summer drought

sgrace.jpg

Aside from continued reality and game shows, is there anything new coming this summer? Well if you have cable you’re not without hope, and there’s even one or two for you network kids… Here’s a couple of things I’m mostly looking forward to:

Sunday, June 1
In Plain Sight (10 p.m., USA) Series Premiere – This premiered last night though I have yet to watch, and it does repeat throughout the week (yeah for cable repeats), but I miss a good fresh procedural so I’m excited to see Mary McCormack as a US Marshall dealing with folks in witness protection.

Tuesday, June 3
30 Days
(Fx, 10pm) Season Three – I actually have yet to catch this show but I’m intrigued by the premise, ‘Supersize Me’ guy (and other designated folks) walks the walk in this reality take on 30 days in the life of people from minimum wage workers to white supremacists to coal miners.

Thursday, June 5
Swingtown
(CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – I’ve read some good and bad of this show about a couple who moves into a swinging 70s neighborhood, it’s either an interesting look at the 70s sexuality and politics or it’s just trashy and superficial, either way could be worth a look.

Fear Itself (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – This could be as dreadful as last season’s ‘Masters of Science Fiction’ but they’ve got some good talent lined up to do standalone episodes, and perhaps they might even be scary, so probably inconsistent but maybe some gems.

Thursday, July 10
Burn Notice
(USA, 10pm) Season Two – I’ve been catching up on this in repeats and though I initially dismissed this ex spy guy as a stiff and predictable, I found the camp and the characters grew on me, fluffy is fine for summer.

Thursday, July 11
Flashpoint
(CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – I have no reason to expect this to be any more than a burned off summer series but I give network stuff a chance during the summer, so this Emergency Task Force drama is worth a shot.

Monday, July 14
The Closer/Saving Grace
(TNT, 9/10pm) Seasons Two – Here are a couple of leading ladies who know how to entertain, Kyra Sedgewick is a deputy chief running a special unit cracking down on crime making things happen with her interrogation skills while Holly Hunter is a cop who won’t stop fighting crime unless she’s getting drunk, sleeping with inappropriate men, or talking to her special guardian angel, I can’t wait.

Sunday, July 27
Mad Men
(AMC, 10pm) Season Two – I initially skipped this show as the thought of watching a show about advertising… lets just say I get enough of that in my day job, but folks they are a raving, so much that I’m tempted to check it out. Fortunately they’re doing a season 1 marathon 7/20 12pm.

Tuesday, July 29
Eureka
(Sci Fi, 9pm) Season Three – I caught this show in the first season and was entertained by this secret super scientist community, it’s quirky characters, and the hijinks that ensue, while of course the not super scientist sheriff needs to help keep it all together.

Other summer series:
Charlie Jade (June 6, SciFi, 8pm), Army Wives (June 8, Life, 10pm), The Bill Engvall Show/My Boys (June 12, TBS, 9/9:30pm), The Middleman (June 16, ABC Fam, 8pm), Monk/Psych (July 10, USA, 9/10pm), Stargate Atlantis (July 11, Sci Fi, 10pm), The Cleaner (July 15, A&E, 10pm), Weeds/Secret Diary of a Call Girl (June 16, Show, 10/10:30pm), Primeval (Aug 9, BBC, 9pm)

For most of the rest you’ll have to wait ’til fall but for those of you who asked: Dexter season three premiere is currently scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, with season two now available for download on iTunes and on dvd Aug. 19. And Flight of the Conchords isn’t scheduled until 2009 though the dvd for season one is out. And of course these dates may change, I’ll continue to check in on premier dates on ‘next week’ posts.

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next week 6/2

Monday

  • Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – I assume this is like where they looked for the new leads in Grease.
  • The Mole (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – It’s reality, it’s a competition, does anyone care?

Tuesday

  • 30 Days (FX, 10pm) Season Premiere – Morgan Spurlock returns to 30 days in the lives of others starting with coal mining.

Wednesday

  • She’s Got the Look (TVLand, 10pm) Season Premiere – Ladies over 35 do their own version of ANTM.

Thursday

  • NBA Finals (ABC, 6pm/pst) – The series starts tonight.
  • Fear Itself (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – A host of directors, actors, and writers create episodes for this series of suspense and horror shows.
  • Swingtown (CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – A new couple moves to a Chicago suburb where the 70s are in full swing.

Friday

  • French Open (NBC, 10am/pst and s/su 6am/pst) – Wrapping up another fortnight of tennis following ESPN2 coverage throughout the week.
  • Charlie Jade (Scifi, 8pm) Series Premiere – A rogue PI deals with mysteries and parallel universes.
  • Meerkat Manor (Animal, 9pm) Season Premiere – Last season’s posters made the meerkats look like the sopranos, I haven’t seen any this season.

Saturday

  • America’s Best Dance Crew (MTV, 2/4:30pm) – The casting special is followed by some performances, the real competition starts on Thursday.
  • Sybil (CBS, 8pm) – Not sure that Sally Field’s multiple personalities need to be revisited in an update but here it is.

Sunday

  • When We Left the Earth: The Nasa Missions (Disc, 9pm) – This special presentation kicks off the multi part series.
  • L&O: Criminal Intent (USA, 9pm) – Returning from strike hiatus as Vincent D’Onofrio returns from a break, probably because Big is promoting Sex and the City.
  • Army Wives (Life, 10pm) Season Premiere – I got the impression this was wives of people in the army, but maybe it’s women in the army who are wives… maybe it’s both.
  • This American Life (Show, 10pm) Season Finale – Ira’s talking to guys named John Smith.
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next week 5/26

Monday

  • The Andromeda Strain (A&E, 9pm – also Tues, 9pm) – Miniseries based on the Michael Crichton novel starring Benjamin Bratt, Andre Braugher, and Eric McCormack.
  • Wildfire (ABC Fam, 9pm) Series Finale – I think wildfire is a horse.
  • Denise Richards: It’s Complicated/Living Lohan (E!, 10/10:30pm) Series Premieres – In case you wanted to see what was going on behind the scenes with either of these women.
  • The Paper (MTV, 10/10:30) Season Finale – Big confrontation in the newsroom, or the classroom, or something.

Tuesday

  • According to Jim (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Season Finale – Not only is this show still on, it’s renewed for next season.

Wednesday

  • Stanley Cup Finals (NBC, 5pm/pst) – Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Redwings, Game 3 is on Wed, with Games 4/5 scheduled for Sat/Mon.
  • Men in Trees (ABC, 10pm) – Returning from strike break, for those who enjoy, enjoy it while it lasts.

Thursday

  • Lost (ABC, 9pm) Season Finale – Ok I’m like three behind on this, time to catch up.

Friday

  • Scripps National Spelling Bee (ABC, 8pm) – The kids, they spell.
  • Sarah Jane Adventures (Scifi, 8/8:30pm) Season Finale – There’s an adventure.

Saturday

  • French Open (NBC, 10am pst sat and sun – also ESPN2 coverage weekdays starting 5/27) – It’s the big clay court tennis tournament, will Nadal add another win to his list, or will Djokovic or Federer take him out?
  • Saturday Night Fights (CBS, 9pm) – Includes heavyweight bout with Kimbo Slice and James “Colossus” Thompson, I don’t know who’s favored but Kimbo needs a tough nickname.
  • Dead at 17 (Life, 9pm) – Original telefilm of a woman, her son, his death and of course secrets.
  • Heat Stroke (SciFi, 9pm) – Not to be outdone on telefilms, a model and a soldier try to fight alien created global warming.

Sunday

  • Million Dollar Password (CBS, 8pm) Series Premiere – My friend and I used to make up words and play this when we were bored, Regis hosts and it looks like Neil Patrick Harris as one of the first celebrity word givers.
  • The Tudors (Show, 9pm) Season Finale – Old school courtly drama.
  • In Plain Sight (USA, 10pm) Series Premiere -Mary McCormack plays a US Marshall for the witness protection program.
  • Next Food Network Star (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Folks compete to get their own cookster show.
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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 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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next week 4/21

Monday

  • Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm) – We’re back from the strike and get to find out how Blair adjusts to being dethroned as queen bee and how Serena adjusts to getting ready to being Chuck’s new step sis.

Tuesday

  • Most Outrageous Moments (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – A shows will clips of moments that are outrageous.
  • Reaper (CW, 9pm) – Post strike premiere as Sam decides if turning against the devil is a good idea.

Wednesday

  • Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – The latest girl group that I will never listen to will be chosen.
  • Men in Trees (ABC, 10pm) – Last episode before a hiatus as that annoying Anne Heche is girly or something.
  • Law & Order (NBC, 10pm) – The cops and lawyers return from strike but Jesse Martin is bowing out as Anthony Anderson takes his place in the latest cast change.

Thursday

  • Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy/Lost (ABC, 8/9/10pm) – Post strike returns to Mode Magazine and two shows that I have been greatly anticipating!
  • Supernatural (CW, 9pm) – And the brothers fight or find or whatever they do to the supernatural.

Friday

  • Moonlight (CBS, 9pm) – The vampire show I don’t watch returns from strike.

Saturday

  • The Mighty B! (Nick, 10:30am) Series Premiere – Amy Poehler is the voice of this animated overzealous girl scout equivalent.

Sunday

  • Big Brother (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – And they… elect a king?
  • Aliens in America (CW, 8:30pm) – This is new and I don’t remember if this is the first back from strike… but Raj gets a girl, or tries to get rid of a girl.

* ‘next week’s are posts of new or noteworthy shows for the week to come and do not imply endorsement by the procrastinator

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next week 4/14

Monday

  • Bones (Fox, 8pm) – Post strike return for our favorite squints and fbi agents, this week Bones and Booth go on a double date with Dr Sweets!
  • The Paper (MTV, 10:30) Series Premiere – I almost always ignore MTV reality but this show about a high school paper got at least one good review.
  • New Amsterdam (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – If there’s only one more left maybe I’ll watch this guy and his past.
  • One Tree Hill (CW, 9pm) – Post strike return as the gang deals with some drama undoubtedly.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS, 9:30pm) – Post strike premiere as the gang vacations at a time share.

Tuesday

  • According to Jim (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Post strike return as Jim probably does something dumb.
  • Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – The losers have lost, and one has lost the most.
  • L&O: SVU (NBC, 10pm) – Post strike return as Olivia goes under cover.

Wednesday

  • Democratic Debate (ABC, 8pm/pst) – Gearing up for the Penn primary on the 22nd.
  • Til Death/Back to You (Fox, 8/8:30pm) – Post strike premiere for these ‘laughers’.
  • The Real World: Hollywood (MTV, 10pm) – If you can believe it this is the 20th season, I think I only caught NY and then what LA?

Thursday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) – Post strike premiere as Lex and Clark are at odds.
  • Eli Stone (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Will Eli live? I would assume they didn’t kill him off, but then again I don’t know for sure.

Friday

  • Doctor Who (Sci Fi, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – I wanna say there’s time travel involved.
  • Canterbury’s Law (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – Does she defend the right people?

Saturday

  • Torchwood (BBC, 9pm) Season Finale – Crime fighters and aliens and whatnot.

Sunday

  • John Adams (HBO, 9pm) Series Finale – And Paul Giamatti moves on…
  • Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) – Post strike return as the Walkers keep up with making a mess of perfectly good messy relationships.
  • Sweet Nothing in My Ear (CBS, 9pm) – It’s a Hallmark Hall of Fame with Marly and Jeff Daniels dealing with their child’s ability to hear.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) – It’s the reunion show!
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potpourri

Not much to report on tv shows themselves this week so I thought I’d just check in on a few things of note.

NBC released its year round upfront to the upfronts. Although I actually try not to pay much attention to these since everything changes or disappears before it goes live but, worth noting are a ‘The Office’ spin-off, the surprising return of not great ‘Knightrider‘ and ‘Lipstick Jungle‘ but also another shot for ‘Life‘ which I just told someone wasn’t coming back.

As for the other networks we’re not official yet but I might be a tiny bit excited about Joss Whedon’s (Buffy!) expected ‘Dollhouse‘ show starring Eliza Dushku (Faith!) and trepidatious about Rob Thomas’s (VMars) ‘90210‘ the next generation (Donna has expressed interesting in playing a milf though it sounds like they’re courting Kelly to round out the older generation on the show).

Project Runway‘ is slated to move from Bravo to Lifetime, not this next season but the one after, though NBC has something to say about that. People with Tivos will follow but will this impact the show or the networks? Wait do I get Lifetime? And if I hear correctly ‘Scrubs‘ is moving to ABC. So what one more season?

ANTM‘ is getting busted for showing some full frontal – albino Anya’s nudie shoot with Nigel was deemed by some to be inappropriate for evening eyes. I actually watched this and thought she was wearing little coveries but I guess they just blurred her out, really it was all fine, but conservative parental organizations are still arguing about Dennis Franz’ butt on ‘NYPD Blue‘ so perspective is not something these organizations have.

Oh and Kathie Lee Gifford took up residence in the last hour of ‘The Today Show‘, I haven’t watched this in ages but maybe she can put some life in what I recall was nearly dead air.

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next week 4/7

Monday

  • NCAA Men’s Championship (CBS, 9pm) – Didn’t we already talk about this, I think this is really it, if not I won’t talk about it again anyhow.
  • Samantha Who? (ABC, 9:30pm) – Post strike premiere as Samantha has to move back in with her ex, and his new gal, to keep her apartment.

Tuesday

  • NCIS (CBS, 8pm) – Post season strike premiere as they show, secrets, and stakeouts, and murder.
  • Just for Laugh (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Season Finale – I don’t think I’ve ever watched this real world prank/gag show.
  • The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo (HBO, 10pm) – Rape survivor makes a documentary on victims and rapists.
  • Secret Talents of the Stars (CBS, 10pm) – Sixteen ‘celebrities’ compete with secret talents.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) – Post strike premiere as they continue to mix crazies and the law.

Wednesday

  • Idol Gives Back (Fox, 7:30pm) – The celebrities and the idol gang gives back by making you want to give money.

Thursday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – Special Night as another one of the gang gets the boot, Kristy Lee Cook anyone?
  • 30 Rock/The Office/Scrubs/ER (NBC, 8:30-11pm) Post strike premieres, what are you looking forward to most, I’d say 30 Rock.

Friday

  • The Sarah Jane Adventures (SciFi, 7:30pm) – This is a Dr Who spin-off reportedly for kids as our title character is a social worker for aliens.
  • Miss USA (NBC, 9pm) – Donny and Marie host so it’s gotta be good.

Saturday

  • The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Life, 9pm) – This adaptation of the bestseller is fleshed out with Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol, and Emily Watson.

Sunday

  • Desperate Housewives (ABC, 9pm) – Post strike premiere as the women of Wisteria Lane continue being desperate.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) Season Finale – Brett chooses his lady from the latest stripperesque bunch.
  • Dirt (FX, 10pm) Season Finale – Courtney continues to deal with tabloids and personal drama.
  • Eli Stone (ABC, 10pm) – Special night as Eli continues with visions of the earthquake.
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next week 3/24

Monday

  • Greek (ABC Fam, 8pm) Season Premiere – Popular older sis and geeky younger brother navigate the Greek system with varied drama and success.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8:30) – This is the episode where Britney resurfaces, and the entire cast says how normal and professional she was.
  • The Hills (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – The ‘reality’ show that follows a group of now known to many folks, this time two of the gals hit Paris,  I can only identify them from the weekly magazines.

Tuesday

  • Autism: The Musical (HBO, 8pm) – A documentary that follows the kids and families dealing with autism as they put on a musical.
  • Jericho (CBS, 10pm) Series Finale – Well, they brought it back but nobody came, so the post apocalyptic show will end its run.

Wednesday

  • Great Performances: Peter and the Wolf (PBS, 8pm) – This year’s Oscar winner for animated short, though there’s no narration it’s apparently quite clear – plus they throw in a making-of.

Thursday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) Strike Hiatus – The show’s Superman mythology began with Clark and Lex as buddies and has shown an interpretation of their journeys to become mortal enemies, 6 or so new eps expected late April..
  • Miss/Guided (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Season Finale – Rumor Willis guests as our guidance counselor manages her adult high school life.
  • The Apprentice (NBC, 9pm) Season Finale – This year’s celebrity winner will get money for charity in lieu of a Trump hiring.
  • Reaper (CW, 9pm) Strike Hiatus – Sam tries to save Andi from lost soul of the week, 5 or so new eps expected late April..

Friday

  • In Treatment (HBO, 9:30pm) Season Finale – This five night a week drama where the shrink sees patients wraps up it’s nine week run.
  • Battlestar Gallactica (SciFi, 10pm) –  The series does a special presentation before the new season kicks off.

Saturday

  • Kid’s Choice Awards (Nick, 8pm) – Jack Black hosts this kids celebrating event.

Sunday

  • The Tudors (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – Apparently this focuses on the early years of King Henry VIII’s reign.
  • Unhitched (Fox, 9:30pm) Season Finale – And the dating mishaps continue.
  • State of the Union (Show, 10pm) Series Premiere – This is Tracy Ullman’s new sketch comedy show.
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