Welcome to another edition of TV or Not TV where I’m talking about Sunday night.
Last night there were two shows of note that I took in. The first, Hammertime on A&E at 10:oo PM, is a reality show following the everyday life of the early 90’s chart topper, rapper, dancer, and entourage funder (MC) Hammer. With some shame I have to admit to pumping the bass thumping track from Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Um so I felt it was part of my duty to take in this show.
Although I did find the subject matter and the stories that played out on the show very entertaining there was a heavy handed tone of pre-determined reality happening in the premiere episode. Clearly Hammer spent time walking around the house to find his cell phone as a vehicle for us to be introduced to the entire cast of players in his family and on the show. Other elements felt equally forced like the working out of Cousin Marv and the serendipitous timing of the discovery of one of those classic baggy pants suits worn by Hammer in public and music video. Forced or not I can’t really blame the show for these things happening since I’m sure it is very hard to find the direction of a reality show when you have no idea what is going to play out. You haven’t seen any of the life or drama unfold yet so you have a lot of time to fill. At least that’s what I’d imagine.
The subsequent second episode that aired benefited greatly from the cameras having been rolling for a little while. The forced feeling was lessened and I felt like we were seeing more of what really goes on day-to-day. You can get a feel where things will be heading and the family is proving to be very entertaining. All-in-all I’ll be keeping an eye on Hammertime for a while.
I also can’t talk about Sunday night without mentioning the return of the critically and publically acclaimed HBO original True Blood (also airing at 10 PM).
I remember watching the first episode of the first season of True Blood feeling very bored and underwhelmed. I gave up on the show right then and there. Six weeks later I heard people talking about True Blood and realized that something must have changed, I had been too early to judge and it was time to go back. Thanks to HBO OnDemand I was engrossed in a five episode marathon that taught me that I should never judge something solely from the first viewing alone.
Last night when I took in the first episode of the second season of True Blood made me realize that I had already forgotten the impressive and heavy hitting nature of the show as it grew last season. From start to finish the show held my attention as we learned who’s body was discovered at the end of last season, how was Bill dealing with his new vampire ward, and what happened to Lafeyette. The show came back with ferocious strength in continuing the stories while also not alienating new viewers. If this first episode is an indication of how good the rest of this season will be than I don’t think we have to worry about a sophmore slump.
Enough about rap stars and vampires (sounds like the makings for a Broadway show), let’s take a look at what the week holds for our viewing choices.
MONDAY
TLC – 7:30 PM: It’s the Teutuls meet the Gosslins night on TLC with a special 90 minute edition of American Chopper followed by the companion episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8.
DISCOVERY – 8:00 PM: When I first read about Pig Bomb I thought this would be about a new terrorist plan. It turns out that it’s about a population explosion in the US wild pig population. Swine Flu, I blame you!
COMEDY CENTRAL – 9:00 PM: If you didn’t buy the Futurama DVD The Beast With A Billion Backs than you can now enjoy it for free… on cable… where you pay for the channel.. oh never mind.
E! – 9:00 PM: In the most obvious situation named category THS Investigates wins with Teen Pregnancy Nightmares. This trumps a zit on picture day 100 fold.
SHOWTIME – 10:00 PM: All opinions of Weeds aside tonight is enjoyable in seeing Silas and Doug trekking through the national park to plant the clones.
TUESDAY
DISCOVERY – 8:00 PM: Get caught up on the hazards of one of the world’s lousiest jobs with the re-air of last week’s episode of Deadliest Catch followed by this week’s.
CMT – 8:00 PM: Get you’re yee-haw ready for the 2009 CMT Music Awards.
SPIKE – 9:00 PM: I’m sure there are lots of people that might like to see custom bike maker Jesse James set himself on fire. Tune in to Jesse James is a Dead Man tonight and you can finally see it.
TNT – 9:00 PM: Most clever naming convention of the night goes to HawthoRNe. The show’s central character is a nurse. Get it? TV schedule’s across the country were probably almost as annoyed by this one as they were the episode of LOST titled “?”.
WEDNESDAY
TBS – 8:00 PM: Can you handle 2 straight hours of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne? How can you not, he’s in charge of Starfleet Academy you know.
E! – 8:00 PM: Is there a curse attached to those that win the lottery? THS Investigates wants you to think so. Wait, are we talking about the money lottery or the one where you get stoned if you are chosen? If it’s the latter than mystery solved!
AMC – 8:00 PM: Remember when James Cameron actually used to still make movies? Aliens was by far one of his best.
ABC – 10:01 PM: The final episode ever of The Unusuals airs tonight. Based on the ratings I just wrote that for NO ONE!
THURSDAY
CBS – 8:00 PM: There are worse ways to spend an hour than watching How I Met Your Mother repeats, but I can’t think of many better (watching TV anyway).
BRAVO – 8:00 PM: If you didn’t catch the season finale of The Real Housewives of New Jersey you can watch it tonight followed by The Last Supper where I assume they look back at the season. I know, you just can’t wait now can you?
WEtv – 10:00 PM: It’s not Jon & Kate in this new reality show named Raising Sextuplets. I’ll give it a shot since I don’t know how these people survive all those kids without losing their hair.
FRIDAY
SPROUT – 6:00 PM: No, there’s nothing special about the three hour The Goodnight Show tonight. I just figured why not tell you what would really be on at my home tonight, unless I can get my daughter interested in…
NICK – 8:00 PM: George Lopez stars in this retake of the classic “professional dad tries to reconnect with his kid†original made-for-TV movie. I won’t watch it, but I bet my daughter will love it.
NBC – 8:00 PM: Whoa! The Chopping Block is back. Is it safe to consume a show like this after it’s been left out for so long?
AMC – 8:00 PM: Once again American Movie Classics gets loose with its own network’s premise with Die Hard 2.
SATURDAY
FOOD – 8:00 PM: Grill Girls features ladies that love to cook on the grill. I’d love for this to be a face off show with these ladies up against a Grillin’ & Chillin’ reunion show with Bobby Flay and that guy in the overalls.
AMC – 8:00 PM: OK, seriously AMC, I’m starting to think you just don’t believe in your name any more. Although The Whole Nine Yards was an enjoyable film is it truly classic? I think not.
ABC – 9:00 PM: Nathan Fillion’s freshly renewed Castle is starting from the beginning again tonight, so if you missed it the first time around I suggest you get caught up.
SUNDAY
NBC – 8:00 PM: I think tonight marks at least the third Merlin based show/movie that NBC has run. This UK import tried to merge Old Camelot into The OC.
DISCOVERY – 8:00 PM: Two hours of MythBusters means my butt will be firmly glued into place. I can’t wait to see them tackle the myth of a skydiver landing in a playground and catapulting a little girl up in the air. Wait, WHAT?!?!
A&E – 10:00 PM: Hammer books a concert in Utah on his birthday and the family rallies to surprise him still in tonight’s episode of Hammertime. After talking about it so much I figured I better mention it.
– Will Wilkins has now returned to his regularly scheduled programming, already in progress.
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