Monday

• Durham County (ION, 10pm – repeats various) Series Premiere - This Canadian import follows a cop wanting to start over, something says it won’t be drama free.

Tuesday

• 90210/Melrose Place (CW, 8/9pm – repeats Fri/Sun) Season/Series Premiere – Ok, I don’t even watch the new 90210, and I don’t think I stuck out with the originals until the end, but I’m recommending this night for nostalgia’s sake alone even if it doesn’t make it to a season pass.
• Sons of Anarchy (Fx, 10pm) Season Premiere – Ready to dive back in to SAMCRO’s internal and external drama as the bikers face some white supremacists.

Wednesday

• Presidential Address (various, 5pm/pst) – Obama addresses a joint session of Congress, health-care anyone?
• ANTM (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere - I keep trying to stop watching this show but will tune in to this year’s crop of slightly shorter ‘top model’ wannabes let the makeover meltdowns commence.
• So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – More dancers, more dancing.
• Glee (Fox, 9pm – repeats Fri) Season Premiere - Let’s hope this series gets enough viewers to give this fun quirky show, someone aptly compared the tone to Election, enough time to find its legs.
• Inside the NFL (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – I’ll go out on a limb and say this show is football related.
• Nostradamus (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere - For a cheery look at Doomsday prophecies, is the next Hitler still on his way?
• The Day Before (Sund, 10pm) Series Premiere – A four part documentary series that explores behind the scenes of a few fashion folks before a big runway show.
• Destination Truth (Syfy, 10pm) Season Premiere - Some guys investigate some stuff to get some truth.

Thursday

• Sunday Night Football (NBC, 5:30pm/pst) Season Premiere - Titans at Steelers, need I say more.
• The Vampire Diaries (CW, 8pm – repeats Fri/Sun) Series Premiere – If you think this looks a little like Twilight Dawson’s Creek style you were right, creator Kevin Williamson brings us the latest vampire book adaptation, it might not be good but worth a look.
• Destroyed in Seconds (Disc, 8pm) Season Premiere – Hurricanes, explosions…
• Supernatural (CW, 9pm) Season Premiere – The boys are back, well I assume they are, I didn’t make it past the first couple of episodes.
• Behind the Music (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – First look, Lil Wayne in this relaunch series.

Friday

• US Open (CBS, Fri/Sat/Sun, 9:30/9am/5pm/1pm/pst) – Following more ESPN2 coverage, the players hit the network, will it be Federer and Serena in the end?
• Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Jamie Oliver, Ricky Gervais, and a cricketer.
• Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Wedding dresses, wedding dress wearers, wedding dress sales people.
• 20/20 (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Barbara Walters gets a Jackson to talk about Michael, La Toya it is.

Saturday

• Cops/America’s Most Wanted (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Criminals new and old.
• The Locator/Adoption Diaries (WE, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – Give family up for adoption and find lost family…
• Robin Hood (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere - A return to Sherwood Forrest.
• Heart of the City (BET, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – A documentary series focusing on issues facing black communities.

Sunday

• Football Night in America (NBC, 4pm/pst) Season Premiere – Highlights and previews.
• VMA Awards (MTV, 8/9/11:15pm) – It’s a night of VMAs with the opening act followed by Russell Brand hosting the awards themselves, filled with performances of course, followed by a post show.

Additional airings noted for pilot episodes (various other shows repeat) but schedules do update so please check your local listings.

I also wasn’t in love with the new method of having five previous winners of the acting categories speak to each of the nominees. It was lovely to see some of the previous winners but there was an odd quality to having the prompter reading of admiration, which in some cases came off to me as stilted and a little bit of a drag. Back to clips I say. There was a relatively cute Pineapple Express take on some of the nominated and non-nominated films of the year, which was worth it just to see James Franco’s alter egos cross paths. And although I think Queen Latifah’s song set to the memorial presentation was nice the camera panning back and forth caused it to be difficult to read the names and roles of some of the honorees.

But back to the really important part of the evening, the clothes… Again no one blew me away, but I found some of the simple+ looks most lovely, Keira Knightly, Marion Cotillard, and Taraji P. Henson were of note. I couldn’t totally get behind Miley Cyrus but I’ll give the choice a pass, and no one but Beyonce could look great in that dress. And Sara Jessica Parker’s cup that runeth over and Virginia Madsen’s muffin top on top, reminded me that its all in the details. Amy Adams necklace was fantastic but I would have loved to see it with an even more simple dress.

As for the dudes, Mickey Rourke who always rocks a slightly random look pulled it off sans scarf this year. And I’ll give Adrein Brody the benefit of the doubt that the hair facial and otherwise was for a roll, but Philip Seymore Hoffman in the beanie cap was inexcusable.

And on an unrelated note, cutting to Brangelina during Jennifer Aniston’s presentation, twice, really wasn’t needed. Oh and I won my Oscar Pool, perhaps I will have to buy more television related equipment with my winnings!

(Click on any of the photos to see larger)

Monday

• Tour of California (Vs) – Check the week for stages 3-9, usually showing about three times a day, and get a look at some of the top cycling teams.
• Little People, Big World (TLC, 8pm) Season Premiere – They’re heading to Iraq with a surgeon to help some kids.

Tuesday

• American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – Time to get the speed dial ready, and remember it’s a singing competition, let’s get this down to a good top 12.
• Dogg After Dark (MTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – Snoop Dogg gets a variety show.
• Real Housewives of NYC (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – New housewife, old tension.

Wednesday

• Little Miss Perfect (WEtv, 10pm) Series Premiere – Junior beauty pageants and their parents compete.
• High School Reunion (TVL, 10pm) Season Premiere – After my high school was in consideration for a season of this I have almost been tempted to tune in, almost.

Thursday

• Being Erica (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – Can you relive old moments in your life, this new series shows a gal do just that?

Friday

• Mistresses (BBCA, 8pm) Series Debut – Four ladies have some drama on this new drama.
• Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere -Bill has a real time.
• Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 12:35am) – Say goodbye to Late Night with Conan O’Brien and hello to The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, but not until June 1.

Saturday

• Taking Chance (HBO, 8pm) – Do people still do the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, check out this flick if you want fodder.
• 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards (IFC, 9pm) – These awards go indie style.
• Aisha Tyler Is Lit: Live at the Fillmore (Com, 11pm) – I worked with Aisha forever ago at a regular office job and don’t know whether her success inspires or depresses me.

Sunday

• Barbara Walters Special (ABC, 8:30pm) – Anne Hathaway, Mickey Rourke, Hugh Jackman, and the Jonas Brothers.
• The 100 Most Outrageous Moments 2 (NBC, 9pm) – Outrageous home videos, that must be much better than the funniest home videos.
• The 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC, 3:30/5/5:30pm) – Silly preshow interviews, awkward host moments with Jackman, boring speeches, and noteworthy fashions, oh and a chance to win my Oscar pool.

* Please note all times are PST.

Well it’s that time of year. The time to see how many of the Academy Award nominated films you’ve seen. I just have The Reader to go on best pic, I expected The Dark Knight or Doubt to take that slot. I guess I can make time for one more movie…

BEST PICTURE
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

BEST ACTOR
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”
Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Marttin McDonagh, “In Bruges”
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, “WALL-E”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Hare, “The Reader”
Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”
John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt”
Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Check out the official Oscar site for a full list of nominations.