A new week brings us new television and new recommendations. I am, however, going to start this week off with something I didn’t imagine I’d ever do in this type of a column: apologies.
My first apology is to New Amsterdam (FOX Mondays, 9 PM). I mocked the show last week but in light of the options that we have the show is actually pretty entertaining. Hopefully my mentioning it led you to watching the show.
My second apology is in the way of an omission. John Adams is a seven part epic mini-series running on HBO that I am sure will be played plenty of times for you to catch it even if you missed the premier of Part 1 on Sunday, 3/16. Paul Giamatti has the title role and is, in my opinion, one of the best actors out there.
This week on television we are seeing a mixed bag of new shows and reality television. We’ve always seen both, but now we are getting over run with more of the latter over the former. If you are a fan of reality television you have something to enjoy almost every night of the week. If you aren’t, then there are slim pickings out there. Things will continue to be pretty bleak until April when we’ll start to finally see an influx of scripted shows finally flowing back in.
The final blow to this week is that it culminates into a holiday weekend, so the usually light Friday through Sunday schedule is even lighter. I have tried to prepare a bit of the more eclectic and not so well publicized list of programming to give you some interesting alternatives.
I’d also like to abuse my position and put out a plea to have you watch Jericho and Reaper this week. Both shows have not yet been picked up for next season, and Reaper is definitely considered a show that is “on the bubble†for cancellation. This is a completely self-serving request because I enjoy both shows and definitely want to see them return.
MONDAY
CBS – 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: All of the CBS sitcoms are brand new. I’d suggest on taking in How I Met Your Mother since Britney Spears will have a guest spot in the near future.
ABC – 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: It is reality night overdrive tonight on ABC. First up, Dancing with the Stars. You can’t go wrong with Steve Guttenberg. Second up is The Bachelor: London Calling where they hope that a Bachelor with a British accent will class up this tired concept.
TUESDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: The skunk headed girl (Amanda Overmyer) is STILL on American Idol. I got suspicious and, sure enough, she’s the chosen contestant this year on VotefortheWorst.com.
ABC – 8:00 PM: Linus once again puts his faith in false idols with It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. This special was originally done in 1974 but for some reason I just don’t remember it, except for Marcie’s egg boiling mishaps.
ABC – 10:30 PM: Miss Guided is a sitcom Executive Produced by Ashton Kutcher. I haven’t seen it but it is something new and you can watch the first episode in this sneak peak. Who doesn’t like High School based sitcoms? Uninformed opinion – The Good: Judy Greer, Chris Parnell. The Bad: Brooke Burns.
WEDNESDAY
CBS – 8:00 PM: Survivor: Micronesia is on tonight instead of tomorrow because of the NCAA Tournament First Round games. I’m only bringing this up as a public service announcement. I haven’t watched Survivor since America gave Rupert the pity prize.
THURSDAY
ABC – 8:00 PM: Miss Guided is back to back tonight. If you liked it Tuesday you are in luck because you get two more episodes and a guest appearance by Ashton Kutcher being very un-Kelso.
ABC – 9:00 PM: This is the last new episode of LOST until late April folks, relish it.
CW – 9:00 PM: Last week on Reaper Sock was kicked out of his mom’s house. This week he convinces Sam and Ben to move in to a condo together. Next thing you know they’ll be hanging out at the Regal Beagle while avoiding Mr. Furley. Oh yeah, Sam may find out he’s actually been dating Satan’s love child this week. What’s not to watch?
FRIDAY
AMC – 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM: Tonight is an interesting night of compare and contrast. At 8 PM you can watch the Eddie Murphy reimagining of Dr. Dolittle and at 10 PM you can watch the 1967 original starring Rex Harrison (who out there knows what a Push Me-Pull You is?). I’ll take the original over the former any day.
CINEMAX – 8:00 PM: If you haven’t seen Hot Fuzz and you have Cinemax, tonight you can use it for more than just the late night movies (although the movie’s title may imply that it is of the same ilk). Action films and buddy flicks will never look the same after this.
SATURDAY
ABC – 8:00 PM: The yearly showing of Chuck Heston as Moses in The Ten Commandments. In 37 years of life I still haven’t watched it.
A&E – 8:00 PM: I absolutely loved The Matrix before its concept was spoiled by the sequels. Come try to relive the magic with me and forget about the other two films.
HIST – 8:00 PM: The “British Indiana Jones” explores the appearance and possible location of a certain relic in Quest for the Lost Ark. I thought it was in the Well of Souls, silly me.
SUNDAY
What better way to have a complete Easter Sunday experience than to watch…
HIST – 8:00 PM: Crucifixion is two hours of knee slapping exploration of crucifixions throughout history, including the most notable, and forensic examination of crucifixion and why the crucified eventually expire. Come for the facts, stay for the laughs.
HIST – 10:00 PM: If the previous two hours weren’t your fancy then you HAVE to check out Ax Men. This show, by the same people that made Ice Road Truckers, follows real life loggers in the Pacific Northwest. The show is already two episodes in, but it is a must see.
Comedy Central – 8:00 PM: Futurama alert! Tonight the first Direct to DVD Futurama movie is shown in four parts. If you didn’t buy the DVD now is your chance to enjoy some new Futurama after you crash from your chocolate bunny / marshmallow peep sugar high.
There’s what I think are this week’s highlights. Next week I will probably be blathering on about all the things LOST did and didn’t answer (or how it completely confused me).
– Will Wilkins spent more this week to fix his television then he spent on groceries.
Comments: 3 Comments
3 Responses to “TV Or Not TV: 3/17 – 3/23”Leave a Reply |
March 17th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I know what a push-me-pull-you is… And I wrote my first fan-fic about dab-dab…
March 19th, 2008 at 10:57 am
The John Adams miniseries is a must see television event. The first two parts were historically accurate, interesting, and entertaining which is not a common combination for a T.V. show.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
i’m glad i found this…..i was a big fan for chris ryall doing the same thing over at comics101.com but he stopped sometime ago…..you just found yourself a new weekly follower….
i also hoping that reaper gets renewed, but i haven’t seen any new eps. air up here in canada. i’ve been tuning in week to week but keep getting reruns…..haven’t seen a new one since ep.10 (cash out). i know they had more new eps. did they just start airing them last week?