News & Notes
Over on cable, ABC Family has the TV movie premiere of My Fake Fiance special, Comedy Central has a Ron White: Behavioral Problems special, Lifetime Movie Network has the TV movie premiere of The Natalee Holloway Story, TLC has a Jon & Kate Plus 8 special and a Cake Boss special, Sci Fi has the miniseries premiere of Knights of Bloodsteel, Style has the first season finale of Running in Heels, USA has the eighth season premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the second season premiere of In Plain Sight, and VH1 has a Rock of Love Bus reunion special.
Prime Picks
The Simpsons (FOX): New. Bart and Milhouse pull a prank together, but Milhouse takes the blame for it.
Sit Down, Shut Up (FOX): Series Premiere. If the football team can win, it will get alumni to donate and they might be able to save a teacher from being fired from the school. This is from Mitchell Hurwitz, the creator of Arrested Development. Don’t know if it’s any good, but I haven’t heard good things.
Desperate Housewives (ABC): New. Everyone remembers back to a time they had with Edie. Runs 61 minutes.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC): New. Holly may drop the charges against Tommy. Sarah is making another big career change. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes.
Solid Selection
The Amazing Race (CBS): New. Meltdowns and frustrations end ones team’s race.
The Courageous Heart of Irene Sendler (CBS): TV Movie Premiere. Anna Paqin stars in this story of a Polish social worker that saved thousands of Jewish children during WWII. Runs two hours.
Cable Choices
Food Network Challenge: Last Cake Standing (Food Network): New. The remaining four contestants compete in an “Extreme Superhero” cake building competition. Plays again later.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA): Season Premiere. Goren and Eames are up in the shows eighth season opener. They are investigating what looks like a drug related shooting, but there may be a connection to a city councilman. Kathy Baker (Picket Fences guest stars. Plays again later. If you like this version of the Law & Order franchise, as I do, then you will like this episode, as I did. Next week Jeff Goldblum (Raines) joins the cast as Det. Zach Nichols.
In Plain Sight (USA): Season Premiere. Season two picks up a couple days after the events of last season. Mary is on administrative leave, but an old witness is found dead in her home of an apparent suicide. She works the case even though she isn’t supposed too and at the same time is trying to deal with what happened to her. This last part is the best part of this episode, watching Mary deal, which seams to have given her a new outlook on things. The first season started out weak, but really grew into something by the end of its run. The new season continues this trend with a very good season opener. Plays again later.
Other Options
- Breaking Bad (AMC): New. Jesse and Walt are thinking about expanding their business. Skyler goes after a new job. Plays twice and again later.
- My Fake Fiance (ABC Family): TV Movie Premiere. Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Joey Lawrence (Blossom star in this romantic comedy about a man and a woman that decide to get married for the presents and money that usually come with such an event. Runs two hours. Plays twice.
- Tracy Ullman’s State of the Union (Showtime): New. Tracy Ullman makes fun of stuff. Plays twice.
- The Tudors (Showtime): New. Henry reconciles just before Christmas with Elizabeth and Mary. Plays again later.
Sports Notes
- ABC has first round NBA playoff action with the Utah Jazz at the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1, which is the first of four games today, as three more follow on TNT.
- ESPN has Sunday Night Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals at the Chicago Cubs.
- NBC has NHL playoff action.
- TBS has MLB action early, with the Cleveland Indians at the New York Yankees.
- TNT has tripleheader first round NBA playoff action with the Philadelphia 76ers at the Orlando Magic in Game 1, then the Miami Heat at the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1, and capping off the night with the New Orleans Hornets at the Denver Nuggets in Game 1.
- Versus has doubleheader NHL playoff action.
Late Night
- Rescue Me (FX): Repeat. Last Tuesday’s episode, “French,” replays. Runs 62 minutes.
- Mad Men (AMC): Repeat. The “The Gold Violin” episode from season two replays.
TV Marathons
A&E has five episodes of CSI: Miami early.
Bravo has five hours of Inside the Actors Studio episodes.
Discovery Channel has nine episodes of MythBusters.
TLC has 12 episodes of John & Kate Plus 8.
USA has nine episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
