News & Notes
Over on cable, Bravo has the third season finale of Million Dollar Listing, Food Network has a Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives holiday special, Lifetime has the second season finale of Rita Rocks, Syfy has part two of the Alice miniseries, and TNT has the fifth season winter premiere of The Closer and the series premiere of Men of a Certain Age.
If you are an email or RSS subscriber you will find links to the Winter 2009-10 Printable TV Schedules at the bottom of this post in your email client or feed reader.
Prime Picks
How I Met Your Mother (CBS): New. Joanna Garcia (Privileged) guest stars as a woman that the gang thinks would be perfect for Ted and is now available. Marshall finds something he wrote when he was younger.
Accidentally on Purpose (CBS): New. Billie is going to parenting classes and Abby and Olivia go along with her. When Abby starts doing better, it becomes a competition.
The Closer (TNT): Winter Premiere. Brenda and the squad are investigating after a 12-year-old is found dead in a known gang party house. Fritz has a surprise for Brenda. Plays again later.
Castle (ABC): New. A bullet seems to be missing from the crime scene of an art dealer that was shot in his own gallery. Beckett and Castle investigate.
Solid Selections
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (ABC): Repeat. The animated classic about a mailman talking about Santa, the North Pole, and getting presents once a year.
Two and a Half Men (CBS): New. Charlie comes to find out that Chelsea hasn’t been completely upfront about her financial situation. Runs 31 minutes.
The Big Bang Theory (CBS): New. Sheldon attempts to help Penny learn about what Leonard does. Wolowitz doesn’t like it when his new girlfriend and Leonard seem to be hanging out. Starts a minute after the half hour and runs 29 minutes.
Men of a Certain Age (TNT): Series Premiere. Three guys in their late 40s, Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap) and Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Streets), support each other as they attempt to navigate midlife. Romano is a recently divorced, party storeowner that doesn’t want to be divorced and dreams of being a pro golfer on the senior circuit one day. Bakula is an actor that seems to be past his prime and spends his time working temp jobs. Braugher is a car salesman at a dealership owned by his father. Plays again later. I’ve seen the first two episodes of this series and while there are a few great moments, mostly the pacing just made me want to bang my head against the wall. I am not sure who the target market is for this show. While it’s not the same type of show, it has the feel to me of Trust Me, in that it has a great cast that isn’t being used to the best of their ability. For one thing, there isn’t enough comedy for my liking. Yes, I know that TNT knows drama, but while shows like The Closer and Saving Grace are highly dramatic, they also provide some of the funniest moments on TV. I just don’t see this one catching on, unless it improves significantly in future episodes.
Other Options
- Alice (Syfy): Part Two. You can read my thoughts on the miniseries in yesterday’s “Tonight on the Tube.” Runs two hours. It plays three times tonight and again tomorrow night. Part one replays right before. Both parts play next Sunday.
- CSI: Miami (CBS): New. A census worker is found dead and the case may lead the CSIs into a dangerous and deadly situation.
- Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Food Network): New Special. Guy checks out the local eateries in North Pole, Alaska. Plays again later.
- Gossip Girl (The CW): New. Chuck is dealing with something from his past. Dan and Vanessa are trying to get past the awkwardness or their present relationship.
- One Tree Hill (The CW): New. Haley and Nathan are preparing to leave Tree Hill. Quinn is trying to get Nathan to take Clay back as his agent. Dan makes a statement that shocks everyone.
- Rita Rocks (Lifetime): Season Finale. Rita’s band finally lands a paying gig, but her ready to be delivered baby has other plans. Plays twice. Last week’s two episode replay right before.
Sports Notes
- ESPN has Monday Night Football with the Baltimore Ravens at the Green Bay Packers.
- NBA TV has the Denver Nuggets at the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Versus has NHL action.
Late Night
- Monk (USA): Repeat. Last Friday’s series finale episode, “Mr. Monk and the End, Part II,” replays.
- White Collar (USA): Repeat. Last Friday’s Fall Finale episode, “Free Fall,” replays.
TV Marathons
Bravo has nine episodes of Million Dollar Listing.
Oxygen has 22 episodes of Living Single.
Spike has five episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
USA has nine episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
