Did you watch the Oscars last night? If you think an American Idol results show is padded, they got nothing on the Academy Awards people. Talk about fluff, they had the Pilobolus dancers, endless movie montages, lame jokes by presenters (except Robert Downey Jr. and Jerry Seinfeld, they were funny), a guy backstage telling us what is coming up while recapping what has happened and more that I don’t remember or care to. They ran about 45 minutes long of the scheduled three hours. The last four awards are the only ones most people want to see presented. But, if you tried to tune in just for those, you would have been an hour or so early. I read a comment by a guy over at The Bastard Machine, who had padded his TiVo by 30 minutes, which gave him a recording of everything, except the awards that he most wanted to see. Classic. What did you think of the Academy Awards last night? Or, could you have cared less?

Prime Picks

Prison Break (FOX): New. Linc, Michael and Sara now have the evidence they need to expose the conspiracy but I am sure something will go wrong. Meanwhile, it looks like Kellerman has decided to take his frustrations out on the President.

Heroes (NBC): New. Matt and Ted, the radioactive guy, have taken H.R.G. and his family including Claire hostage and are demanding answers, which the promos say we are going to get. What do you think?

The Black Donnellys (NBC): Series Premiere. This is a new show from writer/producer/director Paul Haggis. He has been behind such movies as Crash and Letters from Iwo Jima and former short lived TV shows like Michael Hayes and EZ Streets. He takes another stab at television with a story about a group of Irish American brothers who are involved in mob activity in their neighborhood and live by the motto of “family first.”

Solid Selections

How I Met Your Mother (CBS): New. Marshall’s car finally peters out just shy of 200,000 miles and the gang harkens back to the good times each of them has had in the car.
The Class (CBS): New. Nicole is supposed to make a decision between Yonk and Duncan. Do you care? This show has improved with the shrinking of the cast but they really need to resolve this and hopefully they really do it tonight.

24 (FOX): New. Jack’s bad day continues, as he has to meet with the former president that he took down. President Palmer could be in for a really bad time himself, as people work towards his assassination.

CSI: Miami (CBS): New. A bear mauls a hunter but the CSIs think there may be more to it than that.

Cable Choices

Wildfire (ABC Family): New. Matt wants Kris and that is heart breaking news for Gillian. Dani and R.J.’s new romance may have a problem. This episode replays later and a new Lincoln Heights plays right before this episode.

Unwrapped (Food Network): New. Get a peek at some real food magic.
Unwrapped (Food Network): Repeat. Get a look behind some fruity foods.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel): Repeat. Anthony visits the Pacific Northwest and takes in the foods native to the area.

Other Options

• Emeril Live (Food Network): New. Mississippi inspired recipes gets cooked.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS): New. Jeff seems to be interested in a New York Knicks game and not so much in his wife. Meanwhile, Adam and Jennifer get in to it over money.
• Two and a Half Men (CBS): New. Charlie and Alan don’t think that much of anyone would show up at their mother funeral and she makes them pay for saying so.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has a college basketball doubleheader.

What show are you most looking forward to tonight?

Tonight it is mostly about the Academy Awards and who will get the Oscar statuettes. But, for those who are looking for something else tonight, there is a new Grease and Crossing Jordan on NBC and a new Amazing Race on CBS. On cable both The Dresden Files and Battlestar Galactica on Sci Fi Channel are new. Also, you might find a TV show marathon of interest today. The two of note are Dirty Jobs and Law & Order: SVU. Will you be watching the Academy Awards, TV marathon, nothing at all or something that’s been sitting on your TiVo ? What will you be watching tonight?

Prime Pick

The 79th Annual Academy Awards (ABC): New. Ellen DeGeneres host the festivities as awards are handed out for the best achievement in film for last year. The broadcast is scheduled to run three hours. Here in Seattle the awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with two and a half hours of pregame show leading up to it.

Solid Selections

The Simpsons (FOX): Repeat. The “Kill Gil Vol. 1 & 2” episode replays.
The Simpsons (FOX): Repeat. The “Treehouse of Horror XVII” replays.

Crossing Jordan (NBC): Repeat. There is a copycat killer of the female persuasion killing people in Boston and Jordan and Woody seek help from the original to try and catch her.

Crossing Jordan (NBC): New. Ron Silver (The West Wing) guest stars as an attorney who is shot and presumed dead but really isn’t. That should make for one wild autopsy.

Cable Choices

Emeril Live (Food Network): New. Emeril gets all hot and spicy, Asian style.

The Dresden File (Sci Fi): New. Looks like there is some bad blood in tonight episode. Plays again later.

Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi): New. The labor leader is pushing for a strike and that puts Chief Tyrol on opposite sides with Adama. Plays again later.

Other Options

• The ½ Hour News Hour (FOX News): New. I haven’t watched this yet but it is supposed to be, I guess, a The Daily Show knockoff with a conservative bent. Have you seen it?
• Dirt (FX): Repeat. Last Tuesday’s “Things Under Your Bed” episode replays. Runs 65 minutes.
• Iron Chef America (Food Network): New. The challenger is chef Lynn Crawford and she takes on Iron Chef Bobby Flay.
• You Spoof Discovery (Discovery Channel): New. Viewers have sent in there comic takes on their favorite Discovery Channel shows. Plays twice tonight and could be funny, especially if you watch Discovery a lot.

Sports Notes

• ABC has an NBA doubleheader with the Chicago Bulls at the Detroit Pistons followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Miami Heat.
• CBS has a college basketball tripleheader with Duke at St. John’s in the second game.
• ESPN has women’s college basketball with North Carolina at Duke and then later the Sacramento Kings at the Indiana Pacers in NBA action.
• FOX has NASCAR racing with the Nextel Cup: Auto Club 500.
• NBC has the final round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

Late Night

• Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC): New. Jimmy has Dr. Phil as a guest and Gwen Stefani performs in his After the Academy Awards special episode.

TV Marathons

A&E has 10 episodes of Criss Angel Mindfreak followed by 14 episodes of Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Discovery Channel has eight episodes of Dirty Jobs and then three more after a special called You Spoof Discovery.
Discovery Times has seven episodes of City Cops early.
FOX Reality has five episodes of For Love or Money.
MTV2 has 11 episodes of Wild ‘n Out.
Spike has five episodes of Pros vs. Joes.
TLC has five episodes of Flip That House.
USA has 16 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Tonight CBS gives you a bit of a second chance Saturday with a replay of Jericho from earlier this week on Wednesday. I watched American Idol while recording Friday Night Lights but I have Comcast On Demand and they have some of CBS’ shows out there for viewing the day after they air. This includes Jericho. Actually, right now you can watch the first 11 episodes from the fall, the catch up episode that aired last week and this past week’s new episode. You can also find these episodes via streaming video at CBS’ Innertube.

Prime Picks

Jericho (CBS): Repeat. Wednesday’s new episode, “The Day Before,” replays.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS): Repeat. An old episode with guest star Judd Nelson replays where the team investigates the death of a Vegas high roller.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC): Repeat. An old episode with guest star Fran Drescher, as the wife of the Commissioner, replays where her child has goes missing and Goren and Eames investigate.

Solid Selection

Forest Gump (ABC): Released 1994. Tom Hanks as the title character. He is man with a low IQ but gets to see a lot of history first hand. Runs three hours.

Cable Choices

Emeril Live (Food Network): Repeat. Emeril cooks with garlic.

The State Within (BBC America): New. This is the conclusion to the 3-part story that began last Saturday night. Assassinations have happened, links to terrorist found and who is at the middle of it? Tune in a find out.

Trading Spaces (TLC): New. A couple of bedrooms get the makeover treatment.

Other Options

Saturday Night Live (E!): Repeat. The best of Eddie Murphy is played.
Unwrapped (Food Network): New. Goodies made with garlic are profiled.

Sports Notes

• ABC has college basketball.
• CBS has a college basketball doubleheader with Florida at LSU in the second game.
• ESPN has five college basketball games today.
• ESPN2 has three college basketball games with some NASCAR qualifying thrown in.
• NBA TV has the Denver Nuggets at the Dallas Mavericks.
• NBC has the semifinals of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

Late Night

• MADtv (FOX): New. Danny Bonaduce joins the gang in some sketches.
• Saturday Night Live (NBC): Rainn “The Schrute” Wilson from The Office hosts with musical guest Arcade Fire. I might actually have to breakdown and watch.
• Talkshow With Spike Feresten (FOX): New. Comic Bobby Lee is his guest tonight.

Anything look good to you tonight?

Did you watch Grey’s Anatomy last night? What did you think of how they wrapped up the ferry crash episodes? Well, if you aren’t sure or haven’t seen it yet, ABC once again is replaying last night’s Grey’s Anatomy episode on Friday night. I have mentioned this before, but I wish each network would turn either their Friday, in the case of ABC, or their Saturday night lineup, into a second chance night. Giving you a second shot at three of the best episodes from the past week. What do you think? Is that something you might take advantage of? At least, it would give you a second shot at TiVo -ing something, if you had a problem or a show conflict the first time around.

Prime Picks

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): Repeat. Last night’s conclusion to the three episode ferry crash story arc replays.

Las Vegas (NBC): New. It is company picnic time and Mary is testifying against her father in an attempt to put her past behind her.

Numb3rs (CBS): New. Charlie and the rest of Don’s FBI team try to find a missing boy who has been kidnapped and they only have and hour to do so. Don can’t be reached while he is at the therapist for a session.

Solid Selections

1 vs. 100 (NBC): New. People answer questions and try and win money.

Close to Home (CBS): New. A school dean murders his bride from Russia and Annabeth prosecutes him.

Law & Order (NBC): New. After a controversial book is published the publisher is found dead and the detective investigate.

Cable Choices

Emeril Live (Food Network): Repeat. Emeril cooks up some Asian cuisine.

Monk (USA): New. A serial killer has struck once again in San Francisco and Monk is asked to join in the hunt for him. Along the way he has to deal with all the forensics and special tech gadgets that the federal agents are using to track the killer.

Psych (USA): New. Henry has a friend whose son has gone missing after ripping off his dad. The dad doesn’t want to notify the police. This puts Henry at his son Shawn’s detective agency, the last place he wants to ask for help. Shawn and Gus take the case.

Other Options

• Giada’s Weekend Getaways (Food Network): New. Giada takes in the cuisine of Austin, Texas.
• What Not to Wear (TLC): New. A woman heading for law school needs to update her style and wardrobe.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has an NBA doubleheader with the Washington Wizards at the Chicago Bulls and then the Utah Jazz at the Denver Nuggets.
• ESPN2 has Friday Night Fights.
• Golf Channel has the third round of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship with Tiger still in the mix.

Leave your picks and pans in the comments.