new and noteworthy tv: 12/28-1/3

New series, new season, or just a little something of note, here’s what you might (or might not) want to know about in the week to come. Not a lot of note but procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Motor City Motors (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Detroit kicks off the latest reality series by trying to turn a Model T into a hot rod.

Tuesday

  • Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC, 8pm) – A little claymation as you hear a little narration from Red Skelton.
  • Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm) – Springsteen honored among others and Barack says, “I’m the president, but he’s the Boss.”

Wednesday

  • Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Charlie and everyone else could use a good year.
  • The Real World (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Eight strangers start getting real, or whatever they do on this show, in DC.

Thursday

  • Twilight Zone (Syfy, 8:30am) – This marathon will take you through ’til 6am January 2nd.
  • Live From Lincoln Center (PBS, 8pm) – The New York Philharmonic provides an alternate to the rockers in this new year’s eve special.
  • Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC, 10pm) – The boys will be in Times Square while Fergie hosts from Vegas.
  • New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly (NBC, 10pm) – Also in Times Square, I wonder if he can see Ryan and Dick?
  • Billboard’s New Year’s Eve Live (Fox, 11pm) – And I wonder if hostess Carmen Electra will hang out with Fergie in Vegas?

Friday

  • Better Off Ted/Scrubs (ABC, 8:30/9pm) – Following the Rose Bowl we get a special night of these comedies.
  • Now on PBS (PBS, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – The season starts with a look at the road to recovery for bankers and businesses.
  • The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie (HGTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Australian Jamie travels the world in search of inspiration for ‘lackluster’ backyard designs.
  • Friday Night Alright (VH1, 11pm) Series Premiere – Starts with Pink performing in Australia.

Saturday

  • How Do I Look/What I Hate About Me (Style, 8pm) Season/Series Premiere – From style issues to looks at women’s top ten issues with  ‘expert’ advice.
  • Underdog to Wonderdog/It’s Me or the Dog (AnPl, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Starting the season with one problem dog and then handling a household’s nine dogs.
  • Demons (BBCA, 10pm) Series Premiere – More vampires…

Sunday

  • Frank the Entertainer… (VH1, 8pm) Series Premiere – The cheap version of the Bachelor where ladies move into Frank’s parent’s basement.
  • Durham County (Ion, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – The detective deals with another season of mystery as he tries to hold his family together.
  • Guiliana & Bill (Style, 9pm) Season Premiere – Is Guiliana having a baby, does anyone care?
  • Platinum Weddings (WE, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Like weddings aren’t expensive enough, here’s a look at really expensive ones.
  • Secrets of Aspen (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another ‘reality’ look at ladies, this time singles in a ski-resort town.
  • Worst Cooks in America (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Culinary boot camp competition, sign me up, too bad I already cut my finger on a knife, darn, will have to sit this one out.
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next week 11/30

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Green things.
  • Intervention/Hoarders (A&E, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – The latest of the real folks with real issues.
  • Pawn Stars (Hist, 10pm) Season Premiere – What will folks pawn this season?

Tuesday

  • Presidential Address (Various, 8pm) – Getting out of Afghanistan?
  • Charlie Brown Christmas/Disney Prep & Landing (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – More holiday fun.
  • Best Thing I Ever Ate (Food, 9pm) Season Premiere – Let’s start with the best holiday dishes.
  • Scrubs (ABC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Though last season felt like the series finale they’re coming back for more, though this season they’re switching to med school and focusing on a new crew, rumor has it there’s still some funny.
  • Britain’s Missing Top Model (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – I’m not sure this title is conveying what they want but it’s women with disabilities competing.
  • I’m Pregnant and… (Health, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – They start with a couple of pregnant ‘recovering’ heroin addicts.
  • Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS, 10pm) – The Black Eyed Peas, Heidi Klum, and lingerie.
  • The Bad Girl’s Club (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Living together and…?

Wednesday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS, 8pm) – Will Rudolph save the day?
  • Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, 8pm) – Jane Krakowski and Zachary Levi host.
  • The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! (CBS, 9pm) – LL Cool J hosts more Black Eyed Peas and others.
  • Dog the Bounty Hunter/Steven Seagal Lawman (A&E, 9/10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premiere – First bounty then the martial artist takes us along on his job as Louisiana deputy sheriff.
  • Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (Tru, 10pm) Series Premiere – I want Jesse to be the one to disprove mind control.
  • Launch My Line (Bravo, 11pm) Series Premiere – This might be kind of like Project Runway.

Thursday

  • Ace of Cakes (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – More cakes!
  • BBQ Pit Masters (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Teams compete for $40k in the Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship in Nevada.
  • Jersey Shore (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – More ‘real’ folks in a house.

Friday

  • Dreams Come True (ABC, 8pm) – A celebration of Disney animation.
  • Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (NBC, 8pm) – The muppets better take care of those letters to Santa.
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 9pm) – You’d think Grandma would learn.
  • Monk (USA, 9pm) Series Finale – Something tells me he’ll wrap up his wife’s death.

Saturday

  • 1000 Ways to Die/Manswers (Spike, midnight/12:30am sun) – More important dude fun.

Sunday

  • I Survived… (Bio, 9pm) Season Premiere – I’m glad they survived but I really don’t want to hear the gruesome.
  • Alice (Syfy, 9pm & Mon 9pm) Miniseries – Gotta look forward to any revisionist of Alice in Wonderland.
  • Shatner’s Raw Nerve (Bio, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – First Rush Limbaugh then Regis Philbin.
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next week 5/4

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Medium (NBC, 9/10pm) – A double dose of the Allison as she tries to move her psychic skills into the corporate world.
  • New York Goes to Work/Gotti’s Way (VH1, 10/10:30pm) Series/Season Premiere – More reality fare.

Tuesday

  • Better Off Ted (ABC, 8:30) Season Finale – Special night (following a special night for Scrubs) as they try to improve company morale.
  • Ice People (Sund, 10pm) – Shot over four months in Antarctica the team looks for signs of ancient life.

Wednesday

  • Scrubs (ABC, 8pm) Season Finale – Does this series have another life or is JD’s final episode the series finale as well?

Thursday

  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) – In the 100th episode we near Mer and Der’s wedding, who wants to guess what will go wrong.
  • The Fashion Show (Brav, 10pm) Series Premiere – What does Heidi say, one minute you’re in and the next you’re out, for those waiting patiently for that other design show, this might be worth a look.
  • Michael J Fox (ABC, 10pm) – In this special titled Adventures of an Incurable Optimist he visits optimists around the world and they also share a little science about the positive outlook.

Friday

  • Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – Will Chris have to repeat the 10th grade, is this show still on?
  • Dollhouse (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – What is Alpha up to with Echo and what will Ballard do about it?

Saturday

  • NBA Countdown (ABC, 5pm/pst) – Leading into the playoffs followed by game 3 of the semis at 5:15.

Sunday

  • The Apprentice (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – This finale is three hours long, yes three hours long, how much screen time does that equal for the Donald?
  • The Amazing Race/Cold Case/The Unit (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finales – Races, and cases, and nuclear bombs, oh my.
  • Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Something tells me the Walkers are still getting themselves into trouble.
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next week 1/5

New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • The Bachelor (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – For those of you who missed the really nice guy with the kid from the Bachelorette… he gets to pick now.
  • The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Fam, 8pm) Season Premiere – I really tried to like this cheesy show but I just couldn’t groove with the bad characters and clunky dialogue.
  • Masters of Illusion (MNT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Illusions will happen.
  • Diettribe (Life, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ladies put it on together, and the ladies will take it off together.
  • True Beauty (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere -Vanessa Minnillo hosts this latest elimination series where it looks like shallow pretty folks are judged on inner beauty.
  • Daddy’s Girls (MTV, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – This is apparently a spin off of Run’s House, and I don’t know what that is either.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – And the losing continues, this round is couples.
  • Homeland Security USA (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – I think this is kind of like an infomercial for homeland security.
  • Scrubs (ABC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – A new network and Courtney Cox takes over where Kelso left off, at least for now.
  • Vice Squad (MNT, 9/9:30pm) Series Premiere – Like Cops but for Vice.
  • Nip/Tuck (FX, 11pm) Season Premiere – And the guys keep doing what they do.
  • Primetime: What Would You Do? (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think they cruelly make people witness awkward or illegal situations to see what they would do.
  • Wreckreation Nation (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Lawnmower racing and alligator wrestling are just a sample of things to come.
  • 10 Items or Less (TBS, 11pm) Season Premiere – Scripted and improved grocery store humor.

Wednesday

  • 13: Fear is Real (CW, 8pm) Series Premiere – Folks have now volunteered to be scared in this elimination show.
  • People’s Choice Awards (CBS, 9pm) – The people have chosen.
  • Barbara Walters Special (ABC, 10pm) – Patrick Swayze has a new cable series coming out and talks about that and his cancer.
  • Damages (FX, 10pm) Season Premiere – Folks dig this Glen Close legal thriller but I never got on board.
  • The Real World (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – It’s the 21st season and they’re heading to Brooklyn.
  • Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (TBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – He started with House of Payne but here’s the latest.

Thursday

  • Dragon’s Den (BBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Folks pitch ideas to multimillionaires.
  • Critic’s Choice Awards (VH1, 8:30/9pm) – Red carpet followed by the awards themselves as the critics pick.
  • Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – Couples get help from Greg on their relationships.
  • Snapped (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think they look at photos of crimes.

Friday

  • Howie Do It (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – I didn’t get Mandel’s Deal or No Deal and I don’t get these pull a prank on people shows.
  • Flashpoint (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – This Strategic Response Unit ‘cop show’ is a decent procedural that’s back for another round.
  • Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 9pm) Series Finale – The ladies wrap thier run with a little more drama and lipstick.
  • Monk/Psych (USA, 9/10pm) Season Premiere(s) – The oddball crimefighters are back.
  • Stargate Atlantis (Scifi, 9pm) Series Finale – Will they stop the threat to earth, is there a threat to earth?

Saturday

  • Winter Dew Tour (NBC/USA, Sat/Sun, 2/12am, 1:30/1pm) – The winter action sports series is kickin’ it in Mount Snow Vt.
  • My Big Redneck Wedding (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Tom Arnold lends a sarcastic line or two to these trashy weddings.
  • CMT Cribs (CMT, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – MTV cribs is doing it country-style.

Sunday

  • Golden Globe Awards (NBC, 7/8pm) – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association hands out tv and movie honors.
  • 24 (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Jack’s back in some sort of fix, for hours.
  • Toolacademy (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ladies send their boyfriends to get some coaching to be less of a tool.
  • Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, 11pm) – Top ten things you need to know… I am still only up to season 2.
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midseason

dollhouse.jpg Midseason dates tend to shift around, so check your local listings, and I’ll note these on ‘next week’s as they arrive.

  • Game Show in My Head (CBS, 1/3) – A hidden camera game show.
  • Superstars of Dance (NBC, 1/4) – The folks who do So You Think You Can Dance bring in the experts.
  • Momma’s Boys (NBC, 1/5) – The moms get into the act on this latest dating series.
  • 13 – Fear is Real (CW,1/7) – Folks face their fears to survive this reality gameshow. 
  • Howie Do It (NBC, 1/9) – Mandell does something with folks.
  • Lie to Me (Fox, 1/21) – Tim Roth is some sort of perceptive crime fighter.
  • XIII (NBC, 2/8) – This miniseries stars Val Kilmer in an ‘adrenaline charged’ conspiracy.
  • Dollhouse (Fox, 2/13) – The latest from Whedon where folks are programmed with new identities each week.
  • Castle (ABC, 3/9) – Who can pass up Nathan Fillion, he’s a mystery writer helping out a cop in the latest buddy crime of the week.
  • Kings (NBC, 3/19) – The two hour premiere kicks things off before it moves to its normal night, this is supposedly a modern day telling of David and Goliath
  • Cupid (ABC, 3/24) – Can they do justice to this remake of the Piven/Marshall show, it’s all about the chemistry, oh and the writing.
  • The Unusuals (ABC, 4/8) – Amber Tamblyn joins as fresh detective with an ‘unusual’ group of homicide detectives.
  • Harper’s Island (CBS, 4/9) – Can a new cast member be killed off each week and the show survive?

Returning: The Bachelor (ABC, 1/5), Scrubs (ABC, 1/6), Biggest Loser Couples (NBC, 1/6), Flashpoint (CBS, 1/9), American Idol (Fox, 1/13), Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 1/15),  Friday Night Lights (NBC, 1/16), Lost (ABC, 1/21), Medium (NBC, 2/2), Survivor (CBS, 2/12), The Amazing Race (CBS, 2/15), Celebrity Apprentice (NBC, 3/1), Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 3/9), Reaper (CW, 3/17).

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my schedule

Well another year of television and almost everything has started. Until they cancel more stuff, move stuff around, or we get to midseason changes here is where things seem to be settling in for me.  I wouldn’t recommend it all but it’s what I watch, or at least what I tend to tivo (I am still trying to narrow this down to no more than two shows per timeslot).

Monday chuck.jpg

  • 8pm: NBC – Chuck (CBS – The Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother) (CW – Gossip Girl)
  • 9pm: NBC – Heroes (CBS – 2 1/2 Men/ABC – Samantha Who?)

Tuesday

  • 8pm: Fox – House
  • 9pm: CBS – The Mentalist (CW – Privileged)
  • 10pm: NBC – Eli Stone (NBC – L&O: SVU)

Wednesday bones_main.jpg

  • 8pm: Fox – Bones (ABC – Pushing Daisies) (CBS – The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried)
  • 9pm: NBC – Life
  • 10pm: ABC – Dirty Sexy Money (NBC – L&O)

Thursday

  • 8pm: NBC – My Name is Earl
  • 9pm: NBC – The Office/30 Rock (ABC – Grey’s Anatomy)
  • 10pm: ABC – Life on Mars

Friday life.jpg

  • 9pm: CBS – The Ex List (CW – ANTM encore)
  • 10pm: CBS – Numb3rs

Saturday

  • Nothing

Sunday

  • 9pm: CW – Easy Money

But wait there’s more… known midseason and cable picks: Breaking Bad (AMC), Burn Notice (USA), Celebrity Rehab (VH1), The Closer (TNT), Dexter (Show), Eureka (SciFi), Flight of the Conchords (HBO), Greek (Fam), Lost (ABC), Project Runway (Bravo), Reaper (CW), Saving Grace (TNT), Scrubs (ABC), Sons of Anarchy (FX).

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more fall fun

So some folks were asking about shows that they know I watch but weren’t listed in Fall Favorites… By now folks know I watch and enjoy more shows than a person probably should. In addition to previously noted favorites Bones, Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Heroes, The Office, Pushing Daisies, and 30 Rock, there are a few other returning shows that typically hit my tivo:

  • America’s Next Top Model (CW, Wed 9/3 ) – Yes Tyra is annoying but it’s not really about her, it’s about the annoying wannabe models and this year they promise a transgender contestant.
  • Big Bang Theory (CBS, Mon 9/22) – I don’t love this show but Sheldon makes me laugh enough, and Darlene is joining her Roseanne boyfriend as a regular this season.
  • Brothers & Sisters (ABC, Sun, 9/28) – I almost don’t even like this show but I can’t help but tune in to see what mess the Walker family is getting into and this season we should see the real illegitimate half sibling.
  • Criminal Minds (CBS, Wed 9/24) – I usually actually only catch this special FBi unit cathing the brutal serial killer of the week show in repeats.
  • Eli Stone (ABC, Tues 10/14) – This quirky guy with visions that may be leading him along won me over, but did we really leave him in a coma after an operation?
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, Thurs 9/25) – Yes Grey herself is totally annoying but maybe as she theoretically sticks with McDreamy this season we can focus on the rest of the good supporting cast.
  • House (Fox, Tues 9/16) – Last year’s shakeup to cranky House’s team gave him some new fodder, though they didn’t find a good balance yet of old and new, and what of best bro after his girlie’s death?
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Mon 9/22) – This show still has a lot of hilarity, though I don’t care how he met the mother, or whether it is or isn’t Sarah Chalke.
  • Law & Order (NBC, midseason) – I dropped this for a few years but found myself tuning back in this last season as the current ensemble seems to be working.
  • Law & Order: SVU (NBC, Tues 9/23) – I know this show is all about Stabler and Benson but I don’t love them, though I keep tuning in, this is the one with the sex crime slant.
  • Life (NBC, Mon 9/29) – This detective back on the force after being falsely accused amused and interested with his oddball antics though not so much on the conspiracy of his conviction.
  • Lost (ABC, midseason) – Well I loved the start of last season but at the end of the day was a little underwhelmed by the Oceanic 6 getting off and having to go back, this season starts a new chapter, I’m very curious and definitely still in.
  • My Name is Earl (NBC, Thurs 9/25) – I am still amused enough by Earl and his trashy family getting his karma back in line, though bored by the coma version of Earl and the normally likable Alyssa Milano.
  • The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, Wed 9/24) – I still think this is a great role for Dreyfus to do broad funny as an crazy and awkward single mom with her misfit family.
  • Numbers (CBS, Fri 10/3) – This isn’t a great procedural but the interplay between FBI and math genius brothers solving cases works, though math brother just lost his credentials, whatever will they do.
  • Reaper (CW, midseason) – This show started strong last season and almost lost me with its capture of the week but the devil’s bounty hunter and friends found a new rhythm by introducing some additional intrigue, and the devil is fantastic.
  • Samantha Who? (ABC, Mon 10/6) – Applegate is winning as her post amnesia persona tries to marry her old bad ways with her new clean slate.
  • Scrubs (ABC, midseason) – I was surprised by the network move though I think this show has a great cast and good balance of silly fun, though we’ll see how well they transition to the predicted new young cast additions.
  • Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, Mon 9/8) – This show grew on me as the cast and intrigue were better developed while Sarah and her son John try to change the future by jumping years with the help of hot chick terminator Summer Glau.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS, Mon 9/22) – This show’s lost its edge a bit for me as the brothers work their odd couple dynamic with lazy kid getting less cute as he grows up, but there are still some good laughs.

And before you ask, current cable faves include: Battlestar Galactica (behind but catching on dvd), Breaking Bad, Burn Notice, The Closer, Dexter (dvd), Eureka, Flight of the Conchords, Greek, Project Runway, The Riches (yet to be renewed), and Saving Grace.

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fall is in the air

Well we’ve had a week to wrap up the up fronts where networks tout their fall and onward tv seasons for advertisers, so let’s take a look at what looks like it will look like:

ABC

New:

  • Life on Mars – David E Kelley’s version of BBC series where cop transports back to 1970s
  • Opportunity Knocks – Game show where they knock on your door, or something

Returning: 20/20, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal (final season), Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap
Midseason returns: According to Jim, The Bachelor, Lost, Scrubs (New from NBC)
Noteworthy not returning: Men in Trees, Miss Guided, October Road, Women’s Murder Club

CBS

New:

  • Eleventh Hour – Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest, adapting from the british 4 part sci fi series dealing with mysterious cases
  • The Ex List – This one is based on an Israeli show where a psychic tells a woman she has already met her true love and so she revisits the exes
  • The Mentalist – Simon Baker uses his powers of observation to solve crimes
  • Project Gary – Comedy starring Jay Mohr as a recent divorce, and contractor which might explain the ‘project’ part
  • Worst Week – This comedy of newly engaged couple is another BBC show made over american style

Returning: 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, New Adventures of Old Christine, Numb3rs, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, The Unit, Without a Trace
Midseason returns: Rules of Engagement
Noteworthy not returning: Moonlight, Shark

CW

New:

  • 90210 – The next generation, as a new brother and sister move and start at West Beverly High, including pop bys by Jennie Garth as Guidance Counselor
  • Surviving the Filthy Rich – With Reba’s JoAnna Garcia as nanny to rich kids, based on a book series
  • Stylista – New reality from Tyra Banks where folks compete to work at Elle

Noteworthy note: Contracting out Sunday nights to production finance company Media Rights Capital who will be responsible for two dramas and two comedies and selling the ad time.

  • FAT City, IM Valentine, Book of Murphy, Surviving Suburbia

Returning: ANTM, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural
Midseason return: Reaper
Noteworthy not returning: Aliens in America, Girlfriends, New Amsterdam

Fox

New:

  • Fringe – JJ Abrams latest starring Joshua Jackson teaming up to investigate unexplained phenomena, I wanna say like the x-files
  • Do Not Disturb – Comedy starring Jerry O’Connell working at one of NY’s uber hip hotels

Returning: American Dad, America’s Most Wanted, Bones, Cops, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Family Guy, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, Moment of Truth, Prison Break, Simpsons, Smarter than a 5th Grader, Terminator, Til Death
Midseason return: 24, American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen.
Noteworthy not returning: Back to You

NBC

New:

  • Crusoe – As in Robinson…
  • Kath & Kim – Molly Shannon and Selma Blair in remake of Australian sitcom about mother and daughter living together again
  • Knight Rider – If you caught the ‘hit’ tv movie you’re familiar with this remake
  • My Own Worst Enemy – Christian Slater as a gov agent/normal guy whose two lives start to blur
  • Thursday Night Live – Special SNL shows leading up to the elections

Returning: The Biggest Loser, Chuck, Dateline, Deal or No Deal, Heroes, E.R. (final season), L&O:SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock
Midseason returning: Friday Night Lights, L&O, Medium
Noteworthy not returning: Bionic Woman, Journeyman, Las Vegas

Additional Notes:

Tons of new shows scheduled for after fall, but we’ll chime in later once those become more solid, other than the fact that I should note there’s an Office spinoff scheduled as well as the new Joss Whedon show Dollhouse with Eliza Dushku, scheduled for midseason. I miss the Grr Arg.

And if you want to see the current stab at the schedule you can check it out at TV Guide.

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next week 5/5

New and notable for the week to come:

Monday

  • Two and a Half Men (CBS, 9pm) – Thursday’s CSI writer’s swap with these guys whilst George Eads makes a pop by to see the men this evening.

Tuesday

  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 8/9pm) – It’s the 100th episode at 9 after we see the judges all-time top 10 at 8.

Wednesday

  • Audition: Barbara Walter’s Journey (ABC, 10pm) – She’s got an autobiography out where she talks about sleeping with some senator forever ago, if that’s the most interesting who knows what else she’ll talk about.

Thursday

  • Scrubs (NBC, 8:30) Season Finale – Hard to tell the difference between fantasy and the regular show, but this one takes it down the fairy-tale road.

Friday

  • TV’s All-Time Funniest (ABC, 8pm) – I don’t know that recounting what’s funny is all that funny, but for nostalgia’s sake…

Saturday

  • I can’t talk about movies of the week again, so perhaps go to an actual theater.

Sunday

  • Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – I don’t watch this show anymore but I think they still have a good balance of playing the game and keeping it interesting, the two-hour finale is followed by the reunion show.
  • Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – This family drives me crazy but I’m still watching them get into mischief and in each other’s way.
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next week 4/28

Monday

  • House (Fox, 9pm) – Back after the strike hiatus and our favorite curmudgeon is back diagnosing and annoying those around him.

Tuesday

  • Shark (CBS, 9pm) – Back from strike I sometimes catch this abrasive celebrity attorney as he continues trying to convict and keep his personal life together.
  • The Riches (Fx, 10pm) – Last ep due to the strike, I dig this show but so far have this season all backlogged on tivo.
  • Women’s Murder Club (ABC, 10pm) – Returning from strike is this light yet enjoyable procedural show with each of the gals bringing cop, coroner, da and journalist pov.

Wednesday

  • Secrets of the Dead (PBS, 8pm) – Documentary that shows the story of two men who escaped Auschwitz to try to warn the world.
  • The Farmer Wants a Wife (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – This is what it sounds like, a version of The Bachelor on a farm, personally I pass.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) – This show gets a new time slot though I’m not sure what the old time slot was as I could never quite get into this crazy legal show.

Thursday

  • My Name is Earl/Scrubs/The Office/30 Rock (NBC, 8-10pm) – The second week of the new order of the lineup.

Friday

  • Man vs. Wild (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Bear Grylls returns to the wild to show how he can keep getting out.

Saturday

  • Nascar (Fox, 7pm) – They go round and round I think.
  • The Shell Seekers/A Teacher’s Crime (Hallmark/Lifetime, 9pm) – How could a person decide which movie of the week to watch?

Sunday

  • Cold Case (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – This procedural, that I usually miss, solves old cases as it wraps up another season.
  • Family Guy (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – This family gets a pet or something, and Amanda Bynes guests.
  • This American Life (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – This NPR show starts its second series of televised stories.
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