See ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ cast in person at Disney’s D23 Expo
Want to get a sneak
peek at the season premiere episode of “Wizards of Waverly Place”? Want to see the show’s cast in person?
Make plans to
attend Disney’s D23 Expo Sept. 13 in Anaheim, Calif., for these magical opportunities.
Planning to partake in “A Magical Afternoon with Wizards of Waverly Place” are cast members Selena Gomez (Alex Russo), David Henrie (Justin Russo), Jake T. Austin (Max Russo), Jennifer Stone (Harper Finkle), Maria Canals-Barrera (Theresa Russo) and David DeLuise (Jerry Russo). They will talk to fans about their show during a Q&A session.
The event will also include a surprise musical performance.
Tickets to the D23 Expo are $27 for children ages 12 and under and $37 for everyone else. For more information about the Expo (and to order tickets), go to www.D23Expo.com.
“Wizards of Waverly Place” is TV’s top-rated program among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie” that premiered Aug. 28 is TV’s No. 1 Entertainment Telecast of 2009 among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, and it is cable’s most-watched TV movie of the year with 11.4 million total viewers.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Jonathan LaPaglia
Aug. 31, 2009 — Jonathan LaPaglia, who played Kevin Debreno on “The District” (2001-04 on CBS), turns 40 today.
He played A.D.A. Curtis on five episodes of “Cold Case” (20008-09 on CBS, show returns for seventh season Sept. 27).
His first acting role was as Det. Tommy McNamara on “New York Undercover” (1996-97). He was 27 when it premiered.
Best wishes to Jonathan and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Jonathan LaPaglia as Det.McNamara on “New York Undercover.”
Happy Birthday, Michael Chiklis
Aug. 30, 2009 — Michael Charles
Chiklis, who played Detective Vic Mackey on “The Shield” (2002-08 on FX), turns 46 today.
He played Tony Scali on “The Commish” (1991-96).
His first acting role was as NYPD Det. Jeffrey Whitehead in a 1989 episode of “Miami Vice.” He was 26.
Best wishes to Michael and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Michael Chiklis attends The 4th Annual Pink Party hosted by Kate Beckinsale Saturday, September 13, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Shea Walsh)
Happy Birthday, Rebecca De Mornay
Aug. 29, 2009 — Rebecca Jane Pearch, who played Cissy Yost on “John From Cincinnati” (2007 on HBO), turns 50 today.
She played Elaine Nichols on five episodes of “ER” (1999 on NBC).
Her first acting role was as Understudy in the 1982 movie “One from the Heart.” She was 23.
Best wishes to Rebecca and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Rebecca De Mornay attends the New Line Cinema 40th Anniversary Gala to benefit The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
TV Preview Podcast: ‘Glee’ Season 1 Premiere
Each week, The Oklahoman TV Editor Penny Soldan hosts an audio podcast discussing an upcoming TV premiere.
This week’s premiere is the new Fox series “Glee” premiering at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. A director’s cut of the pilot episode that aired in May will be rebroadcast with never-before-seen footage and air at 7:58 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.
To hear her discussion with Don P. Brown, features copy editor for The Oklahoman, click here
Pictured above: “Glee” cast, clockwise from left, Jenna Ushkowitz, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale and Lea Michele. (Fox Photo)
2009 Emmy Tickets are available — for a price or as a prize
Tickets to the 2009 Emmy Awards are available. But for those who don’t want to pay $675 for a seat in the Mezzanine or $3,580 for a spot in the Orchestra section, enter the “Best Seat in the House Contest.”
The winner gets an all-expense paid trip to attend the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles and will be seated next to TV’s biggest stars during the ceremony airing live at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 on CBS.
To enter, go to www.CBS.com and upload a 30-second video explaining why you are “TV’s Number One Fan.” It can be serious or silly, but it has to be submitted by Sept. 7 to be considered for the contest.
On Sept. 11, the Top 15 videos will be announced and posted online. The winner, who will be unveiled Sept. 18, will be determined by a panel judges from CBS.com, TV.com and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, who are looking for creativity (25%), originality (25%), body language (25%) and performing ability (25%).
Who knows? You could wind up sitting next to Denis Leary (”Rescue Me”) or Sandra Oh (”Grey’s Anatomy”) or Steve Carell (”The Office”).
–Penny TV
Top 30 Guest Stars on TV Shows airing Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2009
Friday is when The Oklahoman
posts a list of the top guest stars (and all the premieres and finales, see separate blog) appearing on TV next week.
And here are 30 (or more) celebrities making special TV appearances the week of Aug. 30.
If a well-known personality was missed, feel free to add his or her name in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
GUEST STARS
••Daniel Baldwin (”Grey Gardens”) on “Cold Case,” 8:59 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
••Jennifer Beals (“The L Word”) on “Lie to Me,” 8 p.m. Monday on Fox.
••Dean Cain (“The Gambler, the Girl and the Gunslinger”) on “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” 7 p.m. Friday on Fox.
••Genevieve Cortese (“Wildfire”) on “Supernatural,” 8 p.m. Thursday on CW.
••Amanda Detmer (”What About Brian”) on “Private Practice,” 9:02 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••Charles S. Dutton (“Threshold”) on “CSI: NY,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.
••Hector Elizondo (”Pretty Woman”) on “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••Christopher Gorham (”Harper’s Island”) on “Ugly Betty,” 8 p.m. Friday on ABC.
••Sprague Grayden (”24″) on “CSI: Miami,” 9 p.m. Monday on CBS).
••Gregory Harrison (“Trapper John, M.D.”) on “Drop Dead Diva,” 8 p.m. Sunday on Lifetime.
••Josh Hopkins (”Swingtown”) on “Private Practice,” 9:02 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••C. Thomas Howell (”The Outsiders”) on “Criminal Minds,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.
••Anjelica Huston (”Prizzi’s Honor”) on “Medium,” 8 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••LL Cool J (“Last Holiday”) on “NCIS,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on CBS.
••Louise Lombard (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) on “NCIS,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on CBS.
••Thad Luckenbill (”The Young and the Restless”) on “Ghost Whisperer,” 7 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••Amy Madigan (”Field of Dreams”) on “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
••Kellie Martin (”Life Goes On”) on “Ghost Whisperer,” 7 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••Chris O’Donnell (“Head Cases”) on “NCIS,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on CBS.
••Jesse Plemons (”Friday Night Lights”) on “Cold Case,” 8:59 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
••John Rubinstein (”Desperate Housewives”) on “NUMB3RS,” 9 p.m. Friday on CBS.
••Brittany Snow (“American Dreams”) on “Gossip Girl,” 8 p.m. Monday on CW.
••Marla Sokoloff (“The Practice”) on “Drop Dead Diva,” 8 p.m. Sunday on Lifetime.
••Mare Winningham (“Clubhouse”) on “CSI: NY,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.
••Evan Rachel Wood (“Once and Again”) on “True Blood,” 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
Pictured above: Marla Sokoloff in a scene from “Drop Dead Diva” (Lifetime Photo)
TV Premieres, Finales, Marathons airing Aug. 30-Sept. 5
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of all the premieres and finales (and all the guest stars, see separate blog) coming up on TV next week.
And here are the shows beginning and ending the week of Aug. 30.
If one was missed, the network did not issue a press release about it. But feel free to add it in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
BEGINNINGS
••“Viva El Sueno (Live the Dream),” 7 p.m. Sunday on Univision (series premiere).
••“Greek,” 8 p.m. Monday on ABC Family (third-season premiere).
••“Tool Academy,” 9:30 p.m. Monday on VH1 (second-season premiere).
••“Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Travel (series premiere).
••“Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on truTV (second-season premiere).
••“Surviving Disaster,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Spike (series premiere).
ENDINGS
••“Dance Your Ass Off,” 9 p.m. Monday on Oxygen (first-season finale).
••“Nova ScienceNOW,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on OETA-13 (fourth-season finale).
••“Gordon Ramsay’s F Word,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on BBC America (fourth-season finale).
••“American Loggers,” 8 p.m. Thursday on Discovery (first-season finale).
MARATHONS
••“Monk,” 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday on USA Network.
••“Eureka,” 7 a.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday on Syfy.
••“House,” 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday on USA Network.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
Pictured above: ABC Family’s “GREEK” stars Dilshad Vadsaria as “Rebecca,” Amber Stevens as “Ashleigh,” and Spencer Grammer as “Casey.” (ABC FAMILY/CRAIG SJODIN)
Happy Birthday, Jason Priestley
Aug. 28, 2009 — Jason Bradford Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210″ (1990-2000), turns 40 today.
He played Jack Harper on “Tru Calling” (2004-05).
His first acting role was as Boy #2 in the TV movie “Nobody’s Child” (1986).
Best wishes to Jason and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Top 55 TV Programs for Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 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 Sept. 5:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY AUG. 30, 2009
◊“The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” (7 p.m. on CW): From the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, actress Vanessa Williams hosts the annual festivities honoring the best performances and behind-the-scenes craftsmanship in daytime television. “Sesame Street” is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
◊“Ann Rule’s Everything She Ever Wanted” (6 p.m. on Lifetime Movie Network): Gina Gershon stars as Pat Allanson, who is determined to become part of Atlanta’s elite high society. But nothing is ever enough to satisfy her overwhelming greed and insatiable thirst for power and status. Part 2 airs Monday.
◊“Army Wives” (9 p.m. on Lifetime): Michael and Emmalin are puzzled when Claudia Joy informs them that she does not want her friends or anyone on base to find out about her medical condition.
◊“Cold Case” (8:59 p.m. on CBS): During the team’s investigation of the 2005 murder of the first female cadet of a local military school, suspects abound as they discover how brutally she was treated from Day One by an array of resentful male cadets and school officials. Hits by Pearl Jam will be featured throughout the episode. Daniel Baldwin (”Grey Gardens”) and Jesse Plemons (”Friday Night Lights”) guest star.
◊“Defying Gravity” (9 p.m. on ABC): Drawing closer to the orbit of Venus, some members of the Antares crew struggle with guilt and experience vivid repercussions of past actions, while a serious accident puts the life of a teammate in danger, uniting everyone in the desperate endeavor to save her.
◊“Drop Dead Diva” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Deb is faced with attending Jane’s high school reunion and finds her work cut out for her when she has to prove a man’s sanity when she is hired by an eccentric business man. Marla Sokoloff (“The Practice”) and Gregory Harrison (“Trapper John, M.D.”) guest star.
◊“Futurama” (8 p.m. on Comedy Central): New episodes of the Emmy-winning animated series (1999-2003 on Fox) will premiere in 2010 on Comedy Central. Kicking things off is this four-hour movie titled “Into the Green Yonder,” in which Turanga Leela teams up with an environmentally aware feminist group to save an asteroid filled with primitive life forms.
◊“Masterpiece Mystery!” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new episode “Inspector Lewis, Series II: And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea,” Lewis and Hathaway are led to a gambling addiction group when they investigate the murders of a gifted Oxford fine arts student and a library maintenance engineer.
◊“Multitude of Multiples” (7 p.m. on TLC): Three families — the Carpios in New York City, the Tabbs in San Antonio and the Wilkinsons in Austin, Texas — experience the dangerous business of giving birth to and raising multiples.
◊“Shark Tank” (8 p.m. on ABC): Entrepreneurs seek investments for a graffiti removal service, a lucrative childcare product and an internet idea.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Jean Arthur is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among her films airing are 1934’s “Whirlpool” (9:30 a.m.), 1953’s “Shane” (1 p.m.) and 1938’s “You Can’t Take It With You” (7 p.m.).
◊“True Blood” (8 p.m. on HBO): With events in Bon Temps spiraling out of control, Bill seeks the advice of Sophie-Anne (Evan Rachel Wood, “Once and Again”), the vampire queen of Louisiana.
◊“TV One Night Only: Live From the Essence Music Festival” (7 p.m. on TV One): This two-hour special features performances from the 15th annual Essence Music Festival held last July in New Orleans. Artists scheduled to appear include Beyonce, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke, John Legend, Al Greene, Ne-Yo, Teena Marie, En Vogue, Charlie Wilson, Salt N Pepa and Jazmine Sullivan.
◊“The Tyra Banks Show Special” (5 p.m. on CW): In celebration of the daytime talk show’s move to The CW on Sept. 7, this special counts down the show’s top 10 most memorable moments of the past four seasons.
◊“Viva El Sueno (Live the Dream)” (7 p.m. on Univision): Cristian de la Fuente (”In Plain Sight”) hosts this new music competition series that gives viewers the chance to select Latin music’s next big superstar from among the 14 contestants – professional artists from the U.S., Spain and Latin America who have not yet had their big break.
MONDAY, AUG. 31, 2009
◊“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” (7 p.m. on ABC): Cameron Mathison (”All My Children”) hosts this three-hour special culled from the country music festival held last June in Nashville, Tenn. Scheduled to perform are Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Sugarland and Taylor Swift.
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Horatio and the team work to figure out why a seemingly normal family was targeted in a brutal grenade attack. Sprague Grayden (”24″) guest stars.
◊“Dance Your Ass Off” (9 p.m. on Oxygen): With $100,000 and a healthier life on the line, who will have the last dance? Find out during this supersized first-season finale hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur (“Hairspray”).
◊“Deep Blue” (8 p.m. on Planet Green): Pierce Brosnan (“Mamma Mia!”) narrates this special, in which viewers encounter every imaginable form of marine life, including the smallest (algae), the largest (blue whale) and the swiftest (sailfish), along with scores of wild, bizarre and wondrous creatures.
◊“Great Performances” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Produced on the occasion of his centenary, “Herbert von Karajan: Beauty as I See It” profiles the conductor who led the Berlin Philharmonic for 35 years, was closely associated with the Vienna Philharmonic and served as artistic director of the Vienna State Opera.
◊“Greek” (8 p.m. on ABC Family): Season 2 picks up with the ends from last season’s “End of the World.” After learning of Max’s departure, Cappie wonders if he made the right decision by telling Casey he wasn’t interested in giving their relationship another chance, while Casey struggles with the aftermath of Cappie’s unexpected rejection.
◊“Grillin’ With Emeril” (7 p.m. on Planet Green): Chef Emeril Lagasse fires up the barbeque and heads into the Maryland countryside. Join the community cookout as he presents his best grilling tips and explores the resources required to bring food from the field to the table.
◊“History Detectives” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Items investigated include a portrait created in a German prisoner of war camp, a floating airport anchored to the ocean floor where trans-Atlantic passenger flights could refuel and an intact artillery shell that may have been part of an attack on the U.S. in World War II.
◊“Inside the Actors Studio” (6 p.m. on Bravo): Host James Lipton interviews Mickey Rourke, who made the ultimate career cocmeback when he earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in “The Wrestler.”
◊“Join Us” (8 p.m. on Sundance): This documentary provides an in-depth look at why America is a breeding ground for cults and religious fanatics as it follows four families that leave an abusive church in South Carolina and try to rebuild their damaged lives as they enter a two-week program at a cult treatment facility.
◊“The Soup Presents: Duck! TV’s Most Dysfunctional Couples” (9 p.m. on E!): It’s on-air awkwardness as its best from any two people contractually obligated to stay together. Small-screen couples include the tension-ridden talk show duo Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa and reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Claire Bloom is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among her films airing are 1956’s “Alexander the Great” (noon), 1953’s “The Man Between” (5:15 p.m.) and 1963’s “80,000 Suspects” (11 p.m.).
◊“Thread” (8 p.m. on Documentary Channel): This documentary tells the story of five remarkable Afghani women who are taking control of their lives and their futures and, in the process, are helping to rebuild their devastated country. They earn a living through needlework, and the work gives them an entirely different position from the average Afghani woman.
◊“Tool Academy” (9:30 p.m. on VH1): Twelve unsuspecting men will be put to the test in completely new challenges ranging from a 10 week relationship boot camp to intense behavioral and communication challenges, with returning relationship counselor Trina Dolenz and host Jordan Murphy.
◊“Youth Knows No Pain” (8 p.m. on HBO): As the daughter of a plastic surgeon, Mitch McCabe has long been intrigued by the extreme measures people take to maintain the appearance of youth. For this portrait of a country desperate to stay forever young, she spent two years traveling the country to visit doctors, experts and anti-aging enthusiasts, interviewing hundreds of men and women ranging in age from 18 to 93.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2009
◊“15 Bodacious BBQs” (8 p.m. on FLN): This special counts down our favorite mouthwatering methods for grilling everything from ribs, burgers and a whole pig to veggies, chicken and even lobster.
◊“Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World” (9 p.m. on Travel): This new series explores the unusual rituals and unexpected customs in each area, as host Andrew Zimmern steps out of his culinary comfort zone and into a world more bizarre than even he ever thought possible.
◊“Hell’s Kitchen” (7 p.m. on Fox): Chef Ramsay puts the team’s taste buds to the test with the blind taste-test challenge. The winners of this challenge dine with Ramsay in the dark at an eatery where they can rely only their senses of taste, smell and touch.
◊“NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): The body of a Marine leads Gibbs and McGee to the NCIS OSP division in Los Angeles, where a murder investigation quickly climbs to a matter of national security in which the two offices must work together to resolve. This two-part episode, which concludes at 9 p.m., introduces the characters for the spin-off series “NCIS: Los Angeles” that will premiere Sept. 22. The characters include Special Agents G. Callen (Chris O’Donnell), Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) and Lara Macy (Louise Lombard).
◊“Nova ScienceNOW” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Host Neil deGrasse Tyson explores how and why earthquakes strike in the heartland, the role of sleep in strengthening memories and the evolutionary evidence of the creatures that evolve into orimates.
◊“P.O.V.” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment “Ella Es el Matador (She Is the Matador)” profiles Mari Paz Vega and Eva Florencia, who share a passion for bullfighting and have become gender pioneers as a result. A 1908 law banning women from bullfighting is testament to these women’s determination to perform in the ring and not just shout “Olé!” from the stands.
◊“Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel” (9 p.m. on truTV): The world-famous pool party Rehab is a phenomenon that attracts thousands of the beautiful, trendsetting and rich-and-famous to Las Vegas every Sunday in the spring and summer. Opening weekend kicked off with a performance by Snoop Dogg, while other musical guests are set to take the stage and entertain the guests throughout the season.
◊“Shaq Vs” (8 p.m. on ABC): Shaquille O’ Neal will challenge two-time NL MVP and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols in a home run derby before a sold out crowd at the home of the River City Rascals in O’ Fallon, MO. Leading up to the challenge, Shaq will will take batting practice and hitting tips from a slew of current St. Louis Cardinals players and coaches.
◊“State of Creativity” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): OETA’s Emmy Award-nominated documentary series provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a possible plan for Oklahoma City called “Core to Shore.” Meet instrumental players and hear their dreams and visions for what the city may look like in 50 years or 100 years or even 1,000 years. Ideas that are currently on the table include a new high-end boulevard reminiscent of the Million Dollar Mile in Chicago, a Central Park, and a one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge. Hear their ideas, how they have come up with them, plus learn how you can share your ideas.
◊“Surviving Disaster” (9 p.m. on Spike): Navy SEAL Cade Courtley hosts this new series that viewers through catastrophic scenarios and arms them with the knowledge needed to survive the unthinkable. The premiere episode focuses on a plane hijacking. Other disaster-themed episodes will include nuclear attack, home invasion, fire, avalanche, lost at sea, hurricane, bio-chemical attack, mall shooting and earthquake.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 2009
◊“American Masters” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This profile of Hollywood writer Dalton Trumbo, who refused to testify before HUAC in 1947 and was imprisoned, is adapted from his son Christopher’s 2003 play and based on Trumbo’s letters.
◊“CBS Fall Preview” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): The cast of “How I Met Your Mother” hosts this special previewing the network’s new fall lineup. Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders exchange humorous banter throughout the special, which offers a sneak peeks of the five new additions to CBS’s primetime schedule in fall.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): Agent Hotchner revisits the first case he worked at the BAU when details come forth that one of the deadliest serial killers in New England’s history has struck again after a 10-year hiatus. C. Thomas Howell (”The Outsiders”) guest stars.
◊“Criss Angel Mindfreak” (9 p.m. on A&E): Criss Angel takes levitation to new heights by levitating an entire Las Vegas crowd whose safety he is responsible for. This demonstration requires intense concentration; should he fail, some will fall an face certain injury.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): Mac informs an ex-con that he served time for a crime he didn’t commit. Charles S. Dutton (“Threshold”) and Mare Winningham (“Clubhouse”) guest star.
◊“Dinner: Impossible” (9 p.m. on Food Network): For the 150th anniversary celebration of the Philadelphia Zoo, host Robert Irvine caters a meal for 500 guests based on the diets of four of the zoo’s most popular animals: big cats, primates, birds and reptiles.
◊“Glee” (7:58 p.m. on Fox): This director’s cut of the pilot episode features exclusive content and deleted scenes. The season premiere episode titled “Showmance” airs Sept. 9.
◊“Gordon Ramsay’s F Word” (8 p.m. on BBC America): In the season finale, chef Gordon Ramsay goes sky-fishing for puffin on a remote island off Iceland’s southern coast. He also discovers one of the first organic caviar farms in the Sierra Nevada area of Spain and makes a return to his old football club in Scotland.
◊“Make My Day” (9:30 p.m. on TV Land): A New York woman is whisked away from her job managing a dog accessory boutique and dropped into a scene in a telenovela, complete with celebrity hotties Cristian de la Fuente (”In Plain Sight”) and Jesse Metcalfe (”Desperate Housewives”), for this episode of the hidden-camera comedy series.
◊“So You Think You Can Dance” (7 p.m. on Fox): Hosted by co-creator, judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, this special features fan-favorite routines from previous seasons of the show. Season 6 of the original dance competition premieres Sept. 9.
◊“Wide Angle” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The documentary series wraps its current season with “Time for School 3,” the third installment which is presented in two parts. The film visits seven classrooms in seven countries to find extraordinary children who must struggle to get what all American kids take for granted: a chance to learn classroom fundamentals.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
◊“1408″ (5:30 p.m. on Showtime): John Cusack stars as Mike, who, like Houdini, tries to prove supernatural things false. One of his trips takes him to a reportedly haunted hotel room where he realizes it really is haunted.
◊“American Loggers” (8 p.m. on Discovery): Meet the seven brothers of Pelletier Inc., a family with timber in its blood. Each day, they lead their crews into the woods to claw out a living in the forests of Northern Maine.
◊“Casino” (9 p.m. on Cinemax): Robert De Niro plays a gambling-den operator who has to ward off those who would oust him, with the love of his life (Sharon Stone) a definite liability to him.
◊“Gallery” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): What happens when 12 green teenagers team up with a seasoned Hollywood actor, writer and producer to try to make a movie in just one week? Don’t miss the drama, the comedy and the out and out wacky shenanigans when Gallery takes you behind the scenes for “The Making of: Sunspots”. Tim Fall has worked with Clint Eastwood, Bob Newhart, he’s been on Cheers and a host of other sit-coms and films. But he put all of that aside when he recently moved to Oklahoma from Los Angeles in search of a more peaceful life with his family. Little did Fall know what he was getting himself into when he signed on to teach a summer movie camp for the City Arts Center. Gallery cameras are rolling as Fall tries to teach a dozen teenagers about the real life world of movie making.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): As she endures aggressive treatment for her cancer, Izzie throws herself into planning Derek and Meredith’s wedding. Hector Elizondo (”Pretty Woman”) and Amy Madigan (”Field of Dreams”) guest star.
◊“The Magnificent Seven” (7 p.m. on TCM): Seven of Hollywood’s toughest on-screen hombres, including Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen and James Coburn, are among the actors who ride out to stop a Mexican bandit and his small army in this 1960 Western.
◊“Private Practice” (9:02 p.m. on ABC): Cooper struggles with a patient’s mother, who allows her twelve year-old daughter to be sexually active while Pete begins dating his patient’s fun and outgoing mom. Amanda Detmer (”What About Brian”) and Josh Hopkins (”Swingtown”) guest star.
◊“Supernatural” (8 p.m. on CW): The apocalypse is coming, and Sam and Dean prepare for the fight in very different ways. Sam joins Ruby (Genevieve Cortese, “Wildfire”) on a final run to kill Lilith, while Castiel and Zachariah tell Dean it’s time to play his part in stopping Lucifer.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2009
◊“Aquapalooza on Lake Martin” (7 p.m. on CMT): Country music star Alan Jackson performs his biggest hits before thousands of fans for the unique maritime experience at Lake Martin, Ala. The special was taped July 25, and more than 3,000 boats were expected to “raft up” to the stage to catch the action.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): A soap opera “remote” shoot descends on Grandview, turning the town upside down and Melinda unearths a story as soapy as the show it’s disrupting. Thad Luckenbill (”The Young and the Restless”) and Kellie Martin (”Life Goes On”) guest star.
◊“Great American Beer Festival” (8 p.m. on FLN): This special follows three brewers as they travel to Denver in hopes of winning a gold medal at the country’s largest beer festival.
“Lions for Lambs” (6:30 p.m. on Showtime): Robert Redford directed and stars in this drama wherein three stories — involving a California political-science professor (Redford), a TV newswoman (Meryl Streep) and a Republican senator (Tom Cruise) — unfold in real time, tied together by the experiences of two soldiers in Afghanistan.
◊“Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): Series star Patricia Arquette (Allison) directs this episode in which Allison turns to now-jailed private investigator Cynthia Keener (Anjelica Huston, “Prizzi’s Honor”) when she starts dreaming of a kidnapping victim that Cynthia once rescued.
◊“Michael Loftus: You’ve Changed” (9 p.m. on Comedy Central): This mild-mannered Midwesterner uses energetic physical comedy to cynically skewer life in suburbia and beyond.
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): Still feeling responsible for Don’s near-fatal stabbing, Charlie puts his focus into tracking down an unnoticed serial killer, with the agents revisiting math theories from when Charlie first started working with the team to help solve the case. John Rubinstein (”Desperate Housewives”) guest stars.
◊“Ugly Betty” (8 p.m. on ABC): Just as Betty agrees to move in with Matt, Henry (Christopher Gorham, “Harper’s Island”) pays a visit to New York City, forcing Betty to admit she still has feelings for her former fiance.
◊“The War of the Worlds” (7 p.m. on TCM): Based on the novel by H.G. Wells, this 1953 science-fiction movie followed the famous radio scare. When Martians invade Earth, humans bring out the big guns — but it seems as if nothing can stop the enemy.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 2009
◊“All Jacked Up” (7:30 p.m. on CMT): Host C. Thomas Howell (“Southland”) gets his hands on a 65-foot catapult and starts flinging major kitchen appliances sky high. Then, he takes a wild ride on a jet-powered street luge, a jacked-up version of the world’s most dangerous sport. And finally, Howell heads for the Louisiana Mudfest and learns first-hand how everything is more fun when mud is involved.
◊“Changeling” (9 p.m. on Cinemax): Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie in this fact-inspired drama about a woman whose son vanishes in 1920s Los Angeles. Years later, detectives from the then-ethically challenged Los Angeles Police Department find a boy who claims to be hers, but she has her doubts. An activist (John Malkovich) is virtually the only person who supports her as others debate her maternal worthiness.
◊“Focus Earth” (5 p.m. on Planet Earth): ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff covers a variety of subjects ranging from climate impact and environmental policy ti politial debate and world events.
◊“The Guns of Navarone” (7 p.m. on TCM): This 1961 adventure adapts the Alistair MacLean novel about a mission to destroy huge German guns guarding a vital Greek seaport. Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn play the leaders of the dangerous assignment, which also includes keeping British soldiers captive.
◊“Love Comes Softly” (6 a.m. on Hallmark Channel): The film series based on the “Love Comes Softly” novels by Janette Oke will air during this 16-hour marathon. It begins with the 2003 movie starring Katherine Heigl (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Marty Claridge, a young woman alone in the 1800s West, who agrees to a marriage of convenience. The film series continues with “Love’s Enduring Promise” (8 a.m.), “Love’s Long Journey” (10 a.m.), “Love’s Abiding Joy” (noon), “Love’s Unending Legacy” (2 p.m.), “Love’s Unfolding Dream” (4 p.m.), “Love Takes Wing” (6 p.m.) and “Love Finds a Home” (8 p.m.).
◊“Mission: Organization” (2 p.m. om FLN): This series shows viewers how to organize their home and resolve clutter problems.
◊“Panic Room” (7 p.m. on TNT): This 2002 thriller stars Jodie Foster as a woman whose new home is invaded by thieves (Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto and country music’s Dwight Yoakam) seeking the previous owner’s money. The woman and her daughter (Kristen Stewart) hole up in the house’s well-protected “panic room” and fight the intruders from within.
–Penny TV
