Brian Bosworth makes guest appearance on Spike TV’s “Blue Mountain State” as Denise Richards joins cast
Brian Bosworth - Spike TV Photo
Former University of Oklahoma football star Brian “The Boz” Bosworth makes a guest appearance in an episode of the college football comedy “Blue Mountain State,” which will air at 10 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 27, on Spike TV.
In this show, Bosworth visits BMS Goats team captain Thad Castle (Alan Ritchson) in a dream and gives him advice on how he can go top three in the NFL Draft, according to a Spike TV news release.
Denise Richards joins the cast of “Blue Mountain State” in this episode as well.
Richards begins her role as the meddling ex-wife of coach Marty Daniels (Ed Marinaro).
The second season of “Blue Mountain State” finds coach Daniels (Marinaro) under pressure to deliver a winning season after an embarassing showing last year and Goats team captain Castle (Ritchson) struggling with the decision to go pro after this season or return to BMS.
Co-stars of the series include Page Kennedy as top recruit Radon Randell, Darin Brooks as second string quarterback Alex Moran and Romanski as team mascot Sammy Cacciatore.
Spike TV’s TNA Wrestling superstars in Oklahoma City in September
Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling’s “TNA iMPACT” superstars will be battling it out in an appearance in Oklahoma City September 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena.
Ticket prices start at $20.
According to a news release, treats for TNA Wrestling fans at this event include:
♦♦♦ Ring announcer Jeremy Borash will hide a backstage pass at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena and its location will be announced on Twitter before the show.
♦♦♦ Fans can get closer to the superstars and the loudest fans will be invited backstage for a special TNA experience.
♦♦♦ Fans who buy tickets in the first four rows will get to participate in a special meet and greet with TNA superstars one hour before doors open. (Redeemable with ticket the night of the show; offer only applies to $50 tickets.)
Appearing live in person at the Oklahoma State Fair will be:
“The Nature Boy”
RIC FLAIR
TNA Tag Team
bEER MONEY, INC.
“Samoan Submission Machine”
SAMOA JOE
Olympic Gold Medalist
KURT ANGLE
“The Phenomenal One”
AJ STYLES
TNA Superstar
BRIAN KENDRICK
TICKETS: On sale Friday, July 10 at www.tickets.com or charge by phone at 1-800-511-1552. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena Box Office. (For more information: www.tnawrestling.com)
TNA Wrestling “iMPACT!” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Spike TV.
TV Premieres and Finales airing April 18-24, 2010
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 April 18.
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.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
BEGINNINGS
••”The Emeril Lagasse Show,” 7 p.m. Sunday on ION (series premiere).
••”On the Case With Paula Zahn,” 9 p.m. Sunday on Investigation Discovery (second-season premiere).
••”The Newlywed Game,” 5 p.m. Monday on GSN (third-season premiere).
••”Baggage,” 5:30 p.m. Monday on GSN (series premiere).
••”Romantically Challenged,” 8:32 p.m. Monday on ABC (series premiere).
••”Dhani Tackles the Globe,” 10 p.m. Monday on Travel Channel (second-season premiere).
••”The Lazy Environmentalist,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on Sundance (second-season premiere).
••“Cities on Speed,” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on Sundance (series premiere).
••”Deadliest Warrior,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on SPIKE (second-season premiere).
••“Say Yes to the Dress,” 8 p.m. Friday on TLC (fifth-season premiere).
••”Party Down,” 9 p.m. Friday on Starz (second-season premiere).
••”Gravity,” 9:30 p.m. Friday on Starz (series premiere).
••”Spice & Easy,” 8:30 a.m. Saturday on Food Network (series premiere).
ENDINGS
••”Accidentally on Purpose,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on CBS (first-season finale).
••”The Locator,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on WEtv (fourth-season finale).
••”Project Runway,” 9 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime (seventh-season finale).
••”Models of the Runway,” 10 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime (second-season finale).
••“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” 8 p.m. Friday on ABC (first-season finale).
••“The Wanda Sykes Show,” 10 p.m. Saturday on Fox (first-season finale).
Pictured above: ROMANTICALLY CHALLENGED – ABC’s “Romantically Challenged” stars Alyssa Milano as Rebecca Thomas. (ABC/BOB D’AMICO)
Top 55 TV Programs for April 18-24, 2010
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 April 18:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2010
••The 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (7 p.m. on CBS): Reba McEntire, who was raised in Chockie, will host the Academy of Country Music’s awards celebration being broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Nominated for six awards are Carrie Underwood from Checotah and Miranda Lambert, who lives in Tishomingo.
••”Beauty & the Briefcase” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): In this adaptation of Daniella Brodsky’s book “Diary of a Working Girl,” Hilary Duff (“Lizzie McGuire”) stars as a New York fashion writer who sells a cover story to Cosmopolitan. Her assignment: Go undercover to find love in the business world.
••”Celebrity Apprentice” (8 p.m. on NBC): Both teams must make over the images of up-and-coming country singers Emily West and Luke Bryan in time for a People Country magazine interview, a photo shoot and live concert. Trace Adkins (“Lifted”) guest stars.
••”Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m. on ABC): Determined to derail son Preston’s marriage to Irina, Lynette discovers the truth about her future daughter-in-law. John Barrowman (“Torchwood”) guest stars.
••”The Emeril Lagasse Show” (7 p.m. on ION, KOPX-62): This new series launches with a housewarming party-themed premiere featuring special guest Martha Stewart (“The Martha Stewart Show”). Singer Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child) will add to the excitement by performing “Roxie” from “Chicago.” Each episode, Chef Lagasse will shaire his world, his friends and his passion for food with the studio and home audience.
••”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Celebrity volunteer Xzibit (“The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans”) joins the design team in Connecticut to rebuild the small, fire-damaged and deteriorating home of the musical Hill family, who give the gifts of song and inspiration to their community.
••”Life” (7 p.m. on Discovery): The new installment “Plants” includes a look at the Boston ivy and cats-claw creeper that use other plants as a ladder to get to the light. It is followed by “Primates” that spotlights the Hamadryas baboons and Japanese macaques, and “Making of Life” that showcases the efforts by the LIFE filmmaking team to bring the breathtaking images of intimate animal and plant behavior to the screen.
••”Masterpiece Classic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Adapted from Andrea Levy’s best-selling novel, the new two-part story “Small Island” chronicles the moving saga of two couples — one Jamaican (Naomie Harris, David Oyelowo), one English (Ruth Wilson, Benedict Cumberbatch) — whose lives intertwine in both friendship and tragic misunderstanding in post-World War II Britain.
••”On the Case With Paula Zahn” (9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): While shooting the second season, host Paula Zahn traveled the country to talk directly to people touched by fascinating cases, resulting in interviews that reveal the raw emotions these tragedies have left behind. The premiere episode focuses on the case of Brooke Wilberger, a Brigham Young University student who mysteriously vanished from a parking lot in Corvallis, Ore., in 2004.
••”The Pacific” (8 p.m. on HBO): The Marines attempt to capture the Peleliu airfield against a fortified enemy, despite 115-degree heat and a lack of clean drinking water.
••”Riverworld” (6 p.m. on Syfy): When a suicide bomber kills a war zone reporter and his fiance, they awaken separated in mysterious world where everyone who has ever lived on Earth seems to have been “reborn” along the banks of a seemingly endless river. The reporter joins forces with a 13th century female samurai warrior American novelist Sam ‘Mark Twain’ Clemens to find his fiance and search for the source of the river.
••”South Sea Pearls” (7 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel): This is an in-depth look at the industry of pearl farming in Northern Australia and the well-guarded technique of cultivating the only precious jewel made by nature.
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
••”American Experience” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): In the new episode “Earth Days,” filmmaker Robert Stone traces the origins of the modern environmental movement through the eyes of nine Americans who propelled it.
••”Antiques Roadshow” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Items appraised in Hour 1 from Phoenix include a circa 1905 advertising display for waterproof baby pants, a 1797 Chippendale marriage chest and a collection of original Charles Schulz “Peanuts” artwork.
••“The Agronomist” (7 p.m. on Documentary Channel): This documentary features footage and interviews with Jean Dominique, a noted Haitian journalist who ran Haiti’s first independent radio station and spoke out against issues of corruption and negligence.
••”Baggage” (5:30 p.m. on GSN): Jerry Springer (“Jerry Springer”) hosts this new dating game show that reveals what people are willing to put up with in the name of finding love. In each episode, one dater chooses among three contestants who reveal quirky, embarrasing and shocking “baggage” that is typically kept under wraps to impress a first date.
••”Dhani Tackles the Globe” (10 p.m. on Travel Channel): NFL linebacker Dhani Jones continues his global sports odyssey to participate in beloved national pastimes of cultures around the world. In the season premiere, he trains with Olympic and professional cyclists to conquer Monte Grappe in Italy.
••”Explorer” (8 p.m. on National Geographic): Lisa Ling (“The View”) hosts this two-hour event that looks back on the quarter-century history of the “Explorer” series’ tradition of investigating unique stories around the world.
••“House” (7 p.m. on Fox): Dr. House and the team take on the case of Sir William, a “knight” in a closed-off community of men and women living according to the ideals of the High Renaissance. Meanwhile, Wilson starts over with an ex (Cynthia Watros, “Lost”).
••”How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): When Ted attends his mother’s (Cristine Rose, ‘‘Heroes”) wedding, he is disturbed by her overly affectionate relationship with her fiance.
••”The McVeigh Tapes: Confessions of an American Terrorist” (8 p.m. on MSNBC): Fifteen years after the Oklahoma City bombing, Rachel Maddow (“The Rachel Maddow Show”) brings viewers the inside story on the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil prior to the events of Sept. 11. Drawing from 45 hours of never-before-released interview audiotapes recorded during McVeigh’s prison stay, viewers will hear his confession in his own words.
••”The Newlywed Game” (5 p.m. on GSN): Carnie Wilson returns as host for Season 3 of the game show, which will feature a diverse line-up of newlyweds from all backgrounds, including one same-sex couple.
••”Romantically Challenged” (8:32 p.m. on ABC): This new comedy follows four friends trying to find love and happiness while navigating their way through today’s tricky world of dating. Alyssa Milano (“Charmed”) plays Rebecca, who is recently divorced after 15 years of marriage. Rounding out the group are Rebecca’s sister, Lisa (Kelly Stables, “W.I.T.C.H.”) Rebecca’s best friend Perry (Kyle Bornheimer, “Worst Week”) and Perry’s roommate Shawn (Josh Lawson, “Chandon Pictures”).
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
••”30 for 30″ (7 p.m. on ESPN): The new documentary “Silly Little Game” examines the history of fantasy sports from their little-known origins to a $4 billion industry with more than 30 million participants.
••”The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m. on NBC): Contestants learn that the kitchen will be closed for a day and they’ll have to eat their meals from a buffet table offering both high and low calorie choices. Whoever eats the most calories will win a coveted prize — the only vote at elimination. Then it’s off to a circuit beach workout with pro volleyball player Gabrielle Reece.
••”Burma VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country” (8:30 p.m. on HBO): This documentary takes a rare inside look at Burma’s 2007 uprising through the cameras of underground Burmese video journalists. They recorded historic events on handycams at great risk to themselves and smuggled the footage out of the country for broadcast worldwide via satellite.
••”Carbon Hunters” (9 p.m. on CNBC): This special takes viewers inside the controversial market-driven solution to pollution to meet a new breed of entrepreneurs cashing in on the “green rush.” From the Chicago Climate Exchange to Hollywood to “Garbage Mountain” in the Philippines, carbon trading is attracting investors and critics.
••“Cities on Speed” (7:30 p.m. on Sundance): This four-part documentary series journeys inside four cities — Cairo, Mumbai, Shanghai and and Bogota —to discover how these mega-cities are dealing with the challenges of modernity.
••”Deadliest Warrior” (9 p.m. on SPIKE): This non-scripted series that pits history’s greatest warriors against one another to determine who reigns supreme returns for a second season. The premiere episode pits SWAT vs. GSG-9. Upcoming showdowns include Attila the Hun vs. Alexander the Great, Jesse James Gang vs. Al Capone Gang and Comanche vs. Mongol.
••“Glee” (8 p.m. on Fox): Mr. Schuester is concerned that the girls in the glee club are being disrespected and bullied by the guys. Looking to Madonna and her musical message of equality as inspiration, he challenges the entire team to choose Madonna songs as their next assignment. Idina Menzel (“Wicked”) and Jonathan Groff (“One Life to Live”) guest star.
••”The Good Wife” (9 p.m. on CBS): Tensions are high as Peter’s appeal trial begins and Alicia defends a wealthy client in civil court whose innocence she doubts, even after he’s found not guilty in criminal court of murdering his wife. Mamie Gummer (“John Adams”) guest stars as bumbling prosecutor Nancy Crozier.
••”Independent Lens” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): Jamie Lee Curtis (“You Again”) narrates “DIRT! The Movie” that delves into the history of the lowly substance and shows how its mistreatment can result in natural disasters.
••”The Lazy Environmentalist” (7 p.m. on Sundance): In Season 2, eco-entrepreneur Josh Dorfman attempts to bring individuals from all walks of life — from fashion designers to exterminators to surfers and day care center operators — guidance towards a green lifestyle. Dorfman works to prove that eco-friendly living can be achieved with little sacrifice, and even make their professional and private lives easier.
••”NCIS” (7 p.m. on CBS): When the enlisted son of retired Colonel-turned-preacher is found dead, the team believes he may be the victim of a hate crime. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ father comes for a holiday visit. Joe Regalbuto (“Murphy Brown”) and Ralph Waite (“The Waltons”) guest star.
••”Parenthood” (9 p.m. on NBC): The Braverman family is on high alert when Amber’s ex-boyfriend Damien (Eddy Rioseco, “Related”) arrives from Fresno. Meanwhile, Zeek takes Adam on a road trip for investment advice and some father-son bonding.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010
••”Accidentally on Purpose” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): After faking labor pains to get Zack out of a speeding ticket, Billie goes into labor — for real. Unfortunately, things take a turn when Zack gets busted by the officer they had initially lied to and is hauled off to the police station in the Season 1 finale.
••”American Idol: Idol Gives Back” (7 p.m. on Fox): Carrie Underwood, Checotah native and Season 4 winner, is scheduled to take part in this year’s event. So is David Cook, Tulsa resident and “American Idol” Season 7 winner. The event helps raises money for charities such as the Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America and Malaria No More. The prevois two specials raised more than $140 million.
••“America’s Next Top Model” (7 p.m. on CW): Guest judge Whitney Port (“The City”) drops by the loft to surprise the girls before they put their personalities to the test during a runway challenge.
••”Cougar Town” (9 p.m. on ABC): Laurie needs a co-signer to buy her first condo and finds her less than stellar, absentee mother (Beverly D’Angelo, “Entourage”) no help at all. Meanwhile, Bobby is mugged by a woman and Travis comes to Barb’s aid after her latest cosmetic surgery procedure.
••”Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): In a rebroadcast of the show’s 100th episode, the Behavioral Analysis Unit races to help Hotch find the Reaper (C. Thomas Howell, “Southland”) and save his family. D.B. Sweeney also guest stars.
••“Fly Girls” (8 p.m. on CW): Tasha, Louise and Nikole spend an evening at a club dancing to a performance by Snoop Dogg. Tasha has a disagreement with a passenger onboard a flight and accuses Farrah of reporting her to management.
••”In Plain Sight” (9 p.m. on USA Network): Mary and Marshall try to help FBI agent Mike Faber convince his informant to enter Witsec. Despite their best efforts, the informant refuses their protection and gets himself into a heap of trouble. Steven Weber (“Happy Town”) guest stars.
••”Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (8 p.m. on NBC): After Eva Banks (Rosie Perez, “Lipstick Jungle”) makes a shocking discovery about her son’s behavior at school, she takes him to the doctor, only to find out that he has been the victim of sexual abuse.
••”The Locator” (9 p.m. on WEtv): Season 4 concludes with another compelling story, as professional people finder Troy Dunn continues his 20-year personal mission to help reunite and reconnect loved ones. Dunn grew up in Enid.
••”Mercy” (7 p.m. on NBC): Following the donut shop shooting, Veronica experiences a panic attack and continues to address her PTSD in therapy sessions with Dr. Cabe (Mary Stuart Masterson, “Kate Brasher”).
••”The Middle” (7 p.m. on ABC): Frankie and Mike are excited to discover that Axl has found the perfect girlfriend, Morgan (Alexa Vega, “Ruby & the Rockits”), and that he’s in love. But just as they start to get used to his new, sunny outlook on life, Morgan does the unthinkable and breaks up with him, leaving Axl completely heartbroken.
••”Modern Family” (8 p.m. on ABC): Claire feels slightly inadequate when her old friend, Valerie (Minnie Driver, “The Riches”), visits and is nothing like Claire remembered. Meanwhile Jay has an unsettling locker room moment when he and Cameron go play racquetball.
••”P.O.V.” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Filmmaker Robert Kenner’s Oscar-nominated ‘‘Food, Inc.” documentary reveals how sick animals, environmental degradation, tainted and unhealthy food, obesity and other health issues are just the more obvious problems with a mechanized and centralized system of food production.
••”Through a Dog’s Eyes” (10 p.m. on OETA-13): This documentary chronicles the work of Canine Assistants, a family-run nonprofit organization devoted to training assistance dogs for people with disabilities. It follows the life-changing journey of recipients as they go through the heartwarming and sometimes difficult process of receiving and being matched with a service dog.
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010
••”30 Rock” (7:30 p.m. on NBC): Liz Lemon starts making an effort to date by attending singles events with Jenna Maroney, and Jack Donaghy feels forced to choose between childhood love, Nancy Donovan (Julianne Moore, “Eagle Eye”), and news anchor Avery Jessup (Elizabeth Banks, “Scrubs”).
••”Amazing Plants” (8 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel): See how predatory plants use rapdors and enticing beautiful flowers to trap prey, while others shrivel up or emit odors to dend off enemies. Experts investigate these traits and detail how human intervention affects these living organisms.
••”Beyond the Barrel: The Race to Fuel the Future” (7 p.m. on CNBC): This special will introduce viewers to more than a dozen potential game changing innovations to power our planet and showcase the bottled promises ready to be unleashed from the Middle East, South America, Asia and here at home. It will also take a critical look at why we are still years away from putting these ideas into practice.
••“Bones” (7 p.m. on Fox): When human remains are discovered in the belly of a shark, Brennan and Booth are brought in to identify the missing person. Rena Sofer (“Coupling”) and Diedrich Bader (“The Drew Carey Show”) guest star.
••”CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When a student is discovered murdered at Lindsey’s school, the investigation takes a sharp turn when the CSIs uncover an unlikely connection between the boy’s death and atrocities of the pas. Michael Kenneth Williams (“The Wire”) guest stars as the school janitor.
••”Future Earth: Addicted to Power” (10 p.m. on MSNBC): Sam Waterston (“Law & Order”) hosts this special that examines the troubling issues that will confront us as we continue the struggle to power our world. It focuses on the most common fuel sources: oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and the electrical grid, drawing upon the expertise of several prominent energy professionals, including U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics.
••“The Marriage Ref” (9 p.m. on NBC): Celebrity panelists Adam Carolla (“The Man Show”), Gloria Estefan (“Music From the Heart”) and Doland Trump (“Celebrity Apprentice”) offer their wit, wisdom and unique opinions to couples in marital tiffs.
••”The Mentalist” (9 p.m. on CBS): When Patrick Jane’s sneaky conduct causes the case of a confessed hitman to be tossed out of court, his annoyed CBI team must start the investigation over from scratch. Aunjanue Ellis (“True Blood”) returns as the CBI’s new boss, Special Agent Madeleine Hightower.
••”SpongeBob SquarePants” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): In the environmentally conscius episode “SpongeBob’s Last Stand,” SpongeBob and Patrick learn the “Shelly Super Highway” is coming to Bikini Bottom – right through Jellyfish Fields. Devastated by the news, they launch a campaign to stop the construction.
••”True Crime With Aphrodite Jones” (9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery): In this installment, journalist and bestselling author Aphrodite Jones talks with several people about the Menendez brothers, who murdered their wealthy parents. Authorities say it was for money. The brothers say it was out of fear, and some believe that the brothers say may be true.
••“The Vampire Diaries” (7 p.m. on CW): At the Founder’s Day Gala, Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Caroline (Candice Accola) compete for the title of “Miss Mystic Falls” against other girls from town, including Amber Bradley (Spencer Locke, “Resident Evil”).
FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010
••”Garage Mahal” (8:30 p.m. on DIY Network): Host Bill Goldberg and the DIY experts team up with Wired Magazine to create an eco-friendly garage at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. A workbench tricked out with energy efficient tools, a recycling center views can build at home and a system t o convert cooking oil into fuel are just a few of the projects going into the space.
••”Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Melinda lends a hand to Eli’s patient who thinks he’s being watched by his sister’s ghost. Meanwhile, Melinda and Jim are concerned when Aiden talks about his shiny friends that aren’t ghosts but something else. Chad Lowe (“Life Goes On”) and Danny Weaver (“Greek”) guest star.
••”Gravity” (9:30 p.m. on Starz): This new series follows the sometimes comic, sometimes tragic exploits of a group from an eccentric out-patient program of suicide survivors. Krysten Ritter (“Breaking Bad”) plays a young woman who cannot connect to anyone until she dies, and Ivan Sergei plays a widower who becomes an Internet celebrity when his suicide attempt goes comically awry.
••”Live From Abbey Road” (7 p.m. on Sundance): Musical artists discussing their work and performing at London’s Abbey Road Studios are The Enemy, Antony and the Johnsons and Paloma Faith.
••”Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): The police hunt a serial killer targeting innocent women, but when the prime suspect dies, his ghost contacts Allison to clear his name, contact his girlfriend and maybe help the investigation. Pablo Schreiber (“The Wire”) guest stars.
••”Miami Medical” (9 p.m. on CBS): As the team works to save the lives of a couple injured in a balcony collapse, they are shocked when the wife refuses treatment. Louise Lombard (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) guest stars as Karen, a trauma patient.
••”Party Down” (9 p.m. on Starz): The show about catering team stuck serving others while still determined to make it to the top returns for Season 2. Megan Mullally (‘‘Will & Grace”) joins the cast as Lydia Dunfree, a middle-aged refugee from a lousy marriage who moves to Hollywood in hopes that her 13 year-old daughter will make it big.
••“Say Yes to the Dress” (8 p.m. on TLC): Season 5 opens with Kristi, a pageant queen who’s determined that on her wedding day all eyes will be on her, and bride Stacey, a self-proclaimed “Goth girl” who returns to the salon.
••“Smallville” (7 p.m. on CW): Lois and Clark each attempt to thwart the delivery of the photo and run into Maxwell Lord (Gil Bellows, “Ally McBeal”), a wealthy tycoon and Checkmate operative, who is trying to learn The Blur’s identity to eliminate him.
••”Smoke Jumpers” (9 p.m. on CMT): This special offers an inside look at the dangerous profession of smokejumpers. With hand tools, explosives and the ability to think fast on their feet, they work to contain the fire they are set to extinguish. But first, they must get there by parachuting into often unchartered territory and treacherous forests and mountains.
••”Who Do You Think You Are?” (7 p.m. on NBC): Susan Sarandon (“You Don’t Know Jack”) traces her Grandmother Anita’s roots to Italy where she tracks down the actual village in Tuscany that was home to Anita’s father.
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010
••The 24th Genesis Awards (11 a.m. on Animal Planet): This event, which took place March 20 in Beverly Hills, honors the news and entertainment media for their coverage of animal protection issues. Melanie Griffith made a heartfelt presentation of The Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award to her mother, Tippi Hedren, for her tireless advocacy on behalf of captive big cats.
••”Castle” (9 p.m. on ABC): A beloved former major league baseball player is found dead after a goodwill trip to Cuba. The investigation, which includes running into Joe Torre (guest starring as himself), leads the detectives into New York’s Cuban community to solve the murder.
••“Cops” (7:30 p.m. on Fox): Officers from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office stop two men for a routine traffic violation. But when they bust them for possession, the suspects start running.
••”Discover Oklahoma” (6:30 p.m. on KWTV-9): This installments of the locally-produced series spotlights Tulsa’s Garden Deva and Jump School in Frederick
••”Mothman” (8 p.m. on Syfy): Jewel Staite (“Firefly”) stars in this new original movie about a legendary West Virginia monster that returns to exact revenge on five childhood friends who covered up an accidental killing.
••”Spice & Easy” (8:30 a.m. on Food Network): In this new cooking series, Denver-based spice shop owner Janet Johnston takes classic recipes and demonstrates how to reinvent them with a creative use of spices.
••“The Wanda Sykes Show” (10 p.m. on Fox): Wanda Sykes’ personal take on everything from news, politics, sports and pop culture will be examined on the Season 1 finale. Guests include Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) and Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe).
••”The Wild Girl” (7 p.m. on Hallmark Movie Channel): In the Depression-era Sierra Madre Badlands, an unlikely team, including a struggling photographer (Brian Austin Green), a socialite (Matthew Edison) and an anthropology student (Kathleen Munroe), embarks on a rescue mission but are quickly put in harm’s way when they stumble upon an Apache girl abandoned in the wilderness. It is based on the 2005 novel “The Wild Girl: The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932″ written by Jim Fergus.
••”You Don’t Know Jack” (8 p.m. on HBO): Oscar and Emmy winner Al Pacino (‘‘Scent of a Woman,” ‘‘Angels in America”) stars as Jack Kevorkian, aka “Dr. Death,” who built his infamous “Mercy Machine” and started a media frenzy with his epic legal battles defending a patient’s right to die.
–Penny TV
TV Premieres and Finales airing Feb. 28-March 6, 2010
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 Feb. 28.
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.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
BEGINNINGS
••”The Marriage Ref,” 9:30 p.m. Sunday on NBC (sneak preview, series premieres 9 p.m. Thursday).
••”Rules of Engagement,” 7:30 p.m. Monday on CBS (fourth-season premiere).
••”The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Monday on NBC (former host returns).
••”Madman of the Sea,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Animal Planet (series premiere).
••”Parenthood,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on NBC (series premiere).
••”Southland,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on TNT (second-season premiere).
••”Players,” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on SPIKE (series premiere).
••”Web Soup,” 7 p.m. Wednesday on G4 (second-season premiere).
••”The Locator,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on WEtv (fourth-season premiere).
••”Instant Recall,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday on GSN (series premiere).
••”The Real Housewives of New York City,” 10 p.m. Thursday on Bravo (third-season premiere).
••”Who Do You Think You Are?” 7 p.m. Friday on NBC (series premiere).
••”Destination Design,” 12:30 p.m. Saturday on HGTV (series premiere).
ENDINGS
••”The Bachelor,” 7 p.m. Monday on ABC (14h-season finale).
••”Nip/Tuck,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on FX (series finale).
••”Burn Notice,” 9 p.m. Thursday on USA Network (third-season finale).
••”The Real Housewives of Orange County,” 9 p.m. Thursday on Bravo (fifth-season finale).
Pictured above: From right to Left: Bianca Kajlich, Oliver Hudson, David Spade, Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price and Adhir Kalyan star on RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, on Monday, March 1 on CBS. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS
Top 55 TV Programs for Feb. 28-March 6, 2010
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 Feb. 28:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, FEB. 28, 2010
••”Big Love” (8 p.m. on HBO): Barb shocks Nicki with news about Joey. Bill looks for clues about J.J. (Zeljko Ivanek, “Damages”) in Kansas.
••”Cold Case” (9 p.m. on CBS): The team decides to kill time at a work acquaintance’s wedding by looking into wther his bride (Rachel Miner, “Californication”) was responsible for killing her former fiance (Noah Bean, “Damages”), who died mere hours after he canceled their nuptials. Sean Maguire (“The Class”) guest stars as the former fiance’s best friend.
••”Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m. on ABC): When Celia comes down with the chicken pox, Gaby must keep her distance. Having never had the chicken pox herself, Gaby stays with Tuc and Bob and is reminded of what it’s like to be single again. Julie Benz (“Dexter”) guest stars.
••”Disease Detectives” (8 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special follows a real-life “Dr. House” and his team of experts inside the Undiagnosed Disease Program at the National Institutes for Health as they attempt to solve real medical mysteries and help desperate patients in just five days.
••”Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (7 p.m. on ABC): Country singer Trace Adkins (“The Celebrity Apprentice”) helps the team rebuild the home of a wounded police officer in Lancaster, Texas, who lost most of his mobility and all of his hearing after being shot while leading a Dallas Police Department SWAT team.
••”Imagination Movers” (9 a.m. on Disney): When Gladys, the new and slightly bumbling Tooth Fairy, has trouble doing her job without waking up the kids, the Movers help show her how to get the job done. Cheri Oteri (“Saturday Night Live”) guest stars.
••”The Marriage Ref” (9:30 p.m. on NBC): Jerry Seinfeld (“Seinfeld”), Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”) and Kelly Ripa (“Live With Regis and Kelly”) weigh in on a special sneak preview of this new comedy panel series about the unpredictable and hilarious institution commonly known as marriage. Tom Papa (“Come to Papa”) is the “Ref” on the show, which premieres Thursday.
••”Masterpiece Classic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This adaptation of John Buchan’s World War I adventure novel “The 39 Steps” follows the fortunes of Richard Hannay (Rupert Penry-Jones), a mining engineer who gets caught up in a conspiracy after a British spy is found dead in his apartment.
••”The Providence Effect” (11 a.m. on TV One): This documentary film that tells the story of a school on Chicago’s impoverished West Side that has been sending 100 percent of its high school graduates to four-year colleges for 30 years.
••”Undercover Boss” (8 p.m. on CBS): Dave Rife, the owner of White Castle, goes undercover in his own company where he accidentally ruins thousands of hamburger buns after mishandling equipment in one of his bakeries. He also discovers low morale among his employees at a local factory.
••”Weather Proof” (8 p.m. on The Weather Channel): Co-hosts Stephanie Abrams and Newton Wimer test everything from windows and mobile homes to see if they hold up against a powerful hurricane simulator – a jet engine. And see how to escape from a stranded vehicle with only seconds to act as dangerous waters rise in a flash flood.
MONDAY, MARCH 1
••”The Bachelor” (7 p.m. on ABC): In the two-hour Season 14 finale, Jake must choose between Tenley and Vienna. Throughout the episode, Tom Bergeron will announce the new cast of “Dancing With the Stars” that premieres March 22.
••”Bewitched” (4 p.m. on TV Land): The Emmy award-winning series that aired on ABC from 1964-1972 joins the network’s weekday lineup. The series follows Samantha Stevens (Elizabeth Montgomery), a stay-at-home wife with a secret. After marrying her husband, ad-exec Darrin Stevens (Dick York, then played by Dick Sargent), she reveals to him that she is a witch.
••”CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Filmmaker and musician Rob Zombie directs this new episode in which the CSI team discovers that a listening device has been covertly planted at a crime scene. Guest stars include Zombie’s wife Sheri Moon (“Halloween”), Malcolm McDowell (“Heroes”) and William Forsythe (“John Doe”).
••”Greek” (9 p.m. on ABC Family): Professor Hilgendorf and his family has moved in next door to the Kappa Tau house, and their presence is putting a damper on the KTs’ festivities. Sam Page (“Mad Men”) guest stars.
••”House” (7 p.m. on Fox): Wilson puts himself on the case when an old friend (Joshua Malina, “The West Wing”) and former patient experiences paralysis in his right arm. House suspects the man’s cancer has returned, but Wilson works overtime to find an alternative diagnosis.
••”How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): When the gang tries to convince Ted that he is being strung along by Tiffany (Carrie Underwood, “American Idol”), they reflect about relationships where each of them has been in the same situation.
••“Inside the Actors Studio” (6 p.m. on Bravo): Host James Lipton welcomes award-winning director, producer, editor and writer James Cameron to the stage. Cameron’s career trajectory has skyrocketed this small-town Canadian boy to one of the biggest names in Hollywood. He has directed two of the highest-grossing films to date — “Titanic” and “Avatar.”
••”NFL Full Contact” (9 p.m. on truTV): The Pro Bowl honors the NFL’s best players. For the first time, the event is moving to the site of the Super Bowl, with the game being played the Sunday before the NFL championship. But whether this first Pro Bowl of its kind will go off without a hitch remains to be seen.
••”Paralyzed and Pregnant with Twins” (7 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special presents the story of Claudia, a woman who was paralyzed from the armpits down following a car accident that killed her infant son. Claudia hoped that one day she could have more children and, despite doctors’ skepticism, her dream came true.
••”The Real Housewives Top 25: The Early Years” (9 p.m. on Bravo): This special features the 25 favorite moments from the first seasons of New York, Atlanta and New Jersey and the first two seasons of Orange County, as chosen by Andy Cohen (Bravo’s SVP of Original Programming and Development and host of “Watch What Happens”).
••”Rules of Engagement” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): In the Season 4 premiere, Jeff takes Russell’s advice and reciprocates a female colleague’s flirting. Adhir Kalyan, who plays Russell’s assistant Timmy, joins the cast as a series regular.
••”Top Gear” (7 p.m. on BBC America): Jeremy, Ricgard and James immerse themselves in the world of classic cars to find out if they really are more fun than modern machinery. Also, Jeremy interviews AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson in the studio.
••”Two and a Half Men” (8 p.m. on CBS): Charlie runs off to Vegas and returns with a new wife, but she’s not Chelsea. Stacy Keach (“Titus” ) and John Amos (“Men In Trees”) guest star.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
••”20/20: Before They Were Famous” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): This special Oscars-themed edition features stories of how some nominees got their big breaks. George Clooney’s father, Nick Clooney, takes ABC cameras inside the actor’s childhood home in Kentucky. Sandra Bullock’s childhood friend shares stories and photos of the first-time nominee as a high school cheerleader in Virginia. Actor Beau Bridges, the brother of five-time Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges, talks about his brother’s early years. And Mo’Nique’s husband, Sidney Hicks, talks about the early years with the talented comedienne turned actress.
••”The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m. on NBC): After viewers learn who was eliminated after the Olympic challenge cliffhanger (Cheryl George from Ardmore or Darrell Hough from Michigan), host Alison Sweeney tells all the contestants they are switching to blue vs. black teams.
••”Frontline” (midnight on OETA-13): The new documentary “The Suicide Tourist” explores the topic of whether we have the right to end our lives in the last stages of painful terminal illness or if life becomes unbearable for other reasons. It includes access to Dignitas, the Swiss nonprofit group that helps people with terminal illnesses to end their lives.
••”The Good Wife” (9 p.m. on CBS): While Peter gets acclimated to life at home and works on a comeback strategy with his political team, including Eli Gold (Alan Cumming, “The L Word”), Alicia and Diane wrestle with spousal privilege laws in a murder case that hinges on their ability to get a wife to testify against her husband. Gary Cole (“The West Wing”) guest stars as Kurt McVeigh, a rugged ballistics expert who Diane finds herself attracted to.
••”Madman of the Sea” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): This new six-part series follows the adventures of Australian fisherman Matt Watson, He is dubbed the “fish whisperer” by his peers for his ability to lure the biggest, fastest, baddest sea creatures that lurk beneath the surface. He feeds off adrenaline and travels the uncharted seas looking for that next great catch, and he’s willing to do anything to find it.
••”Parenthood” (9 p.m. on NBC): This new dramedy views contemporary family life as reflected by the large and colorful Braverman clan. In the series premiere, Sarah (Lauren Graham, ‘‘Gilmore Girls”), a single mom, returns to Berkeley, Calif., to be closer to her family, while brother Adam (Peter Krause) learns that his son (Max Burkholder) has Asperger’s syndrome.
••”Players” (9:30 p.m. on SPIKE): This new series follows two brothers with conflicting personalities trying to run a successful sports bar. Matt Walsh plays Bruce Fitzgerald, a free-spirited, fun-loving guy who bets on games and dates the cocktail waitresses. Ian Robert plays Ken, his older, uptight brother who tries to keep the focus on turning a profit while avoiding lawsuits and health code violations.
••”Postpartum Nightmares” (7 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special spotlights women who have had a range of postpartum experiences — from depressions to severe anxiety and event psychosis.Viewers will see how these devastating cpnditions can create turmoil during what is supposed to be one of life’s happiest moments — the addition of a new baby to the family.
••”Southland” (9 p.m. on TNT): In the Season 2 premiere, Nate and Sammy investigate a freeway shooting and wind up threatening the integrity of a major undercover operation. And Chickie finds herself in the middle of a mini-riot after her new partner shoots at a 13-year-old boy.
••”White Collar” (9 p.m. on USA Network): When the daughter of a man from his past goes missing Neal volunteers to help find her. Little does anyone realize the kidnapper is an old enemy of Neal’s who is leading him right into a trap. Diahann Carroll (“Julia”) guest stars.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
••”Cougar Town” (8:30 p.m. on ABC): Laurie needs a co-signer to buy her first condo and finds her less than stellar, absentee mother (Beverly D’Angelo, “Entourage”) no help at all. Meanwhile, Bobby is mugged by a woman and Travis comes to Barb’s aid after her latest cosmetic surgery procedure.
••”Faces of America” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. demonstrates how to pick up the search for ancestors where the historical record leaves off, linking the distinctive family histories of such guests as Elizabeth Alexander, Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols, Yo-Yo Ma and Eva Longoria Parker to the broader history of ‘‘the family of man.”
••”Gary Unmarried” (7:30 p.m. on CBS): When Gary’s plan to help Tom land a spot on the wrestling team backfires, he challenges the coach, a former high school nemesis, to a wrestling rematch in an attempt to settle their score. David Koechner (“Anchorman”) guest stars as Soup, Gary’s high school nemesis.
••”Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (8 p.m. on NBC): When a woman from a growing lesbian community is found dead, detectives Benson and Stabler must work with a local activist (Kathy Griffin, “My Life on the D-List”) to uncover the truth behind the woman’s death.
••”The Locator” (9 p.m. on WEtv): Enid native Troy Dunn returns for a fourth season of granting wishes to people wanting to reconnect with loved ones. In the one-hour season premiere, a daughter searches for the father who disappeared from her life and a young woman searches for the sister she didn’t know existed.
••”Mercy” (7 p.m. on NBC): Following the donut shop shooting, Veronica takes off unexpectedly, leaving everyone to worry about her whereabouts. Back at Mercy, the victims of a bus bombing inundate the emergency room. Alison Sweeney (“The Biggest Loser”) guest stars.
••”Modern Family” (7 p.m. on ABC): Gloria is less than pleased with Jay’s reaction to the arrival of Javier (Benjamin Bratt, “Miss Congeniality”), Manny’s infamously unreliable dad. Meanwhile, Phil is suffering from kidney stones and his dramatics leave Claire no other choice but to call for the hot firemen to rush him to the hospital.
••”The New Adventures of Old Christine” (7 p.m. on CBS): When Christine and Barb find their business unexpectedly profitable, Christine must decide whether to spend her share of the newfound money on herself or follow Barb’s lead and give it to charity. Ed Begley Jr. (“Gary Unmarried”) and Ashley Williams (“Side Order of Life”) guest star.
••”The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Oprah Winfrey brings together some of Hollywood’s biggest stars to interview each other. The revealing and intimate interviews include Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”) and Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”); “Avatar” director James Cameron and three stars from the film; Ben Affleck (“Good Will Hunting”) and Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”); and “Fatal Attraction” stars Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.
••”Psych” (9 p.m. on USA Network): After Lassiter takes a page out of Shawn’s book and claims a shark attack victim was actually murdered, the guys must then scramble to find the fish and prove him right. Jeri Ryan (“Leverage”) guest stars.
••”Radical Parenting” (7 p.m. on Discovery Health): This special explores what some might consider to be extreme forms of parenting — from potty training a newborn baby to breast-feeding beyond the age of two. Find out how they came to these parenting decisions and hear from experts about the pros and cons of their choices.
••”Web Soup” (7 p.m. on G4): The series returns for a second season that captures the “best of the worst” moments on the web and brings viewers a no-holds-barred look at the week’s Internet mayhem. In each episode, comedian and host Chris Hardwick presents a selection of crashes, bloopers, accidents and more, along with his wry commentary, signature sketches and side-splitting reenactments.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
••”Burn Notice” (9 p.m. on USA Network): Michael’s worst fears come to life when a world-class terrorist is unleased on Miami, threatening to detonate a bomb if Michael doesn’t give him what he wants. With the FBI hot on his trail, Michael will need every advantage and every friend on his side to defeat this madman in the Season 3 finale.
••”CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (8 p.m. on CBS): When a band member of Rascal Flatts is electrocuted by his own guitar during a concert, the CSI team investigates if it was a case of foul play. Actor Will Patton (“24″) guest stars as CIA Associate Director Craig Halliday.
••”Instant Recall” (7:30 p.m. on GSN): This new game show first tests players’ patience, then tests their memory as unsuspecting participants are caught on hidden camera in unbelievable situations—and are then quizzed on the experience for cash and prizes. Wink Martindale (“Tic-Tac-Dough”) and Angela Daun (“Entourage”) host the competition and award the prizes.
••“The Marriage Ref” (9 p.m. on NBC): Tina Fey (“30 Rock”) and Eva Longoria-Parker (“Desperate Housewives”) are on the celebrity panel for the premiere episode of the series that features couples facing off to settle their marital tiffs. The rotating panel of “experts” will offer their own wit, wisdom and unique opinions.
••”The Office” (8 p.m. on NBC): In this special hour-long episode, Pam’s contractions begin but she and Jim are determined to wait it out as long as possible so they can have more time at the hospital. Meanwhile the rest of the office tries to distract Pam from the pain with food and entertainment. Linda Purl (“Bones”) guest stars.
••”Private Practice” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Things get too close for comfort when Addison, Pete and Sam must come together on a complicated case involving a dad-to-be who comes down with tuberculosis and threatens the future of his new family. Meanwhile, with Violet still gone on her Costa Rican escape, Sheldon takes over helping one of her patients, Natasha (Clea Duvall, “Carnivale”), to get over her crippling fear of flying.
••”The Real Housewives of Orange County” (9 p.m. on Bravo): Season 5 ends with a bombshell, as the tension between Tamra Barney and her husband, Simon, reaches the breaking point at the final party of the summer. Meanwhile, Vicki Gunvalson and her husband, Donn, revel in the newfound strength of their marriage and Lynne Curtin tries to reign in her teenage daughters wild behavior at the party.
••”The Real Housewives of New York City” (10 p.m. on Bravo): In the Season 3 premiere, the ladies are spending their remaining summer days together in the Hamptons, but friendships and alliances have shifted significantly. Ramona, Jill, LuAnn and Alex enjoy a sun-filled day on a yacht that Ramona has commissioned for the day – until nasty comments and tears break loose. Jill shares that she is angry with Bethenny and that the two haven’t spoken in months.
••”Tom Brokaw Reports: Boomer$!” (8 p.m. on CNBC): In this two-hour documentary, Tom Brokaw chronicles the impact 78 million baby boomers have had on American society over the past six decades and explores the challenges they face as they begin to approach the age of retirement.
••”Too Many Babies?” (7 p.m. on Discovery Health): One year ago, the Jones family thought just one more baby would make life complete. Instead, they got the surprise of their lives — quintuplets. This special focuses on how they’re learning the ropes all over again in a life that includes their four-year-old daughter and five newborn babies.
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
••The 8th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards (9 p.m. on ReelzChannel): Director James Cameron (“Avatar”) will be honored with the VES Lifetime Achievement Award at thyis year’s event that celebrates a monumental year in movie visual effects.
••The 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards (10 p.m. on IFC): Eddie Izzard (“The Riches”) serves as Master of Ceremonies for the event that recognizes the achievements of independent filmmakers.
••”Live From Abbey Road” (7 p.m. on Sundance): Musical artists discussing their work and performing at London’s Abbey Road Studios are Seal, Imelda May and Sugarland.
••”Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): After Allison is mugged, she decides to take charge by enrolling in self-defense classes. Also, Devalos investigates a teenager’s rape and an undercover cop’s possible murder. Laura Prepon (“That ’70s Show”) and Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”) guest star.
••”NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): Series star Rob Morrow (Don) directed this episode in which the team investigates the deaths of two men who were part of a group of friends that had been suxually abused as children by one of their teachers. Moira kelly (“One Tree Hill”) and Alan Ruck (“Spin City”) guest star.
••”Who Do You Think You Are?” (7 p.m. on NBC): In this new series, celebrities embark on personal journeys of self-discovery as each searches for the roots to his family tree, uncovering stories of love, betrayal, intrigue, heroism and tragedy. The premiere episode spotlights the search of Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City”).
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
••”America’s Most Wanted” (8 p.m. on Fox): After nearly 22 years of tracking down the nation’s most notorious criminals, the series will celebrate its milestone 1000th episode with a special broadcast. Hosted by John Walsh, the series has helped capture 1100 criminals, including 17 on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, and reunited 43 missing children with their families, which is Walsh’s proudest achievement.
••”Castle” (9 p.m. on ABC): Castle is wrestling with how to repair his relationship with Beckett while struggling to finish his soon-to-be-published bestseller, “Heat Wave.” Authors Stephen J. Cannell and Michael Connelly guest star as themselves.
••”CNN Presents: Scream Bloody Murder” (7 p.m. on CNN): CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour reports from the killing fields of the world where genocide has raged. She takes viewers back in time to witness again the places now synonymous with horror: Auschwitz, Cambodia, Darfur, Iraq, Rwanda and Bosnia. In recognition that her journalism in 1992 to 1995 brought much-needed attention to the human rights crisis in Bosnia during the war there, Amanpour was named an Honorary Citizen by the City of Sarajevo for her coverage.
••”Destination Design” (12:30 p.m. on HGTV): In this new series, designer Taniya Nayak helps homeowners who love to travel but seem to miss the boat on good design. In each episode, she sends homeowners on all-expense-paid luxury vacations to discover colors, textures, images and moments that will inspire them. Upon their return, Taniya will formulate a design plan based on the homeowners’ photos, experiences and inspirational souvenirs.
••“Discover Oklahoma” (6:30 p.m. on KWTV-9): Activities to enjoy during spring break include a walk on the wild side at the zoo, indoor swimming in Kingfisher and a spin around an Oklahoma City raceway.
••”Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals” (7 p.m. on HBO): This special traces the history of the competition between Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Their rivalry began 30 years ago when they led their midwest universities to the 1979 NCAA Championship game, through a decade of dominance, when the two won three NBA MVP awards apiece and a combined eight NBA titles.
••”Pirate for the Sea” (9 p.m. on Planet Green): This is a biographical film of Captain Paul Watson, the youngest founding member of Greenpeace Canada. He organized early campaigns protesting the killing of seals, whales and dolphins.
••”The Suze Orman Show” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Financial advisor Suze Orman celebrates eight years on CNBC and heads into Season 9 with a new mission to help America become healthier and wealthier.
••”Uncorked” (8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel): When business as usual takes a vacation, Johnny (Julie Benz, “Dexter”) must find something, or someone, else to occupy her time. JoBeth Williams (“In the Land of Women”), Elliott Gould (“Ocean’s Eleven”) and Scott Elrod (“Men in Trees”) also star in this romantic comedy about finding a passion that isn’t a paycheck.
–Penny TV
Top 55 TV Programs for Feb. 14-20, 2010
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 Feb. 14:
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
SUNDAY, FEB. 14
••“The Amazing Race” (7 p.m. on CBS): Oklahomans Jet and Cord McCoy are among the 11 teams competing in the 40,0000-mile race across five continents. Other teams include “Big Brother 11″ houseguests Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder, 2007 Miss South Carolina Teen USA Caite Upton and her boyfriend, Brent, and Cleveland Indian third-base coach Steve Smith and his daughter, Allison.
••“Cold Case” (9 p.m. on CBS): Newly discovered details about the mugger of Valen’s mother, a joint custody request from Miller’s ex and brewing legal hurdles for Rush (Kathryn Morris) vex those team members as they attempt to solve the 1983 murder of a graffiti artist. Guest starring are Michael Badalucco (“The Practice”), Rick Gonzalez (“Reaper”), Keesha Sharp (“Girlfriends”) and Walter Perez (“Fame”).
••“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8 p.m. on ABC): Celebrity volunteer Tyler Perry (“Madea Goes to Jail”) joins the team in Prince George’s County, MD, to help a couple who have put the well-being of neighborhood kids ahead of their own living conditions.
••“High Stakes Poker” (8 p.m. on GSN): Season 6 features the toughest line-up of professional poker players ever, resulting in the type of action that any poker fan would yearn for and learn from. Professional poker player Kara Scott joins Gabe Kaplan to co-host this season.
••“How to Make It in America” (9 p.m. on HBO): This new series follows two enterprising Brooklyn twentysomethings as they hustle their way through New York City trying to make a name for themselves in New York’s competitive fashion scene. Ben Epstein (Bryan Greenberg) and Cam Calderon (Victor Rasuk) use their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition.
••“Masterpiece Classic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): In this adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey,” Felicity Jones stars as in-love-with-love Catherine Morland, who is thrown into high society via her patrons. She falls in love, but monetary and social issues get in the way.
••“Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public” (8 p.m. on MTV): This 30 minute special examines how ‘sexting’ is impacting youth culture and relationships, the stakes involved and how this trend is becoming a new frontier for teen dating abuse.
••“Sextistics: Your Love Life” (8 p.m. on TLC): Ever wondered if there is a smoother path down the rocky road of love? Or how your love life matches up with the rest of the nation? This special reveals the startling answers.
••”The Simpsons” (7 p.m. on Fox): The Simpsons head to the 2010 Vancouver Games where Marge and Homer compete as part of a curling team. Bob Costas (guest-voicing as himself) reports.
••“Starstruck” (7 p.m. on Disney): Sterling Knight (“Sonny With A Chance”) and Danielle Campbell (“Prison Break”) star in this music and adventure-filled movie about a Hollywood pop star who, after meeting a down-to-earth girl visiting from the Midwest, is faced with either following his heart or doing what’s best for his career.
••”Til Death” (6:30 p.m. on Fox): Ally sends Doug to a shrink (Mayim Bialik, “Blossom”) to cure his mysterious illness.
••“Tool Academy 3” (8 p.m. on VH1): A new class of bad boyfriends and girlfriends learn what it takes to fix their relationships in Season 3.
••“Undercover Boss” (8 p.m. on CBS): When Coby Brooks, President and CEO of “Hooters” goes undercover in his own company, he finds himself struggling to keep up in a fast-paced kitchen and is, later, forced to take immediate action when a restaurant manager steps out of line.
••“The Visitors” (7 p.m. on Documentary Channel): This documentary follows the exhausting journey of individuals as they leave their homes every weekend and travel to various prisons in Upstate New York to visit loved ones. Every Friday night about 800 people, mostly women and children, gather at Columbus Circle in Manhattan and board buses. Depending on the destination, the trips can take 8 or 10 hours one way.
MONDAY, FEB. 15, 2010
••“The 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show” (7 p.m. today and Tuesday on USA Network): Tamron Hall (MSNBC Live”) will co-host the event with David Frei, longtime breeder-owner-handler and judge in the world of purebred dogs. Entries this year total 2,500 dogs representing 48 states, the District of Columbia and at least eight foreign countries. The highest breed entered is the Australian Shepherds with 44.
••”Antiques Roadshow” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): Items appraised in Hour One from Madison, Wisc., include an art deco charm bracelet, an heirloom 1938 Martin D-18 guitar and an angry letter from Frank Sinatra to Chicago Daily News columnist Mike Royko.
••“Celebrity Close Calls” (9 p.m. on BIO Channel): Celebrities Jane Seymour (“Modern Men”), Erik Estrada (“ChiPs”), Leif Garrett (“Popstar”) and Coolio (“Three Days to Vegas”) tell their tales where each were forced to face their own mortality in shocking, unexpected twists of fate. They describe the out of body visions they experienced and how they fought “the white light.” Garrett plunged his Porsche off a highway, paralyzing his passenger. Estrada was crushed by his motorcycle on the set of “ChiPs.” Coolio nearly died from an asthma attack. And Seymour was left fighting for her life after a routine injection gone wrong.
••“CSI: Miami” (9 p.m. on CBS): Horatio Caine calls Las Vegas CSI Dr. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne, “CSI”) to come to Miami when a severed leg found in the Everglades is discovered to belong to a girl who went missing in Las Vegas a week earlier.
••“Facing Ali” (8 p.m. on SPIKE): This documentary delves into the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in and out of the ring through the eyes of those who fought him. Among those interviewed are George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton and Leon Spinks.
••“Greek” (9 p.m. on ABC Family): Casey is ready to discuss the future with Cappie, and the situation isn’t helped by handsome Washington politician Joel (Sam Page, “Mad Men”), who encourages Casey to envision a potential career in politics after she volunteers to help him with his voter registration campaign at the Cyprus Rhodes campus. Martha MacIsaac (“Superbad”) and Oleysa Rulin (“High School Musical”) also guest star.
••“How I Met Your Mother” (7 p.m. on CBS): While Barney tries to convince Robin to become an American citizen, Ted and Marshall’s fabled road trip takes a wrong turn when Marshall invites Lily. Guest star Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler”) narrates the audio book played during Marshall and Ted’s road trip.
••”I’m in the Band” (6 p.m. on Disney XD): Arlene (Raini Rodriguez, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”) invites Tripp and his band mates over to her house for a gathering honoring the demise of Hip Hop.
••”One Tree Hill” (7 p.m. on CW): Nathan tries to help Haley and Jamie confront Lydia’s seemingly hopeless situation. Series star Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley) directed the episode
••“The Penguins of Madagascar” (7 p.m. on Nickelodeon): In the show’s first special, “Dr. Blowhole’s Revenge,” Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) guest stars as the penguins’ long-time nemesis out for revenge and to finally conquer the world.
••“Picturing the Presidents” (7 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel): This special that looks at the photos, caricatures and portraits that have captured, satirized and humanized past presidents. From the portrait that enraged LBJ to the bad-hair-day photograph that almost cost Lincoln the election, the pictures that elicit reactions are as divisive as the subjects themselves.
••“The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): The new school counselor, Dr. Bink (Mayim Bialik, “Blossom”), organizes Grant High School’s first mother/daughter dance during which each group learns a great deal about the other and their respective personal lives.
••”Top Gear” (7 p.m. on BBC America): Jeremy gets chased by the British Army in some of their latest and most deadly toys. Olympic gold-medal winning sprinter Usain Bolt is featured in the “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” segment.
••“Yoga Inc.” (7 p.m. on Documentary Channel): This documentary takes an in-depth look into the world of yoga, examining an ancient spiritual practice and its controversial transformation into a competitive, commercialized, multi-million dollar industry.
TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 2010
••”16 and Pregnant” (9 p.m. on MTV): This series, back for Season 2, looks inside the lives of 10 teenagers as they face the challenges that come with being a young parent. For 5-7 months, the series follows these teens as they navigate the unfamiliar territory and uncertainty of being pregnant.
••”The Forgotten” (9 p.m. on ABC): The Forgotten Network sets out to identify a 40-year-old woman found murdered in a local bar. One of the primary suspects is a superstar basketball player (Baron Davis, LA Clippers), who had an altercation with Jane Doe days before.
••”The Good Wife” (9 p.m. on CBS): As Alicia prepares to defend a scientist accused of arson, she is caught off guard when Peter’s attorney asks her to testify on Peter’s behalf sooner than she expected. Peter Riegert (“Damages”) guest stars as the judge in Peter’s appeal.
••”Independent Lens” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment “Mine/Home” explores the vital bond between humans and animals, as demonstrated in the attempts by Hurricane Katrina victims to find their pets.
••”Maneaters” (9 p.m. on Animal Planet): Using real footage mixed with dramatic reconstructions, survivors of tiger and leopard attacks talk through their gut-wrenching encounters while experts explain the reasons why these predators are turning on people.
••”Paranormal Cops” (9:30 p.m. on A&E): In the season finale, a fellow police officer calls Ron and the team in to help uncover the mysteries surrounding his night job as a security guard at a banquet hall, where the investigators find there could be multiple spirits trying to communicate with the living.
••”Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): Celebrity guest Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City”) gets some help from Super Grover while she’s waiting for Big Bird. Debi Mazar (“Entourage”) presents the word on the street, which is “humungous.”
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 2010
••”30 Bizarre Inventions” (7 p.m. on FLN): This special takes a look back at some of the more unique products that have been featured on television over the years.
••”CSI: NY” (9 p.m. on CBS): A big rig accident results in the discovery of an interstate trucking ring that specializes in human cargo and black market organ harvesting, which sets off a race against time to save a hostage. Laurence Fishburne (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) guest stars.
••”American Idol” (8 p.m. on Fox): This season’s Top 24 semifinalists will be revealed.
••”Faces of America” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment “Becoming American” explores the diverse journeys of new arrivals during the “century of immigration.” Stephen Colbert’s (“The Colbert Report”) great-great-grandfather escapes poverty in Ireland, while chef Mario Batali’s great-grandfather struggles in Montana, and the great-grandfather of Queen Noor of Jordan settles in New York.
••”Human Target” (7 p.m. on Fox): Chance, Winston and Guerrero devise an elaborate plan to break into a maximum-security high-rise to rescue a computer genius (Kevin Weisman, “Alias”) being held against his will. Autumn Reeser (“The O.C.”), Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”) and Garcelle Beauvais-Niloon (“Eyes”) guest star.
••”The Inbetweeners” (8:30 p.m. on BBC America): In the Season 1 finale, four hapless heroes at Rudge Park Comprehensive all still trying to work out how to be cool. Season 2 begins Feb. 24.
••”Leverage” (9 p.m. on TNT): Surrounded by FBI, the team decides to hide in plain sight, while continuing to take down the corrupt mayor and his gunrunning partner. Little do they suspect that Nate has a different endgame in mind for them all in the Season 2 finale. Jeri Ryan (“Star Trek: Voyager”) and Richard Kind (“Spin City”) guest star.
••”Modern Family” (7 p.m. on ABC): Mitchell plants the seed in Jay’s head that he thinks one of Jay’s old buddies (Chazz Palminteri, “The Usual Suspects”) might be secretly gay.
••”Ugly Betty” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): Things should be dreamy at a Bahamas resort, where even Shakira (portraying herself) is staying, but Betty has a nightmarish photo shoot after Willie learns her nemesis, Penelope Graybridge (Christie Brinkley, “Vacation”), snagged a coveted job.
••”The View” (10 a.m. on ABC): Victoria Beckham (“Spice World”) makes her first appearance as a celebrity guest co-host. Her first guest appearance on show as a guest was September 2009.
••”The Woman Who Stops Traffic” (7 p.m. on Planet Green): In the series finale, the journey of professional trouble-shooter Kris Murrin concludes. She provides several services to get the residents of Durham walking, cycling and using public transport.
THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 2010
••”CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (9 p.m. on CBS): Catherine, Nick and the rest of the team help Langston investigate a prostitution ring that may have harbored a hostage he has been searching for in Miami and New York while delving into a human trafficking operation.
••”Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): In his new role as Chief, Derek restores the hospital lecture series, and Richard, Bailey and Callie present to the group pivotal surgical cases from their pasts. Sarah Paulson (“Down with Love”) and J. August Richards (“Raising the Bar”) guest star.
••”LA Ink” (9 p.m. on TLC): This docu-series following tattoo artist Kat Von D and her shop, High Voltage, continues to feature new great tattoos with compelling stories behind them. However, it’s not all fun and games as Kat is forced to really manage her business and her employees.
••”Private Practice” (9:01 p.m. on ABC): As Violet continues to help Sam with Maya’s wedding, Naomi refuses to take part as she works with Addison and Pete to save the life of a 25-week-old premature baby. Rosanna Arquette (“Pulp Fiction”), Sara Rue (“Eastwick”) and Bruno Campos (“Nip/Tuck”) guest star.
••”Reporter” (8:30 p.m. on HBO): This documentary follows New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof as he goes in search of individuals whose stories reflect the desperate crisis unfolding in the war-torn Congo.
••”Sesame Street” (9 a.m. on OETA-13): Celebrity guest Paul Rudd (“Role Models”) plays a prince attempting to rescue a pengiun in distress. Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) presents the word on the street, which is “exquisite.”
FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 2010
••”Comedy Central Presents” (10 p.m. on Comedy Central): Comedians Tony Rock and Doug Williams are featured in back-to-back premiere episodes for Season 14 of the stand-up talent showcase.
••”The Life and Times of Tim” (8:30 p.m. on HBO): This animated comedy series, back for Season 2, follows Tim, a twentysomething New Yorker who has a habit of befriending unreliable characters who repeatedly get him into serious trouble.
••”Medium” (8 p.m. on CBS): When Allison develops a strange sensitivity to light, the sunglasses she wears reveal mysterious numbers that could tie into people’s life expectancies. Tom Verica (“American Dreams”) and Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”) guest star.
••”NUMB3RS” (9 p.m. on CBS): When two FBI agents are killed during a shootout with bank robbers, the team must investigate what exactly happened. Jordan Farmer (Los Angeles Lakers) guest stars.
••”Real Time With Bill Maher” (9 p.m. on HBO): Back for Season 8, this show allows host Bill Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues and includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.
••”The Ricky Gervais Show” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new series animates podcasts voiced by Ricky Gervais, his longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant and friend Karl Pilkington, whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines. The podcasts, which first appeared on The Guardian website, earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads.
SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 2010
••”NUMB3RS” (7 p.m. on CBS): Don and the team investigate a series of murders that they realize are being copied from scenes out of a soon-to-be-released movie. Adam Goldberg (“The Unusuals”) guest stars.
••“Precious: The Story Behind the Movie” (7 p.m. on TV Guide Network): This special documents the film’s journey from page to screen and includes never-before-seen film footage, interviews with the director and cast members, and reactions from filmgoers who have seen the movie and been touched by its story.
–Penny TV
TV Premieres, Finales and Marathons airing Feb. 7-13 (2010)
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 Feb. 7 (as well as a few marathons).
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.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
BEGINNINGS
••“Bathtastic,” 8:30 p.m. Sunday on DIY (third-season premiere).
••“Undervcover Boss,” 9 p.m. Sunday on CBS (series premiere).
••“Antiques Roadshow UK,” 3 p.m. Monday on BBC America (32nd-season premiere).
••“Winter Next X,” 4 p.m. Monday on Disney XD (series premiere).
••“Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp,” 8 p.m. Monday on VH1 (seventh-season premiere).
••“NFL Full Contact,” 9 p.m. Monday on truTV (series premiere).
••“Past Life,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on Fox (special preview, series premieres at 8 p.m. Thursday).
••“Faces of America,” 7 p.m. Wednesday on OETA-13 (series premiere).
••“Inside NASCAR,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on Showtime (series premiere).
••“Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,” 7 p.m. Thursday on CBS (20th-season premiere).
••“Famous Crime Scene,” 8 p.m. Friday on VH1 (series premiere).
••“Kick Buttowski — Suburban Daredevil,” 7:30 a.m. Saturday on Disney XD (series premiere).
••“Survivors,” 7 p.m. Saturday on BBC America (series premiere).
ENDINGS
••“America’s Next Top Model Obsessed,” 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday on Oxygen.
••“Heroes,” 8 p.m. Monday on NBC (fourth-season finale).
••“Friday Night Lights,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on DirecTV (fourth-season finale).
••“The Haunted,” 9 p.m. Friday on Animal Planet (first-season finale).
••“Operation Wild,” 9 p.m. Friday on Planet Green (first-season finale).
MARATHONS
••“Jersey Shore,” 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday on MTV.
••“CSI,” noon Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday on SPIKE.
••“Last Restaurant Standing,” 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday on BBC America.
••“The Nanny,” 10 p.m. to midnight Monday through Feb. 14 on Nickelodeon.
Pictured above: PAST LIFE: Psychologist Dr. Kate McGinn (Kelli Giddish, second from L), Price Whatley (Nicholas Bishop, third from L), Dr. Malachi Talmadge (Richard Schiff, L) and Dr. Rishi Karna (Ravi Patel, R) investigate the world of the unexplained as they work together to solve decades-old mysteries in the new drama PAST LIFE premiering Thursday, Feb. 11, on FOX. Photo Credit: Jeremy Cowart/FOX
“Entourage” to premiere on Spike TV Jan. 12
"Entourage" cast - HBO Photo
PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY SPIKE TV:
The Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and Peabody Award-winning series “Entourage” will begin its basic cable run on Spike TV this Tuesday, January 12th with back-to-back episodes starting at 8 p.m.
The series will televise in this time slot through October, and will feature two premiere episodes each week.
Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, “Entourage” draws on the experiences of Hollywood insiders and stars Adrian Grenier as Vince Chase, a hot young actor who is enjoying life in the limelight.
Along for the ride are his fun-loving entourage and best friends from Queens: Eric (Kevin Connolly), half-brother Drama (Kevin Dillon) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara).
In the pilot episode, actor Vince Chase is living the player’s life in L.A as his new movie, “Head On” is set to hit screens across the country.
All the while his entourage spends most of their time relaxing at Vince’s house in the Hollywood hills, shooting hoops, playing rooftop golf and entertaining ladies at the pool.
But in order to keep the lifestyle going, Vince has to keep making movies, and his super agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) thinks he’s found just the project, the action film “Matterhorn.”
TV Premieres and Finales airing Jan. 10-16, 2010
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 Jan. 10.
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.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
BEGINNINGS
••“Ax Men,” 8 p.m. Sunday on History (third-season premiere).
••“Big Love,” 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO (fourth-season premiere).
••“Chuck,” 8 p.m. Sunday on NBC (third-season premiere).
••“Madhouse,” 9 p.m. Sunday on History (series premiere).
••“The Daily Rundown,” 8 a.m. Monday on MSNBC (series premiere).
••“Disappeared,” 9 p.m. Monday on Investigation Discovery (series premiere).
••“Fantasia For Real,” 9 p.m. Monday on VH1 (series premiere).
••“Let’s Talk About Pep,” 9:30 p.m. Monday on VH1 (series premiere).
••“American Idol,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on Fox (ninth-season premiere).
••“Blue Mountain State,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on SPIKE (series premiere).
••“I (Almost) Got Away With It,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Investigation Discovery (series premiere).
••“Little Miss Perfect,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on WEtv (second-season premiere).
••“Southland,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on TNT (series added).
••“High School Reunion,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on TV Land (sixth-season premiere).
••“Leverage,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on TNT (second season resumes).
••“Solving History With Olly Steeds,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on Discovery (series premiere).
••“Tosh.0,” 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Comedy Central (second-season premiere).
••“Carnie Wilson: Unstapled,” 7 p.m. Thursday on GSN (series premiere).
••“Hidden Agenda,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday on GSN (series premiere).
••“The First 48,” 8 p.m. Thursday on A&E (10th-season premiere).
••“Archer,” 9 p.m. Thursday on FX (series premiere).
••“Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force,” 9 p.m. Thursday on A&E (second-season premiere).
••“Project Runway,” 9 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime (seventh-season premiere).
••“Models of the Runway,” 10 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime (second-season premiere).
••“I Shouldn’t Be Alive,” 8 p.m. Friday on Animal Planet (third-season premiere).
••“I’m In the Band,” 8 p.m. Friday on Disney (sneak peek, series premieres Jan. 18 on Disney XD)
••“The Singing Bee,” 8 p.m. Friday on CMT (second-season premiere).
••“Pit Boss,” 9 p.m. Saturday on Animal Planet (series premiere).
ENDINGS
••“Tabatha’s Salon Takeover,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Bravo (second-season finale).
••“The Bureau,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on Investigation Discovery (first-season finale).
••“Sanctuary,” 8 p.m. Friday on Syfy (third-season finale).
Pictured above: SANCTUARY — Pictured: (l-r) Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman, Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus, Ryan Robbins as Henry — Syfy Photo: Pete Tangen
