News & Notes
Over on cable, A&E has the second season finale of Parking Wars, BBC America has a Too Fat to Toddle special, Comedy Central has the first season finale of Chocolate News, Sci Fi has the first season finale of Estate of Panic, and TNT has a Christmas in Washington.
What to know what the TV landscape will look like in January? When and where your favorite shows will be playing? Then listen to episode 11, “Winter Preview,” of the TV times Three podcast. We went over the whole schedule night by night, gave premiere/return dates and then talked a little about which shows we are most looking forward to in the new year. We also talked a little about the Jay Leno news and finished off the episode with our primetime wrap-up.
Prime Picks
Pushing Daisies (ABC): New. Emerson turns down Vivian’s request to look into the disappearance of Dwight Dixon, so she goes to his rival, played by Orlando Jones (MADtv). Sadly, this is the last episode of the year and there is no telling when, or if, the final three episodes will air.
Life (NBC): New. Crews and Reese are looking into the deaths of three Russians. Crews shoots an intruder, but it turns out he knows them. Reese may be falling back into her old habits. Garrett Dillahunt (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) returns as a guest star. New episodes return on February 4th.
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC): New. The aftermath of the shootings at Patrick’s inauguration are dealt with. Nick and Lisa talk about custody of their daughter. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes. Not sure how many more episodes there are and when, or if, they will play. Life on Mars will take this timeslot as of January 28th.
Solid Selections
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS): New. Christine and Barb try to get a loan to save the gym, but when denied they decide that turning the building into a spa might work. New episodes return on January 14th.
Gary Unmarried (CBS): New. Gary is trying to spend more time with his son because the relationship his son is developing with Krandall. New episodes return on January 14th.
Private Practice (ABC): New. Meg is back and notices how close Pete and Violet have become. Kevin is questioning where he and Addison’s relationship is headed. Runs 61 minutes. New episodes return on January 8th on Thursday nights after Grey’s Anatomy. Lost will be taking this timeslot as of January 21st.
CSI: NY (CBS): New. A man is seen dumping a body, but then dies in a car chase with the police. The cases looked to be wrapped up until the dead guy gets a weird text message. New episodes return on January 14th.
Cable Choices
All Star Holiday Dishes (Food Network): Repeat. Stars of the network pair up to share some of their favorite holiday dishes. Plays again later.
Throwdown With Bobby Flay (Food Network): Repeats. Bobby competes in a “Yule Log Cake” battle and then in a “Pie” battle. Both play again later.
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS): New. Two new episodes play, “It’s a Payne Growing Up” and “Payne and Prejudice,” tonight. Four repeat episodes play right before.
Other Options
- Criminal Minds (CBS): New. A serial killer is taking out luxury car owners in South Carolina and the team in on the case. Bummed that last week’s episode was new as well, but it showed in my guide as being a repeat, so I missed it. New episodes return on January 14th.
- MythBusters (Discovery Channel): Repeat. The guys take myths submitted online that are holiday related. Plays again later.
Sports Notes
- ESPN has an NBA doubleheader with the Boston Celtics at the Atlanta Hawks followed by the San Antonio Spurs at the New Orleans Hornets.
- ESPN2 has doubleheader college basketball action.
TV Marathons
Bravo has six episodes of Million Dollar Listing followed by six episodes of Top Chef.
MTV has six episodes of True Life early.
Oxygen has 18 episodes of Roseanne.
Sci Fi has eight episodes of The Outer Limits early.
Spike has 12 hours of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episodes.
