Top 55 TV Programs for Aug. 16-22, 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 Aug. 16:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, AUG. 16
◊“2 Months, $2 Million” (8 p.m. on G4): This new series follows four young online poker pros, who move to Las Vegas for the summer with the goal of collectively earning $2 million in two months. While Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani seem to eat, sleep and drink poker, they also take time out to explore the Vegas scene.
◊“Cracking the Ocean Code” (8 p.m. on Planet Green): Join genome pioneer J. Craig Venter on a globe-circling ocean voyage, seeking new life forms and genetic secrets that could help solve the planet’s most urgent energy and climate challenges.
◊“Defying Gravity” (9 p.m. on ABC): The crew of the Antares face their first major crisis when the ship inexplicably begins to shut down all of its operating systems, causing the sudden failure of power, heat and gravity controls and plunging everyone aboard into chaos during the desperate search for a solution.
◊“Entourage” (9:30 p.m. on HBO): Eric considers the management-company offer while trying to patch things up with Ashley following a Freudian slip.
◊“Hudson Plane Crash — What Really Happened” (8 p.m. on TLC): New footage and exclusive interviews wuth crew, survivors and rescuers tell the story of Flight 1549 that lost both engines over New York City and landed without a single death.
◊“Kourtney and Kloe Take Miami” (9 p.m. on E!): This new series follows sisters Kourtney and Kloe Kardashian as they leave Los Angeles and move to South Beach to launch a second DASH boutique.
◊“Mad Men” (9 p.m. on AMC): Change is in the air at Sterling Cooper, the ad agency at the center of this drama series beginning its third season. At the end of last season, the agency had new owners from across the pond, and Don (Jon Hamm) had just found out he and Betty (January Jones) had a baby on the way. A marathon of Season 2’s 13 episodes begins at 6 a.m., leading up to the Season 3 premiere that will be presented with limited commercial breaks.
◊“Masterpiece Mystery!” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): In the Inspector Lewis mystery “Old School Ties,” Lewis and Hathaway (Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox) are assigned to protect a former computer criminal (Owen Teale), now a successful author, when he comes to speak at Oxford. It’s a dull job until a student turns up strangled and the author is shot.
◊“One Tree Hill” (7 a.m. on SoapNet): Go back to school with the network’s five-hour marathon of the show’s school-themed episodes.
◊“Merlin” (7 p.m. on NBC): When Arthur kills a unicorn, a curse descends on Camelot, threatening the destruction of the mythical city.
◊“My Antonio” (9 p.m. on VH1): This new series follows “General Hospital” star Antonio Sabato Jr. on his search for true love. Thirteen women will be competing for his affection, and Sabato’s ex-wife even shows up and asks him to take her back.
◊“The Pink Panther” (7 p.m. on BBC America): The network is devoting the next three Sundays to celebrating Peter Sellers’ work as Inspector Clouseau, beginning with the 1964 comedy written and directed by Tulsa native Blake Edwards.
◊“Reality Hell” (9:45 p.m. on E!): The subjects of this hidden-camera hybrid show think they are contestants on a real reality show. They gear up for their 15 minutes of fame, only to have it turn into a time of infamy.
◊“Shark Tank” (8 p.m. on ABC): The sharks consider biting into a gourmet food business, and the bidding for a life-saving idea reached $1 million.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Elvis Presley is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among his films airing on the 32nd anniversaey of his death are 1957’s “Jailhouse Rock” (noon), 1967’s “Clambake” (5:15 p.m.) and 1958s’s “King Creole” (9 p.m.).
◊“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (7 p.m. on ABC): Host Regis Philbin, back for a special 10th anniversary run of the game show, receives a visit from John Carpenter of Hamden, Conn. He was the show’s first $1 million winner who used “Phone a Friend” on his last question to call his dad that he knew the answer and was about to win.
MONDAY, AUG. 17
◊“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): A murder case involving extreme plastic surgery leads Horatio to Ron Saris, who is alive and seeking revenge on Julia. Elizabeth Berkley (”The L Word”) and Brooke Burns (”Miss Guided”) guest star.
◊“Cake Boss” (9 p.m. on TLC): In the Season 1 finale, a family-owned business asks Buddy and Carlo’s team to honor their patriarch by creating a special cake featuring their company’s product — fireworks.
◊“Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi” (8 p.m. on HBO): Ajmal Naqshbandi was a young Afghan hired as a translator by foreign journalists covering events in his homeland. In 2007, he was hired by an Italian journalist to secure an interview with a top Taliban commander, but it turned out to be his final job, ending in a highly publicized kidnapping and murder.
◊“Flipping Out” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Obsessive-compulsive house-flipper Jeff Lewis returns for a third season of his docu-series. The economy has taken its toll on his business, and Jeff hires some fresh new faces in hopes of turning things around.
◊“Glenn Martin, DDS” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): This new stop-motion animated comedy follows the offbeat adventures of dentist Glenn Martin and his family, who trade in the suburbs for a life on the road in an RV, which doubles as Glenn’s dentist office. The voice cast includes Kevin Nealon (”Weeds”), Catherine O’Hara (”For Your Consideration”) and Judy Greer (”Arrested Development”).
◊“Great American Road Trip” (7 p.m. on NBC): The competition intensifies among the remaining three families as they cross into California and fight to secure a spot in the final two.
◊“History Detectives” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Items investigated include a dagger that may have belonged to dictator Benito Mussolini, letters from a man who may have been part of the post-slavery exodus to Liberia and a device that could have had something to do with nuclear attack preparedness.
◊“Hoarders” (9 p.m. on A&E): This new series delves into the lives of people who fill their homes with stuff and can’t throw anything out. The premiere introduces Jennifer and Ron, whose house is so cluttered they’re afraid their children will be taken away.
◊“How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): When Barney and Abby realize that they have one thing in common — their mutual hatred of Ted — the “couple” decides to go to the bar to flaunt their new relationship in Ted’s face. Britney Spears (“Crossroads”) guest stars.
◊“Lloyd Boston’s Style at Any Age” (8 p.m. on FLN): Lloyd Boston (”Closet Cases” host) helps three women — a single girl in her 20s, a stay-at-home mother in her 30s and a career woman in her 40s — find their unique style self. Boston will address elements of fashion, as well as the tools each woman will need to help them go after their goals and achieve the lifestyle that they want.
◊“Objects and Memory” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Frank Langella (“Kitchen Confidential”) narrates this special that examines the response to items recovered or offered after 9/11 and other national tragedies.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Tulsa-born actress Jennifer Jones is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among her films airing are 1964’s “Ruby Gentry” (9 a.m.), 1952’s “Carrie” (8:30 p.m.) and 1955’s “Good Morning, Miss Dove” (12:30 a.m.).
◊“Top Gear” (7 p.m. on BBC America): This British series enters its seventh season of taking extraordinary and ordinary cars to the limit and beyond to find out if they’re as good as their manufacturers claim. Celebrity guests, industry experts, racing drivers and car nuts join hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Jason May and Richard Hammond to give new cars a thorough examination.
◊“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (7 p.m. on ABC): Host Regis Philbin, back for a special 10th anniversary run of the game show, receives a visit from Brian Fodera of Los Angeles. He was the show’s second contestant to get the first question wrong.
TUESDAY, AUG. 18
◊“Masters of Reception” (9 p.m. on TLC): In the series premiere, reception masters Robert and Jerry Frungillo have their work cut out for them with two big wedding extravaganzas in one weekend.
◊“Miami Social” (9 p.m. on Bravo): In the Season 1 finale, George’s mom is coming to town for a visit and he is nervous about her meeing Lina, who infurieates George by not showing up for dinner with his mother and friends.
◊“Nova scienceNOW” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Host Neil deGrasse Tyson looks into personal genetic profiling. He also visits an algae farm in Texas where researchers are working on ways to harvest fuel from the organisms. Another segment goes beneath the Arctic Ocean in search of clues to whether one of Jupiter’s moons could sustain life.
◊“Shaq Vs.” (8 p.m. on ABC): In this new competition series, NBA standout Shaquille O’Neal will take his athletic prowess beyond the basketball court and strive to become a champion in a new sporting event each week. In the premiere episode, Shaq takes on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a football challenge. In upcoming episodes, Shaq will challenge Olympian Michael Phelps in swimming, Wimbledon champion Serena Williams in tennis, fighter Oscar de la Hoya in boxing, St. Louis Cardinals player Albert Pujols in baseball and Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball.
◊“Secret Lives of Women” (9 p.m. on WEtv): This series continues its fearless portrait of women facing out-of-the-ordinary situations. Season 5 opens with “Mothers of Murderers,” in which women whose children have killed try to come to terms with the pain, regret and forgiveness it takes to carry on with their lives. Other topics this season include extreme diets, cults, nast divorces and mail order brides.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: John Wayne is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among his films airing are 1960’s “The Alamo” (11 a.m.), 1965’s “The Sons of Katie Elder” (7 p.m.) and 1969’s “True Grit” (9:15 p.m.).
◊“Time Team America” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The archaeologists have three days to map, dig and uncover what remains of Fort James, S.D. In 1865, a unit of cavalry soldiers were sent there to defend pioneer settlers against Sioux Indians.
◊“The Universe” (8 p.m. on History): With ground-breaking new discoveries and even more stunning high-definition computer animations, it’s a wondrous yet deadly adventure through space and time in Season 4. Topics this season include the lethal surprises of our ringed planets, quasars that burn with the intensity of a trillion suns and a countdown of the biggest blasts to ever rock the cosmos.
◊“Warehouse 13″ (8 p.m. on Syfy): Pete and Myka rejoin their Secret Service detail in Washington to intercept a samurai sword that’s about to be given as a gift to the president. CCH Pounder (”The Shield”) guest stars.
◊“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (7 p.m. on ABC): Host Regis Philbin, back for a special 10th anniversary run of the game show, receives a visit from Doug Van Gundy of Elkins, W.V. He won $250,000 in 1999, which at the time was the largest amount of money won in a single network game show appearance.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19
◊“Black Gold” (9 p.m. on truTV): In Season 1, competing oil crews put everything they could into erecting their rigs and successfully drilling crude before the other crews could get to it. This season will focus on the roughnecks of Rig 28, who have a seemingly impossible job. Assembled by oilman Autry Stephens, they have only 50 days to try to save the lease on a very valuable piece of land before it expires.
◊“Bobb’e Says” (7 p.m. on Cartoon Network): In this new series, Bobb’e J. Thompson (”30 Rock”) hits the streets, malls and beaches to dispense invaluable advice to the masses by telling them what not to do. He uses his charm, wit and personality, along with video clips of other people’s mistakes, to illustrate his hysterical words of wisdom.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): While investigating the kidnapping of a young boy in Las Vegas, Dr. Reid begins to have dreams that may help reveal some buried memories from his childhood. Jane Lynch (”Two and a Half Men”) guest stars as Dr. Reid’s mother, Diana Reid.
◊“CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): When a man falls 52 stories to his death and his body goes missing after it hits the ground, the CSIs must treat this strange development as a missing persons case. Thad Luckinbill (”The Young and the Restless”) and Craig T. Nelson (”Coach”) guest stars.
◊“Dude, What Would Happen” (7:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network): Armed with an insatiable thirst for answers and an unlimited access to anything and everything, hosts CJ, Ali and Jackson conduct extreme experiments that lead to some very outrageous results in this new series. The trio of friends have no labs and no limits to what they’ll think of next.
◊“Fastest Growing Companies of 2009″ (8 p.m. on CNBC): Each September, Fortune Magazine publishes its fastest growing companies and six stocks to buy now list. CNBC Managing Editor Tyler Mathisen and Fortune Magazine Managing Editor Andy Serwer co-host this special that profiles five companies that made it onto the list, including the company that owns the No. 1 spot. The companies are ranked on revenue, earnings growth, and their stock returns over the past three years.
◊“Ghost Hunters” (8 p.m. on Syfy): The series chronicling the exploits of Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, plumbers by day and amateur paranormal investigators by night, resumes its fifth season. In this episode, they’re on the trail of an “Inhuman Entity.”
◊“Gordon Ramsay’s F Word” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Actress Jessica Hynes (“Doctor Who”) challenges chef Gordon Ramsay with her macaroni and cheese. And in the restaurant, the diners enjoy a three-course meal cooked by actor Christopher Biggins (“Revelations”) and family.
◊“In a Dream” (7 p.m. on HBO2): This documentary follows artist Isaiah Zagar and his muse and gallerist wife Julia who are fixtures in the South Philadelphia art scene. It was directed by their youngest son, Jeremiah, and offers a portrait of love and betrayal and the strength of family bonds.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Red Skelton is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among his films airing are 1950’s “Watch the Birdie” (2:45 p.m.), 1941’s “Whistling in the Dark” (7 p.m.) and 1944’s “Bathing Beauty” (11:45 p.m.).
◊“Time Team Special Edition” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This special two-hour presentation from the United Kingdom’s archaeolgy series “Time Team” takes viewers on an expedition to Jamestown, Va. The trip yields some fascinating finds that offer insight into the settlers and their fates.
◊“Top Chef: Las Vegas” (8 p.m. on Bravo): Season 6 features two brothers among the 17 chef-testants. Cookbook author, actress and host Padma Lakshmi returns to preside over the judge’s table alongside judges Tom Colicchio, chef/owner of Craft Restaurants; Gail Simmons, Food & Wine magazine; and Toby Young, food critic. Also appearing in the premiere episode is chef Wolfgang Puck.
◊“Top Chef Masters” (9 p.m. on Bravo): In the first-season finale, three accomplished chefs stand to face their final challenge — the creation of a four-course meal, with each course inspired by a memoray from their past.
◊“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (7 p.m. on ABC): Host Regis Philbin, back for a special 10th anniversary run of the game show, receives a visit from Dan Doody of Seattle. He was nicknamed “Doo dy” by Regis and won $1,000.
THURSDAY, AUG. 20
◊“Blog Cabin” (8 p.m. on DIY): Licensed contractor and home improvement expert Amy Matthews will host Season 3 of the interactive building series. Kevin “O’Connor (”This Old House”) will help create the mountainside vacation home, along with numerous DIY experts including Jason Cameron (”Man Caves”), Jimmy DiResta (”Against the Grain”). Once completed, the cabin will be given away to a lucky sweepstakes winner.
◊“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When Hodges and Wendy run into each other at a science fiction convention for one of their favorite classic television shows, they end up investigating the murder of one of their beloved actors. Kate Vernon (”Battlestar Galactica”) guest stars as Dr. Penelope Russell.
◊“Models of the Runway” (10 p.m. on Lifetime): This new companion series to “Project Runway” will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the reality competition – from the models’ perspective. Viewers can experience the drama, anxiety, joys, tears and frustrations as the models themselves face elimination each week and compete for a cash prize and photo spread in Marie Claire magazine.
◊“Most Popular” (9 p.m. on WEtv): This game show in which one woman braves a hailstorm of judgement and goes home with up to $10,000 just for being herself, ends its first-season run.
◊“Project Runway” (9 p.m. on Lifetime): Heidi Klum returns as host for Season 6. Also returning are mentor Tim Gunn (Liz Claiborne Chief Creative Officer) and judges Michael Kors (fashion designer) and Nina Garcia (Fashion Director of Marie Claire Magazine), who will guide 16 new contestants as they show off their design skills to see who makes the cut for New York’s Fashion Week.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Miriam Hopkins is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among her films airing are 1949’s “The Heiress” (5 p.m.), 1932’s “Trouble in Paradise” (8:45 p.m.) and 1935’s “Barbary Coast” (midnight).
◊“Wicked Attraction” (9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): This new installment focuses on Alicia Woodward and John Esposito, a young couple that traveled across the country and committed robberies in Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas and Alabama.
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
◊“Deadly Women” (8 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): Back for a third season, this series investigates the motives of female murderers and takes viewers on a journey into the world of women who kill for thrills.
◊“Eureka” (8 p.m. on Syfy): Eureka-fied baby gifts for Allison’s shower push the envelope of eco-friendly design and prove deadly when rival scientists are found drowned. Billy Campbell (“The 4400”) guest stars.
◊“Hard Rock Calling Festival” (8 p.m. on VH1 Classic): Hosts of “That Metal Show” take viewers back stage to the festival held June 12-14 in London. Headliners at the concert in Hyde Park include Bruce Springsteen and the E! Street Band, Neil Young, Dave Matthews Band and Ben Harper.
◊“Invitation Only: Reba McEntire” (8 p.m. on CMT): Country music star Reba McEntire, who was born in McAlester, performs before a small audience in Nashville, Tenn. She also takes questions from fans and delivers revealing and candid answers.
◊“Jockeys” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): As Season 2 starts, the jockeys are inching closer to their dream of riding in the Kentucky Derby. Crey Nakatani, who suffered an injury and was out for two months, is ready to fight his way back to the top.
◊“Monk” (8 p.m. on USA Network): Monk assumes the identity of a dead hit man in an effort to foil an assassination plot. Guest stars include Reed Diamond (“Dollhouse”), Tim Bagley (“Will & Grace”) and Eric Balfour (“Six Feet Under”).
◊“NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): When the FBI is called in to investigate a series of home invasions, the team uses Charlie and his math skills to help profile the suspects, but when his calculations go awry during a raid, Don suffers a life-threatening injury. Michael Gaston (”Fringe”) guest stars.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Gene Hackman is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among his films airing are 1961’s “Mad Dog Coll” (5 a.m.), 1964’s “Lilith” (5 p.m.) and 1988’s “Mississippi Burning” (11 p.m.).
SATURDAY, AUG. 22
◊“Acceptance” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Joan Cusack (”Working Girl”) and Mae Whitman (”Arrested Development”) star in the new comedy about the pressures of today’s col;ege admissions process. It is based on the critically acclaimed book “Acceptance: A Novel” by Susan Coll.
◊“Ask Aida” (8:30 a.m. on Food Network): In the season premiere, host Alsa Mollenkamp perfects three different types of burgers — a bacon cheeseburger topped with chilo mayo, a canjun veggie burger and cheesey sliders — to satisfy all cravings.
◊“Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?” (5:25 a.m. on Disney): Season 2 of this short-form animated series has Mikey helping his pet alligator, Al, learn about using proper manners in a number of new situations, including at family meals, at the supermarket and on an airplane trip.
◊“Discover Oklahoma” (6:30 p.m. on KWTV-9): This installment focuses on Oklahoma connections in cartoons and comic strips, including the fact that Donald Duck is from Watonga, an Enid man created Dick Tracy and Yogi Bear camps in Eufaula.
◊TCM Summer Under the Stars: Sterling Hayden is today’s star in this month-long celebration of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities, and among his films airing are 1955’s “Battle Taxi” (5 a.m.), 1949’s “Manhandled” (9 p.m.) and 1952’s “The Golden Hawk” (12:30 a.m.).
◊“Without a Trace” (7 p.m. on CBS): Series star Eric Close (Martin Fitzgerald) directed this episode in which Jack grudgingly agrees to search for Hannah’s boyfriend who disappears after he runs away from Chicago to be with her in New York. Adam Kaufman (boyfriend of series star Poppy Montgomery) reprises his role as Brian Donovan, the father of Samantha’s son, Finn.
–Penny TV
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