (Jo Lo Truglio) is a big city cop who doesn’t play by the rules.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Lon Chaney was born on this day in 1883, and TCM will celebrate by airing three of his films: 1923’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame” (5 a.m.), 1925’s “The Phantom of the Opera” (7 a.m.) and 1926’s “Tell It to the Marines” (8:45 a.m.).
◊“Washington Journal” (5:50 a.m. on C-SPAN): Starting today, the top 27 videos in the 2009 StudentCam competition will air — one each day — followed by an interview with the winning students. Three of the winners are Jenks High School juniors. Sheema Golbaba took second place for her video “The U.S. and Iran: Force or Diplomacy?”, while Kenzie Clark and Alexia Dickey placed third with their documentary “Crossing New Borders.”
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
◊“Bones” (7 p.m. on Fox): The half-eaten body of Cam’s former fiancee is found in the tiger cage at the zoo, and Booth and Brennan determine the death was no accident. Chad Lowe (“24”) guest stars.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): In the show’s 200th episode directed by William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”), Langston is shocked when his former student is found murdered and becomes the focus of a CSI investigation into the world of Mexican wrestling.
◊“Eleventh Hour” (9:01 p.m. on CBS): When a psychotic woman accuses the Deputy Director of the FBI of stealing her baby and keeping her forcibly medicated as part of a cover up, Dr. Hood is the only one who believes she may be telling the truth. Helen Slater (“Supergirl”) and Melissa Sagemiller (“Sleeper Cell”) guest star.
◊“The Entrepreneurs” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Anchored by CNBC’s Donny Deutsch, this installment features celebrity chef Rick Bayless from Oklahoma City and his business partner Manuel Valdez, who turned a love of Mexican food into the multi-million dollar Frontera Foods empire with a highly popular line of authentic Mexican food products, a hit TV show on PBS, and a series of best selling cookbooks.
◊“ER” (8 p.m. on NBC): In the two-hour series finale, Gates works on a teenager with serious alcohol problems following a dangerous drinking game with friends. Old friends from County General show up to lend their support as Dr. Carter (former cast member Noah Wyle) opens a medical facility for the underprivileged in Chicago. Alexis Bledel (“Gilmore Girls”) and Ernest Borgnine (“From Here to Eternity”) guest star.
◊“ER Retrospective” (7 p.m. on NBC): As television’s most Emmy-nominated series comes to a close, this hourlong retrospective takes a look back at the past 15 seasons at County General’s ER. Clips from some of the most memorable episodes will be featured along with interviews with many of the past and present stars of “ER.”
◊“Free Radio” (10 p.m. on VH1): This series, back for a second season, chronicles the story of Lance, a fictitious radio show intern (Lance Krall, “The Joe Schmo Show”) who fills in as host of the popular L.A. morning show, “Moron in the Morning,” after the original host defects to satellite radio.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): Meredith, Cristina and Bailey come to Lexie and Sadie’s rescue when a routine surgery goes horribly wrong. Melissa George (“In Treatment”) guest stars.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Alec Guinness was born on this day in 1914, and TCM will celebrate by airing six of his films, including 1969’s “Our Man in Havana” (10:15 a.m.) and 1970’s “Cromwell” (4:15 pm.).
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
◊“Bang for Your Buck” (8:30 p.m. on HGTV): This new series will help homeowners find concrete answers to ensure a return on their remodeling investments. Each week, viewers will see how three different homeowners – all living in the same city – renovated the same room of their house for the same amount of money. Designers Monica Pedersen, Sabrina Soto, Lisa LaPorta and Lytel Young will help determine which homeowner has earned the most “bang for their buck.”
◊“Escape to Chimp Eden” (8 p.m. on Animal Planet): South African chimpanzee rescuer Eugene Cussons returns for a second season, and cameras follow him to Angola and Sudan to liberate chimps locked within crates, tethered by a chain and inappropriately raised as human children.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Melinda reconnects with some high school classmates after one of them dies mysteriously.
Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”) as one of Melinda’s former high school friends.
◊“Mistresses” (8 p.m. on BBC America): As the series begins Season 2, twelve months have elapsed and fans find the friends in various states of joy and pain. Struggling to learn from their past mistakes, Katie, Trudi, Siobhan and Jessica face new dilemmas, though the root of their problems remains the same – men and sex.
◊“NUMB3RS” (8 p.m. on CBS): When eight people, including two police officers, are executed in a coffee shop, a Los Angeles police detective gets the team on the case, and they uncover a trail of blackmail, romance and corruption. Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”) guest stars.
◊“Party Down” (9:30 p.m. on Starz): At a romance seminar for seniors led by Pepper McMasters (Marilu Henner, “The Celebrity Apprentice”), Constance is confronted by a lothario (Ed Begley Jr., “Gary Unmarried”) from her past.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Marlon Brando was born on this day in 1924, and TCM will celebrate by airing three of his films: 1960’s “The Fugitive Kind” (5 a.m.), 1954’s “On the Waterfront” (10:30 a.m.) and 1957’s “Sayonara” (12:30 p.m.).
◊“Yo Gabba Gabba!” (12:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon): Guest star Jack Black (“Tropic Thunder”) rides into Gabbaland on his mini-bike and runs out of gas. Lost and scared, Black meets each of the Gabba characters who become his friends and refuel the mini-bike so he can head home. Along the way he sings, dons DJ Lance’s orange jumpsuit and teaches the characters and the viewers at home a new Dancey Dance called the “Disco Roll.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
◊“5 Ingredient Fix” (8:30 a.m. on Food Network): Host Claire Robinson proves delicious dishes only need five ingredients or less, which makes cooking easier, faster and irresistible.
◊“Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change” (6:30 p.m. on OETA-13): Queen Latifah (“Chicago”), John Mayer (Grammy winning musicain) and Elmo (“Sesame Street”) are featured in this new special that salutes the extraordinary courage and strength of military families and offers the general public a glimpse into what they often must endure.
◊“Cooking For Real” (11 a.m. on Food Network): This new series hosted by Sunny Anderson elevates the everyday meal by taking affordable, easy-to-find, easy-to-use ingredients and infusing them with diverse influences and rich flavor.
◊“Giada At Home” (noon on Food Network): In the Season 2 premiere, Giada De Laurentiis celebrates the arrival of spring with an Easter egg hunt and a meal that includes a crispy rack of lamb and lemon thyme bars.
◊“Love Takes Wing” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): When a fatal illness breaks out in a small mid-Western town, everyone must put aside their prejudices and trust in the skills of the town’s new doctor. Lou Diamond Phillips (“Wolf Lake”) directed and co-stars in the movie, which also features Cloris Leachman (“Malcolm in the Middle”), Sarah Jones (“Big Love”) and Haylie Duff (“Backwoods”).
◊“Nora Roberts’ High Noon” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Emilie de Ravin (“Lost”) plays a hostage negotiator who gets a nice break from her demanding job and her duties as a single mom when a handsome bar owner (Ivan Sergei, “Crossing Jordan”) begins to court her. But her life takes a turn for the worst when she is attacked by an unknown assailant and begins to receive a series of threatening messages.
◊“Special Agent Oso” (7 a.m. on Disney): Sean Astin (“Rudy”) provides the voice of Oso, a fuzzy, lovable, bumbling stuffed panda bear who is a special agent-in-training. This new animated series for preschoolers emphasizes discovery, humor and organizational skills.
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[...] Top 55 TV Programs for March 29-April 2, 2009. [...]