News & Notes
Over on cable, A&E has the first season finale of The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, Comedy Central has an Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening comedy special, Food Network has the 10th season premiere of Challenge, ID has the first season finale of On the Case With Paula Zahn, Lifetime Movie Network has the TV movie premiere of The Wronged Man, and TLC has a TV Murders: Jasmine Fiore and Anne Presley special and a Natalee Holloway: Lost in Paradise special.
If you’ve heard about Being Erica, but haven’t seen it, SOAPnet is replaying the entire 13-episode first season today. Season two premieres on Wednesday, January 20th. The first season is really good and worth checking out.
Prime Picks
Human Target (FOX): Series Premiere. The woman responsible for engineering California’s first bullet train thinks someone is trying to kill her and hires Chance to protect her during the trains maiden voyage. This episode will replay Tuesday night following American Idol. The second episode of the series will play after American Idol this Wednesday, before taking its regular pre-Idol timeslot the following Wednesday, January 27th. I got a chance to see this at Comic-Con last July and it looks like it is going to be a fun show. The cast is superb with Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Keen Eddie) as Christopher Chance, Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies, Boston Public), and Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen). This first episode also guest stars Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as the client that needs protecting. The show has been adapted from Human Target published by DC Comics. In the comic Chance impersonates his clients to keep them safe and figure out who is trying to harm them. In the series, Chance completely inserts himself into his client’s life to protect them and figure out who is trying to harm them. This first episode goes a little big, but makes for a solid entrance to what the series and the Chance character is all about. There is plenty of humor and some outstanding action/fight sequences. I’ve really been looking forward to this one, as I love me some action-comedy, and can’t wait to see episode two later this week.
24 (FOX): Season Premiere. President Taylor is negotiating an international security agreement with a leader from the Middle East, when things go bad and Jack Bauer, who is retired, is drawn back into another really bad day. Runs two hours. The next two hours play tomorrow night and the following week, January 25th, it will take its regular post House timeslot. I’ve actually really been looking forward to this show as well.
Solid Selections
Challenge (Food Network): Season Premiere. It’s a BBQ showdown, as four teams compete four the prize. Plays again later.
Desperate Housewives (ABC): New. Lynette is less than enthused at the proposition of going to couples therapy. Angie doesn’t like whom Danny has started dating. Runs 61 minutes.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC): New. Sarah has found a new romance. Kitty and Robert disagree over politics. Scotty and Kevin are waiting to see if the first attempt at surrogacy worked. Starts a minute after the hour and runs 59 minutes.
Other Options
- Cold Case (CBS): New. A private investigator that went missing in 1974 is found in the rubble of a demolished building, so the team reopens the case.
- Iron Chef America (Food Network): New. Chef Rachel Yang challenges the winner of the last Next Iron Chef competition. Plays again later.
- Worst Cooks in America (Food Network): New. The remaining contestants have to flavor a basic crepe dish that has been provided for them. Plays again later.
Sports Notes
- CBS has a college basketball game and later the AFC Divisional Playoff with the New York Jets at the San Diego Chargers, which is the late NFL game.
- ESPN has NBA action with the Utah Jazz at the Denver Nuggets.
- ESPN2 has a women’s college basketball followed by early round action from the Australian Open tennis tournament.
- FOX has the NFC Divisional Playoff with the Dallas Cowboys at the Minnesota Vikings, which is the early NFL game.
- NBC has NHL action early.
Late Night
- nip/tuck (FX): Repeat. This past Tuesday’s episode, “Willow Banks,” replays.
TV Marathons
ABC Family has Bring It On, Bring It On: In It to Win It, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and the TV premiere of Bring It On: Fight to the Finish.
Bravo has six episodes of Launch My Line.
Hallmark Channel has five episodes of Mystery Woman movies, which star Kellie Martin (ER, Life Goes On).
History has nine episodes of MonsterQuest.
Oxygen has 27 episodes of Snapped.
SOAPnet has all 13 first season episodes of Being Erica.
Spike has six episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
TLC has five episodes of Dateline: Real Life Mysteries.
TNT has 10 episodes of Law & Order early.
Travel Channel has nine episodes of Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern.
truTV has six episodes of Most Daring.
TV One has 13 episodes of Living Single early.
WE has 10 episodes of Platinum Weddings.
Wow–lots on tonight–was getting used to having time to catch up on TV on DVD/Blu–but now the new stuff is going to start piling up. Was trying to keep up with your Buffy effort (almost done season 3) but I’m sure I’ll fall behind once I get to season 4 as I plan to watch both Angel and Buffy as I remember there being a bunch of crossover episodes.
As for tonight, will watch the Golden Globes–love Ricky Gervais. Will watch Human Target and 24 tomorrow along with Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters.
How do the Globes work for the West Coast–do they run from 5-8pm? If so that’s great for the left coasters–no need to wait to watch 24!
Kyle, At least things go back to normal next Sunday, but then starting tomorrow Mondays become insane and gets even worse next week with the return of Greek.
Given that over the next couple weeks, pretty much everything will be back with new episodes, it looks like my Buffy quest will have to slow down. Don’t think I’ll be able to continue watching 2 to 4 episodes a day in addition to all the TV. Plus, was also thinking about adding in Angel, which would slow things down even more.
The Globes is the one awards show that they run live here on the West Coast, so no conflicts between it and Human Target/24 for those that will be watching both.