tv

next week 12/8

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

Monday

  • Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – The gang puts on a holiday pageant.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 9pm) Series Finale – I never got into this Practice spinoff but it’s had a good run.

Tuesday

  • Olive the Other Reindeer/Santa’s Funniest Moments (MNT, 9/10pm) – Reindeer games and outtakes.
  • Manhunters (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Follow the US Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force hunt down the ‘worst of the worst’.
  • A Shot at Love (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Tila Tequila has been replaced by bisexual twins being courted by both men and women.

Wednesday

  • Little Spirit: Christmas in NY (NBC, 8pm) – This animated holiday special tells a tale of magical spirits in NY.

Thursday

  • Sarah Silverman Program (Com, 10:30pm) Season Finale – What will Sarah get up to now?

Friday

  • Greatest Holiday Moments (NBC, 8pm) – Songs of the season countdown.
  • Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm) – More Frosty! and a reindeer.
  • The Family Entertainment Awards (CW, 9pm) – Formerly known as the Family Television Awards, it now touches on family friendly entertainment in tv, movies, and video games.

Saturday

  • MADtv’s Best of Christmas Sketches (Fox, 11pm) – If you like a holiday sketch here you go.

Sunday

  • Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – The reunion special kicks in at 10.
  • Dexter/Califronication (Show, 9/10pm) Season Finales – And another season down, does this mean I need to wait a whole year for another Dexter?
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tv

next week 12/1

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

Monday

  • Shrek the Halls/How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – It’s after thanksgiving so I’m ready to embrace the new season, ho ho ho! 
  • Privileged (CW, 9pm) – This Monday night slot with reruns in the usual Tuesday at 9 gives folks more opportunity to dig this simple but delightful premise of girl trying to do right by spoiled kids, business mogul grandmother, her own imperfect family, and some hot dudes.
  • Samantha Who? (ABC, 9/9:30pm) – Dancing with the Stars is done and Samantha rocks a whole hour this week, who wants to bet her good intentions turn humorous?

Tuesday

  • Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town  (ABC, 8pm) – Yes he is.
  • 2008 World Music Awards (MNT, 9pm) – I don’t know, yet another music awards show where Beyonce performs.
  • According to Jim (ABC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Really this show is still on?
  • Paris Hilton’s My New BFF (MTV, 9/10pm) – The finale and the reunion special, I wonder if Nichole Ritchie paid her to find someone else?
  • Bad Girls Club (Oxy, 11pm) Season Premiere – More ‘bad girls’ move in to make a ruckus.
  • Shatner’s Raw Nerve (Bio, 11/11:30pm) Series Premiere – William Shatner kicks off the first two eps of his interview show with Valerie Bertinelli and Tim Allen.

Wednesday

  • Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, 8pm) – Al Roker and Jane Krakowski host the annual tree lighting with lots of celebrity guests.
  • Secret Millionaire (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – It sounds like rich folks work alongside less rich folks before giving them some cash in this latest reality offering.
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Grammy Nominations Concert/Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS, 8/910pm) – A little something for everyone.
  • The Contender (Vs, 10pm) Season Premiere – Another round of contenders.
  • Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – A couple of reruns lead up to the season premiere.

Thursday

  • Barbara Walters (ABC, 10pm) – This year’s ten most fascinating people.

Friday

  • Greatest Holiday Moments (NBC, 8pm) – I think there should be some claymation on the list.
  • Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 9pm) – Is this new timeslot where this show has been sent to die?

Saturday

  • Crusoe (NBC, 8pm) – Crusoe and Friday are still on the island but now they’re there on Saturday.

Sunday

  • The Amazing Race (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The remaining teams head to Portland and a couple folks get the dough.
  • House of Saddam (HBO, 9/10pm) – The first parts of a four part miniseries.
  • Leverage (TNT, 10pm) Series Premiere -Timothy Hutton heads a crew of thieves who steal from the rich, I love a good heist show, I have no idea if this is a good heist show.
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tv

next week 11/17

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Is it possible that there is nothing new or noteworthy on this week? Aside from Wednesday’s America’s Next Top Model season finale and the American Music Awards on Sunday I don’t have much to report. I do vote for Analeigh to be the winner. On Top Model, not the AMAs.

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tv

next week 11/10

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New and notable in the week ahead… the procrastinator is probably going to stick to the regular shows this week.

Monday

  • Trivial Pursuit (Synd) Series Premiere – America has another opportunity to answer questions for cash.

Tuesday

  • Brothers to Brutha (BET, 8pm) – This special previews the reality show following five brothers in the R&B group Brutha.
  • The Universe (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – To start, deep space disasters are examined looking at the dangers of space travel launch and reentry.
  • Chase (Scifi, 10pm) Series Premiere – This reality competition will have competitors evading chase or something.
  • Extreme Loggers/Extreme Trains (Disc/Hist, 10pm) Series Premieres – How extreme can you get?
  • Deliver Me (Disc Health, 10pm) Season Premiere – Follow real women having babies.
  • Blush (Life, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – The search for the nest great makeup artist…

Wednesday

  • CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host this year’s country awards.
  • Top Chef (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere -The latest crop of cookers head to NY to start with cooking ethnic foods.
  • Estate of Panic (SciFi, 10pm) Series Premiere – Contestants go for cash by trying to make it through or out of a mansion filled with obstacles.

Thursday

  • Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, 8/9pm) – A special back to back showing of Chef Ramsay’s attack on kitchens.

Friday

  • The Price is Right Salutes the Troops (CBS, 9pm) – What better way to salute the troops.

Saturday

  • Ricy Gervais (HBO, 9pm) – Extras and The Office star performs his Out of England routine. 

Sunday

  • TRL Finale (MTV, 8pm) – Performances, interviews, and clips of the show throughout the years.
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tv

next week 10/20

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

Monday

  • Rita Rocks (Life, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Single mother starts up a little garage band with some neighbors, and ‘rocks.’
  • Real Chance of Love (VH1, 9pm) Series Premiere – I Love New York rejected some dudes and now they’re back for some love picking of their own.
  • Scream Queens (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ladies compete for slasher film fame.

Tuesday

  • Living with the Wolfman (AnPlan, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – A couple on a wolf preserve.
  • The Rookies (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Field training officers take a new crop of police academy grads out on the street of Tampa.

Wednesday

  • World Series (Fox, 5pm) – The Phillies vs the Red Sox or the Rays kick off the series tonight.
  • Stylists (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – Lackeys compete to become lackeys at Elle magazine.

Thursday

  • Hip Hop Awards (BET, 5pm) – Katt Williams hosts this gala with top noms to Lil Wayne.
  • American Gangster (BET, 7pm) Season Premiere – The life and times of some of the most notorious black crime figures.
  • Celebrity Rehab (VH1, 10pm) Season Premiere – Dr Drew is back with another crew of ‘actual celebrites’ trying to get clean, and rumor has it Jeff Conaway is back.

Friday

  • Catch up on the tivo backlog or pop in a netflix, I’ve been catching ANTM repeats.

Saturday

  • World’s Ugliest Dog Competition (AnPlan, 10pm) – I think we all get the idea on this.

Sunday

  • Calzaghe/Jones 24/7 (HBO, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – All about the boxers or something.
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tv

next week 9/15

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New and notable for the week ahead, procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • The Closer (TNT, 9pm) Season Finale – I now have this entire season saved on tivo.
  • Weeds (Show, 10pm) Season Finale – This show is still in my queue but some catching up on other shows first.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – The families are back, you people who love the joyous transformations get ready.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – I dig the curmudgeonly doc and am curious to see if they find a better balance between new and old supporting docs.
  • Lincoln Heights (ABCFam, 8pm) Season Premiere – The preview looks like a young couple suffers a melodramatic robbery turned hostage situation.
  • Big Brother (CBS, 9pm) Season Finale – Someone wins…

Wednesday

  • Ultimate Fighter (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – 32 fighters try to win a UFC contract.
  • Manswers (Spike, 11/11:30pm) Season Premiere – I stumbled upon an old episode of this show and learned how to beat a drug test, not that I need that information.

Thursday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – I watched this show for the first season so I am totally out of touch with Clark and his new superfriends.
  • Supernatural (CW, 9pm) Season Premiere – Two generic good looking brothers fight the supernatural, you’d think I’d be interested but I never was.
  • Burn Notice (USA, 10pm) Season Finale – Whatever sort of fix will Michael get forced into this week, I’m actually usually looking forward to seeing him get out of it.
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – This super un pc show, this week it’s about cannibalism, actually made me laugh though it didn’t hit the tivo season pass so over time I sort of dropped it.

Friday

  • Davis Cup (Vs, 9am, fri-su) – US vs. Spain, will typically hit singles on Friday/Sunday with doubles on Sat.
  • Dog Whisperer (NatGeo, 9pm) – 100th episode brings back some now well behaved doggies and looks back at the not so well behaved doggies.

Saturday

  • Primeval (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Anomalies and dinosaurs or something.

Sunday

  • Beach Volleyball (Fox, 11:30am) – The granddaddy of all tournaments in Manhattan Beach, can Misty and Carrie get their mojo back?
  • Emmy Awards (ABC, 8pm) – I admit I don’t really watch this awards show and this year the reality hosts don’t make me want to change my mind.

* Check your local listings, live events typically noted as PST.

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sports, tv

next week 9/8

3 Comments

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

Monday

  • Terminator: SCC (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Sarah and her son John moving in time to try to stop things before they go awry, and stay alive, though the leads are both a little stiff, as the supporting cast and stories were developed so was the interest (though I might have to lose it in this time slot against GGirl and Chuck).
  • CMA Music Festival (ABC, 9pm) – Fans and country stars are shown from this four day music festival.
  • Dr 90210 (E, 10pm) Season Premiere – This reality follows a doctor in Beverly Hills I assume.

Tuesday

  • Fringe (Fox, 8pm-replays Sun) Series Premiere – 95 minute start of the JJ Abrams series (Lost, Alias, Felicity) brings us what’s being most closely compared to the X-files, as an FBI agent investigates “phenomena” with the help of old science guy and son (Dawson Creek’s Joshua Jackson).
  • Privileged (CW, 9pm-replays Sun) Series Premiere – Cute Joanna Garcia (Reba) is introduced to the world of the spoiled as a live in tutor.
  • Fashion Rocks (CBS, 9pm) – Denis Leary hosts this mix of fashionable rockers and rocking fashions.
  • The Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo, 11pm-repeats) Series Premiere – Follow real life celebrity fashion stylist and her posse as they style the celebrities.

Wednesday

  • Greatest American Dog (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The final three dogs compete, and I admit that I’ve dropped off this show but the difference in dog’s (and owners) performance on the different kinds of challenges was fun to see.
  • ‘Til Death (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – This Brad Garrett and others show about two couples, one jaded, one not, has never made it to my watched list.
  • Do Not Disturb (Fox, 9:30pm) Series Premiere -Jerry O’Connell plays the general manager of this hip hotel with apparent staff shenanigans.
  • Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV, 10pm-repeats) Season Premiere – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this show which starts its 16th season of competition.

Thursday

  • MTV’s Top Pop Group (MTV, 10pm-repeats) Series Premiere – Music acts compete as Mario Lopez hosts.
  • Comics Without Borders (Show, 10pm-repeats) Series Premiere – This looks like a standup comedy showcase.

Friday

  • 2008 Alma Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Eva Longoria Parker hosts the Latino Awards with recipients like America Ferrera
  • Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – And the lyric singing continues.

Saturday

  • Action Sports (Sat/Sun NBC, USA) – The Toyota Challenge takes us to Salt Lake City as the guys get closer to winning the Dew Cup my favorite is still the vert skate and though Bucky’s in the lead it’s anyone’s game.
  • Coco Chanel (Life, 8pm) – Shirley MacLaine plays fashion icon Chanel in this tv movie of her life.
  • MADtv (Fox, 11pm) Season Premiere – Jerry O’Connell guests as this skit series returns.
  • SNL (NBC, 11:30) Season Premiere – Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps hosts and hopefully doesn’t embarrass himself with Lil Wayne performing.

Sunday

  • Catch up on tivo or replays of premieres of Fringe and Privileged, I love when they replay starters to give you some time to catch before you settle into a season.
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tv

next week 9/1

2 Comments

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

Monday

  • Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm — repeats Sun/6pm) Season Premiere – What has become of split couples Blair/Chuck and Serena/Dan? Something tells me someone will be doing it as we greet our gang in the Hamptons before we return to school.
  • Prison Break (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – This two hour premiere continues the ridiculous brothers and others criminal chase, now apparently they’re working for homeland security… loved this show first season and can’t tune in now.
  • One Tree Hill (CW, 9pm – repeats Sun 7pm) Season Premiere – I think that Lucas is still deciding between Brooke and Peyton and some other girls.
  • The Middleman (ABC Fam, 10pm) Season Finale – I actually found this show pretty enjoyable with its mix of comicy humor and sarcastic fun as the Middleman and his trusty sidekick Wendy fight the weird.
  • Raising the Bar (TNT, 10pm- repeats 9/2) Series Premiere – This courtroom drama is getting average reviews, but if courtroom dramas are you thing it might not be all bad with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben, and Jane Kaczmarek.

Tuesday

  • 90210 (CW, 8pm – repeats Th/8pm) Series Premiere – This two hour event returns us to beloved West Beverly Hills High School along with a returning principal and his transplanted family, and Brenda is on for at least 4 eps and Kelly is the guidance counselor, apparently they’re more mature now.
  • The Shield (Fx, 10pm – repeats) Season Premiere – This final season starts with more drama, I have yet to catch this cop series but it’s in the queue as folks say great things.

Wednesday

  • America’s Next Top Model (CW, 8pm – repeats Sun, 8pm) Season Premiere – The latest ladies (and one preop transgender gal) are cast in the two hour launch for another round of ridiculous drama and surprisingly engaging modelicious challenges that always promise to bring out the fierce.
  • Bones (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – This show returns with a two hour premiere as Booth and Bones do their special forensic anthropologic fbi investigations in England, promises lots of good fun.
  • Ghost Hunters/Destination Truth (Sci fi, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Ghost hunting and paranormal mosques oh my.
  • Sons of Anarchy (Fx, 10pm- repeats) Series Premiere – This one hour+ show starts out with family issues and rival motorcycle gang hijinks.
  • Top Design (Bravo, 10pm – repeats) Season Premiere – This 75 minute starter has the gang designing a loft, of course with limited time and money.

Thursday

  • Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Gordon takes two hours to revisit kitchen’s he’s harassed before.
  • Republican National Conventions (Various channels) – The convention wraps up its Minneapolis coverage that started Monday.

Friday

  • Stand Up to Cancer (ABC/CBS/NBC, 8pm) – A big gang of celebs support cancer research (and oppose cancer).
  • Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Kathy Ireland and the State Superintendent of Georgia meet the new 5th grade class in the 2 hour premiere.
  • Samurai Girl (ABC Fam, 6/8pm – Sa/Su 8 and various times) – This six-part miniseries follows a girl whose marriage is interrupted and must avenge her family’s honor, or something like that.

Saturday

  • Cops/America’s Most Wanted (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – The folks they are criminals and must be gotten.
  • US Open Tennis (USA, throughout the week, CBS Fri-Sun) – The gang raps up this hard court run with a champ Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday

  • Hole in the Wall (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – This is the one where contestants have to shape their bodies to fit through holes they’re thrust through.
  • America United: Support of Our Troops (ABC, 9pm) – Folks like Pam Anderson and Jessica Simpson honor the troops.
  • MTV VMAs (MTV, 9pm – repeats) – Host Russell Brand keeps it moving, we hear no Britney but I’m sure the Jonas Brothers will show.
  • True Blood (HBO, 9pm) Series Premiere – Alan Ball of Six Feet Under takes another pass at tv with this vampires live among us but they’re drinking synthetic blood, or are they, series based on books by Charlaine Harris.
  • Entourage (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – The guys are back as Vincent Chase and buddies deal with business and pleasure.

Check your local listings for final times and repeat showings.

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tv guide fall preview

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tvguide.jpgLabor day is upon us and fall is here! TV Guide still does a nice job laying out the new season. I am a big fan of the printable premiere calendar and of course the grid of what’s on when: http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview-2008/

Sadly as I take a closer gander at scheduling it’s looking a little cramped in a couple of slots. Monday at 8 with Big Bang/HIMYMother, Gossip Girl, Terminator, and Chuck. Then Wednesday at 8 with Pushing Daisies, Old Christine, ANTM, and Bones. I like to limit myself to two shows max per time slot so I’m going to have to make some accommodations. At least CW typically reruns ANTM and GGirl, and of course there’s some stuff online. I mean who could think of dropping a show, for other than enjoyment considerations, but that’s often how it happens for me. And of course I never expect the new shows to all hit so I should be able to drop one of the cramped Tuesday at 9 options of The Mentalist, Privileged, and Fringe (sadly the cute Joanna Garcia may lose to the cuter Simon Baker and of course JJ Abrams newest product).

So poke around and see what’s going to be happening. I will of course continue to note the premieres in the Next Weeks. And as soon as I hear a little more from the critics I’ll let you know what of the new stuff we’re all most excited about.

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sports, tv

next week 8/4

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New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • Teen Choice Awards (Fox, 8pm) – Miley Cyrus is hosting this year and as I understand it is having a dance off with her crew but has rejected the offer of a girl kiss.
  • I Want to Work for Diddy (VH1, 9pm) Series Premiere – Diddy is adding to his television empire.
  • Nashville Star (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – I’m torn between the hispanic country guy with a great twang and the big voiced mom though overall better talent than AI, not that I actually listen to country music, oh and that Billy Ray Cyrus is maybe the stiffest host I’ve seen in my life.
  • New York Goes to Hollywood (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – I Love New York didn’t make her a big enough celebrity so now she’s conquering Hollywood, or not.
  • Luke’s Parental Advisory (VH1, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Luke Campbell is family man and rowdy rap mogul.

Tuesday

  • Million Dollar Listing (Bravo, 11pm) Series Premiere – Follow a sale from listing to close with undoubtedly some personalities.

Wednesday

  • Hard Knocks (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Training camp with the Dallas Cowboys returns.
  • Man vs. Wild (Dsc, 10pm) Season Premiere – Bear hits the Mexican desert and faces off with the elements, and bees.

Thursday

  • Last Comic Standing (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – Let’s hope this one’s funny.
  • So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – The final dancer is picked, and the Jonas Brothers perform.
  • Bill Engvall Show/My Boys (TBS, 9/9:30/10pm) Season Finales – Hijinks and humor as the seasons wrap.
  • Hopkins (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – And the folks at the hospital keep doing what they do.

Friday

  • Summer Olympics (NBC, 8pm 7:30pm) – The opening ceremony kicks off the NBC coverage though soccer starts the previous Wed on MSNBC, additional coverage on CNBC, USA and some Oxygen and goes for three weeks of the world’s finest in sports.

Saturday

  • Damages (Fx, 7am) Marathon – In case you missed out on all or part of this first season you can catch the full 13 episode season marathon.
  • Primeval (BBC, 9pm) Series Premiere – Rips in the fabric of time seem to let prehistoric critters loose so evolutionary zoologist and his team are on it.

Sunday

  • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 9pm) – Catch up on last season’s show that grew on me with a different ep Sunday through Wed at 9, starting with the pilot.
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