tv

next week 12/7

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

Monday

  • Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special (Fox, 8pm) – It’s a variety show!
  • Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (ABC, 8pm) – He’s making a list…
  • The Closer (TNT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Brenda and Fritz are back, and here’s betting Brenda will get to the bottom of some new dead folks.
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher star in this new character drama about men in mid-life, it’s getting pretty good buzz.

Tuesday

  • Charlie Brown Christmas/Prep & Landing (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Obama pushed this from last week.
  • Better Off Ted (ABC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – The stuff they invent is wackier than the people who are involved in inventing it, funny enough just for the fake commercials.
  • Outer Space Astronauts (Syfy, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – It’s a sci fi sitcom, or are they syfy sitcoms now?
  • Teen Mom (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Real stories of four teenagers navigating parenting.

Wednesday

  • Shrek the Halls (ABC, 8pm) – You can share Shrek’s chaotic Christmas.
  • Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 (ABC, 10pm) – They’re apparently sticking with the word ‘fascinating’.
  • Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… (Sund, 10pm) Season Premiere – The season starts with Bono and the Edge.

Thursday

  • Michael McDonald (PBS, 9pm) – This Christmas: A Soundstage Special Event.

Friday

  • Yes, Virginia (CBS, 8pm) – NPH lends his voice to this animated holiday special though I don’t think that’s enough to make me tune in.
  • Mobsters (Bio, 10pm) Season Premiere – This week is on the Westies Irish mob in NY.

Saturday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/9pm) – Reindeer, reindeer & squirrels.
  • Video Game Awards (Spike, 8pm) – I’ll unpack my atari for the occasion.
  • Ghost Intervention (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – Mediums check into haunted houses.

Sunday

  • The Jacksons (A&E, 9/10pm) Series Premiere – Really?
  • Christmas at the White House (ABC, 10pm) – Perhaps cutting back the decor budget could be put toward healthcare or jobs?
  • Keeping up with the Kardashians (E!, 10pm) Season Premiere – How many of those Kardashians are there anyhow?
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tv

next week 11/30

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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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tv

next week 11/23

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So for a slightly delayed look at what’s new and notable for the week

Monday

  • General Hospital (ABC, 3pm) – James Franco starts his guest stint as ‘Franco’…
  • Find My Family (ABC, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – I’m assuming there is some looking for families.
  • Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Less stuffy foodies enjoy.

Tuesday

  • Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure (ABCFam, 7pm) – How uplifting.
  • How the Earth Was Made (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – Shouldn’t this show run Monday to Saturday and rest on Sunday?
  • Jon Dore Television Show (IFC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Should I know who Jon Dore is?
  • Dinner with the Band (IFC, 11pm) Series Premiere – Shouldn’t this be drinking with the band?

Wednesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) – Where are they now?

Thursday

  • Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (NBC, 9am) – Matt, Meredith, and Al host.
  • The National Dog Show (NBC, 12pm) – Doggies!
  • Road to Punkin Chunkin/Punkin Chunkin (Sci, 8/9pm) – Yes, they huck pumpkins.
  • Beyonce: I Am Yours (ABC, 9pm) – Who doesn’t need to see more of Beyonce and her tour?
  • NBC’s People of the Year (NBC, 9pm) – I’m on pins and needles wondering who they will name.
  • Paul McCartney (ABC, 10pm) – Good Evening New York.

Friday

  • Shameless (Sund, 8pm) Season Premiere – British comedy of the lowbrow variety I understand.

Saturday

  • Build it Bigger (Sci, 8pm) – Can Las Vegas get any bigger?

Sunday

  • 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (HBO, 8pm) – Folks pair up and perform, US, Mick Jagger, Black Eyed Peas… Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel… you get the picture.
  • Soul Train Awards (BET, 9pm) – Get your groove on.
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tv

next week 11/9 & 11/16

4 Comments

A special bonus double new and noteworthy in the weeks ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • CSI-crossover (CBS, Mon, Wed, Thurs) – Laurence Fishburne follows a case across the country mixing the skills of Miama, Vegas, and NY.

Tuesday

  • Sesame Street (PBS, check local listings) Season Premiere – Will Big Bird move off of the street, will Elmo and Telly find Bo Pee’s cow, will… oh they’ll all be good.
  • e2 Design (Sund, 8pm) Series Premiere – First week is a look at green buildings in NY.
  • Table for 12 (TLC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Camping, drama camp and karate for the big family.
  • In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts (ABC, 10pm) – Interviews with country stars including Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood.
  • Full Throttle Saloon (Tru, 10pm) Series Premiere – Watching a biker bar might not be the same without the cocktails, though you can always drink and watch.

Wednesday

  • CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host this year’s awards.
  • Ghost Hunters Academy (Syfy, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ghost hunters take a gang of aspiring hunters.

Thursday

  • Science of the Movies (Sci, 8pm) Season Premiere – How do they do it?

Friday

  • 24/7 (HBO, 9:30pm) Season Finale – A special night and time for Pacquiao and Cotto.

Saturday

  • Super Dave’s Spike-tacular (Spike, 11pm) Series Premiere – Super Dave Osbourne starts off this ‘mockumentary’ in a mini with explosives.

Sunday

  • WWII in HD (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – A 10-part series with accounts from 12 people who served.
  • The Prisoner (AMC, 8/9pm) – A remake of the 60s series with Jim Caviezal and Ian McKellen.

Monday

  • Mystery Diagnosis (Health, 10pm) Season Premiere – I guess this is like health life House.
  • Chef Academy (Brav, 11pm) Series Premiere – A Brit, Jean-Christophe Novelli, is launching a new culinary academy in LA.

Tuesday

  • Merry Madagascar (NBC, 8pm) – Santa apparently puts down where the gang from this animated flick are.

Wednesday

  • ANTM (CW, 8/9pm) – America’s Next Tiny Model is revealed and the season finale is followed by a special ‘revealed’ episode.
  • In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts (ABC, 10pm) – Janet Jackson gets the spotlight treatment.

Thursday

  • Terror in Mumbai (HBO, 8pm) – An examination of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai with survivors, law-enforcement, and a gunman.
  • World Magic Awards (MNT, 8pm) – Robert Wagner and Jill St. John host.

Friday

  • Happily Ever Faster (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – Life at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.

Saturday

  • Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox, 11:59pm) Series Finale – For those who are interested in this animated series that never quite caught on.

Sunday

  • Tough Love (VH1, 7:30pm) Season Premiere – Eight new women get the cold hard facts, or at least one guy’s theory, on why their love life isn’t all that.
  • American Music Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Awards, performances, and fancy outfits.
  • The Haunted (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at things like whether an office is being haunted by monkeys.
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tv

next week 11/2

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

Monday

  • For the Love of Ray J/I Want to Work for Diddy (VH1, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Are you really interested in people who be Diddy’s bitch or Ray J’s partner?

Tuesday

  • V (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – We’re kicking off the remake where the visitors arrive, it may start peacefully but something tells me there will be drama to be found.
  • By the People (HBO, 9pm) – A look at the election of Barack Obama from primaries on.
  • Kathy Griffin (Brav, 9pm) – Griffin does her stand-up bit.
  • Tabatha’s Salon Takeover (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – She’s taking over Chicago’s less than finest.

Wednesday

  • Most Daring (Tru, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Professionals and amateurs get into terrible situations.
  • Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Curtis retires, Miranda goes missing…
  • Flowers Uncut with Jeff Leatham (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Floristry fun.

Thursday

  • The Real Housewives of Orange County (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – I have stayed away from ever watching an episode of the ‘real’ ladies in any local.

Friday

  • Ancients Behaving Badly (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – This stop Caligula.
  • Ghost Adventures (Trav, 9pm) Season Premiere – Visiting a former mental asylum always has promise.

Saturday

  • Legend of the Seeker (Synd, 4pm) Season Premiere – I don’t know what this show is but Cordelia Charisma Carpenter is guest starring.
  • Cats 101 (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – Who knew there were so many kinds of cats.
  • Wanda Sykes Show (Fox, 11pm) Series Premiere – She makes me laugh when I’ve seen her elsewhere so curious to see her hang out in late night.

Sunday

  • Brothers/American Dad/Family Guy/Cleveland Show (Fox, 7-10pm) – Fox shakes up their lineup a bit tonight and includes three eps of Family Guy including the 8:30 presentation of Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy show which mixes animation and live action.
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tv

next week 10/26

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

Monday

  • Cake Boss (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Who wouldn’t want to propose with a cake ring in a cake shop?

Tuesday

  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – This year the great pumpkin will come, plus some bonus cartoon, it also kicks Hank out of the Wed at 8 spot.
  • Hip Hop Awards (BET, 8pm) – Mike Epps hosts from Atlanta.
  • The Little Couple (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Will there be a baby?
  • Monica (BET, 10pm) Series Premiere – More reality with R&B singer who is apparently working on her fifth album.
  • Scream 2009 (Spike, 10pm) – Quentin Tarantino is among those attending the sci-fi and fantasy awards show.
  • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Starting with a look at elimination of sports programs from public schools.

Wednesday

  • World Series Game 1 (Fox, 7:30pm, check local listings for full series) – Best of 7?
  • Monsters vs. Aliens (NBC, 8pm) – Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space follows up on the movie.
  • Friday Night Lights (Dir, 9pm) Season Premiere – The season returns for another shot on DirectTV, the fans demand it, with re-airings on NBC in 2010.

Thursday

  • The League (FX, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Fantasy football brings dudes together for some funny, at least that’s the plan.

Friday

  • Halloween on Ice (Hall, 8pm) – Is it gonna be scary?

Saturday

  • Sports (ABC, NBC, Fox, various) – Catch Game 3 of the World Series or some college ball, and that’s without even hitting cable.

Sunday

  • Sex Rehab with Dr Drew (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Thank god my cable was cut off and I won’t be tempted to check out just one episode…
  • Styl’d (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Five aspiring stylists compete to style.
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tv

next week 10/19

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

Monday

  • Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags (HBO, 9pm) – A doc special on the garment industry in NYC.

Tuesday

  • The Cosby Show (TVL, 3am) – Feeling nostalgic? Maybe it’s time to catch one of your favorite family’s first episodes (aka nothing new or noteworthy on Tuesday).

Wednesday

  • Lock ‘n Load (Show, 8pm) Series Premiere – Welcome to a gun shop near you by way of Colorado.
  • Living with Ed (PlGr, 9pm) Season Premiere – For a moment I thought talking horse, but no it’s Ed Begley Jr.

Thursday

  • American Chopper (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – They’re building a new bike, for Saginaw Chippewa tribe.
  • The Jeff Dunham Show (Com, 9pm) Series Premiere – Ventriloquism with multiple character dummies coming your way.
  • Ultimate Parkour Challenge (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – par·kour (pär-k??r’) n. A sport or athletic activity in which the participant seeks to move quickly and fluidly through an area, often an urban locale, by surmounting obstacles such as walls and railings and leaping across open spaces, as in a stairwell or between buildings.

Friday

  • Supernanny (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Problem children and bossy adults, pass.
  • White Collar (USA, 10pm) Series Premiere – Pretty charismatic Matt Bomer (Bryce Larkin from Chuck) is a con artist sprung from jail to help solve crimes, trouble will ensue.

Saturday

  • 24/7 (HBO, 10:15) Season Premiere – Starting with the behind the scenes of boxers Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

Sunday

  • Nature (PBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – An update on Cloud, a wild horse in Montana.
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tv

next week 10/12

6 Comments

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

Monday

  • Little People, Big World (TLC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Back for farm and school whatnot.
  • Gone Too Far (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Well they decided to air this DJ AM series about drug abusers after his passing, I’ll pass.
  • Million Dollar Listing (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – Will the recession take this show down?

Tuesday

  • Hip Hop Honors (VH1, 9pm) – Tracy Morgan hosts the awards and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Def Jam Records.
  • Chopped (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Kumquats and croissants and grits oh my.
  • Independent Lens (PBS, 10pm/check local listings) Season Premiere – Starts off with a librarian and postal clerk who collect millions of dollars of art.

Wednesday

  • Mary Queen of Shops (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – Sometimes you just need an expert to turn your retail business around.
  • Nip/Tuck (Fx, 10pm) Season Premiere – The recession is hitting everyone.

Thursday

  • 30 Rock (NBC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – The gang is back to keep putting on the show.

Friday

  • Lobstermen (Disc, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – The men are getting more lobsters.
  • Ugly Betty (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – The magazine drama continues.

Saturday

  • Action Sports (NBC, Sat 10:30am; Sun 12pm, also on USA) – The Alli Dew Tour brings the Playstation Pro from Orlando.

Sunday

  • Monty Python: Almost the Truth (IFC, 9pm) – A six-part doc about the comedy troupe.
  • Storm Chasers (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – I bet there’ll be storms.
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tv

next week 10/5

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

Monday

  • Sherri/Rita Rocks (Life, 7/7:30pm) Series/Season Premieres – Sherri Shepard of current View fame gets back into the sitcom game with a show based on her, then back to wife, mother and rocker Rita.
  • The Mo’Nique Show (BET, 11pm) Series Premiere – She hosts the latest late night talker.

Tuesday

  • Dirty Jobs/Ghost Lab (Disc, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – Check out dirty jobs and then check out ghostly occurrences.
  • Dragon’s Den (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – More product pitching to millionaires.
  • Scare Tactics (Syfy, 9pm) Season Premiere – As I understand it this is like a creepier, meaner version of candid camera.
  • Parking Wars (A&E, 10pm) Season Premiere – In case you didn’t get any parking tickets this week you can live vicariously through others.

Wednesday

  • Man Shops Globe (Sund, 10pm) Series Premiere – A buyer for Anthropologie scours for loot.
  • South Park/Secret Girlfriend (Com, 10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – First the animated gang returns, and then characters treat ‘you’ the tv viewer as a character.

Thursday

  • Community (NBC, 8pm) – This show moves into its normal timeslot and The Office momentarily takes over an hour slot at 9.

Friday

  • I’m Alive (AnPl, 9pm) Series Premiere – Reenactments of people being attacked by animals, and surviving.
  • Sanctuary (Syfy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Searching and secrets or something.

Saturday

  • Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – 600 hopefuls compete.
  • The Graham Norton Show (BBCA, 10pm) Season Premiere – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne among others on the opening chatfest.

Sunday

  • The Girls Next Door/Leave It To Lamas (E!, 10:30/11pm) Season/Series Premiere – Hef gets some new gals then Lorenzo and one of the Bachelorettes get to know you.
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tv

next week 9/28

2 Comments

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

Monday

  • Lie to Me (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – Tim Roth returns to the show where telling if people are lying is the special gimmick.
  • Trauma (NBC, 9pm) Series Premiere – The pilot is filled with lots of big action but only time will tell if this paramedic drama can keep up the action and the drama.

Tuesday

  • Weird, True & Freaky/Lost Tapes (AnPl, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Animal oddities.
  • The Hills/The City (MTV, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Those people that I don’t know who they are on the cover of weekly magazines are back.

Wednesday

  • Hank/The Middle (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Series Premieres – Big sitcom stars Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton give it another go as average Joes.
  • I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant/King of the Crown (TLC, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – There’s apparently a series worth of people who didn’t know they were pregnant and some dude helps pageant contestants.
  • Bank of Mom and Dad (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – The folks, and a financial consultant, help people get their money troubles in order.
  • Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Contestants new and old head to Thailand.

Thursday

  • Speeders Fight Back (Tru, 10pm) Season Premiere – For those who long to watch traffic court.
  • Private Practice (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – The Grey’s spinoff that made me refer to Grey’s as the serious one.

Friday

  • ‘Til Death (Fox, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Is this show really coming back?
  • Diettribe (Life, 9pm) Season Premiere – Five gals get together with hope of doing a triathalon.
  • Stargate Universe (Syfy, 9pm) Series Premiere – Another branch of the series jumping through another stargate to somewhere else, interested?
  • Pay it Off (BET, 10pm) Series Premiere – A game show to pay off debts, or fritter away.
  • Wedded to Perfection (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – And it’s a wedding…

Saturday

  • Superfetch/Dogs 101 (AnPl, 8/9pm) Series/Season Premiere – Advanced tricks like having your dog pay for your manicure, but for those who are looking for a little more basic dog info.
  • Celebrity Ghost Stories (Bio, 10pm) Series Premiere – Um, Joan Rivers and Scott Baio tell ghost encounters.

Sunday

  • America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7pm) Season Premiere – They’ll never run out of footage.
  • Three Rivers (CBS, 9pm) Series Premiere – This medical drama focuses on those working in organ donations.
  • My Monkey Baby (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – I don’t know why this hasn’t been a show before, a couple raises a monkey as their baby.
  • The Next Iron Chef (Food, 9pm) Season Premiere – 10 more competitors compete.
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