News & Notes

Tonight, ABC, CBS, and NBC are all playing the Stand Up to Cancer special. CBS also has their CBS Fall Preview special and the first season finale of Swingtown. FOX has the two-hour season premiere of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? NBC also has an NFL Kickoff Show special.

Over on cable, ABC Family has the miniseries premiere of Samurai Girl, G4 has the first season finale of The Peter Serafinowicz Show, and USA has the 100th episode of Monk.

Giveaway: Enter our drawing for a Greek Prize Pack.

Prime Picks

Stand Up to Cancer (ABC, CBS & NBC): Special. Jennifer Aniston, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Josh Brolin, Katie Couric, Fran Drescher, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Edwards, America Ferrara, Charles Gibson, Neil Patrick Harris, Robin Roberts, Brian Williams and others show support for cancer research during this telethon.

CBS Fall Preview (CBS): New. CBS gives you a look at their fall lineup.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS): Repeat. Andy Richter guest stars in this episode and Christine admits that she likes Stan, who he plays.

Swingtown (CBS): Season Finale. At the end of the summer key party, many a couple has to decide about the future of their relationships.

Solid Selection

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX): Season Premiere. Kathy Ireland puts her supermodel smarts to the test along with the state superintendent of Georgia. Runs two hours.

20/20 (ABC): Repeat. ABC News investigates and reports.

Cable Choices

Samurai Girl (ABC Family): Miniseries Premiere. This three-part miniseries begins tonight. Runs two hours. Read our review for more information.

Monk (USA): New. It’s “Mr. Monks 100th Case” tonight where everyone comes together to watch a show about Monk catching a serial killer and while watching he figures out that someone else killed the third victim. Plays again later.

Psych (USA): New. This is the episode that was filming when I got a chance to visit the set back in June. The episode revolves around Juliet going undercover with a roller derby team to try and uncover who is behind a string of robberies. Tim Meltreger wrote this episode, “Talk Derby to Me” and you can check out my interview with him, where you can find out how an episode of Psych goes from conception to birth. Plays again later.

Other Options

• The Cleaner (A&E): Repeat. This past Tuesday’s episode, “House of Pain,” replays. Plays again later.
• Stargate Atlantis (Sci Fi): New. One of Michael’s secret labs is found while exploring a planet. Plays again later. The previous episode, “The Shrine,” replays right before.
• What Not to Wear (TLC): New. A student that wears sloppy tees and sandals gets the makeover treatment. Plays again later.

Sports Notes

• ESPN has college football action with Navy at Ball State followed by MLB action with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• ESPN2 has NASCAR racing with the Nationwide Series: Emerson Radio 250 followed by Friday Night Fights with a light middleweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

TV Marathons

Sci Fi has eight episodes of Tru Calling.
USA has 12 episodes of Monk.