FOX
I don’t know what’s more exciting. The fact that we’ve got fifteen season and series premiere in four hours of programming tonight, or the return of Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Jonathan and *swoon!* Joey to our technicolor screens in their own concert special. You’ve got network favorites like Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Cold Case and The Unit, along with the returns of FOX’s animated lineup of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad.
But interestingly, the kids over on pay cable are apparently ready to play with the big boys. Usually, cable programs their series around network, but Showtime and HBO are jumping right into the fray with season premieres tonight of Dexter and Californication on Showtime and the series premieres of comedies Little Britain and The Life & Times of Tim on HBO. And I haven’t even mentioned reality TV yet. What a big night. Let’s get to it…
7:00p/6:00 Central
- The man in the middle of this financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson takes center stage as 60 Minutes bows its 41st season tonight on CBS. We also take a trip down into the Large Hadron Collider to see if they’re going to get it fixed and blow up the world any time soon.
- Or, if you’d rather feel good, tune into Ty Pennington as he and the EM crew step in to help a woman who’s striving to keep her ten nieces and nephews out of foster care in the two hour premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC.
- But if football is your thing, tune in early on NBC and catch up on the world of NFL with Football Night in America.
8:00p/7:00 Central
- Then stay tuned for the start of the Eagles v. Bears at 8:15p/7:15 Central on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. If running around the world is more your style than running for the end zone, CBS’ Emmy winning The Amazing Race kicks off its 13th global trek tonight.
- Homer, inspired by “Wolf the Bounty Hunter” gives the profession a try in the record twentieth season premiere of The Simpsons on FOX. Then, on King of the Hill, Bill gets diagnosed with diabetes and immediately seeks the sanctuary of an unneeded wheelchair.
- But none of that is nearly as important as VH1 kicking of NKOTB-night in grand style with a Behind the Music special on the surprise return success of the New Kids.
9:00p/8:00 Central
- And yet, somehow, after seven albums and 22 years VH1 only sees fit to give thirty minutes to New Kids on the Block: Live from Boston! What the hell do the boys need to do to get some respect? I mean, do we really need a special episode of I Love Money instead of more *swoon!* Joey?
- Maybe I’ll just watch Bridezillas on WE instead. No, wait. I can just watch my wedding video for that (hope the wife isn’t reading). She should be busy watching the One Tree Hill-esque five year jump on the 5th season bow of Desperate Housewives. It worked for Tree, so maybe it can revitalize excitement in this megahit that softened a bit in the past few seasons. Now there’s five years of unknown gossip to wonder about. But Gabby with kids? And less hot?
- Cold Case on CBS tackles football and possibly steroid use in the 1970s in their 6th season bow. Meanwhile, Dexter keeps on keeping on as his 3rd season premieres on Showtime.
- But if you want more serious fare, you can watch Brian (who’s a dog) compete with Cleveland (who’s a man) for the affection of the same woman on the 7th season premiere of Family Guy on FOX. Seth MacFarlane hour continues with the 4th season debut of American Dad, in which Roger celebrates 1600 years. That makes him almost as old as Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes.
10:00p/9:00 Central
- AMC’s Mad Men chugs right along, but faces increased competition on the night. Not only is Hank Moody back for a 2nd season on Showtime’s Californication. But so is The Unit on CBS, which always makes me feel like I’m in good hands, and the entire Walker clan on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters 3rd season premiere. Can we get past the idea that Rebbecca and Justin have been related for two years and accept them as a couple? Can the family? And … the search for Ryan.
- History continues its exploration of the men and women who built New York’s subway tunnels in Sandhogs. And WE continues its exploration on whether or not it can have a separate show for every minute aspect of a wedding with Amazing Wedding Cakes. You know by watching this you’re helping them think it’s time to develop The Wedding Garter Belt. Now, if they schedule The Wedding “Night”, if you know what I mean, I’m there … because I respect the sanctity of marriage, of course.
- It’s sad that we have to say goodbye to Sunset Tan on E! because it marks the end of bikini season, and for that we all suffer. But the “sexy” stays alive on the controversial yet addictively brilliant Skins over on BBC America. Sure, the adults are idiots, but the kids are so raw and tragically well written. Their portrayal genuinely blows away how kids are written in America. Well, except for Two and a Half Men of course. Genius that!
- HBO ushers in a couple of new comedies, launching them on the heels of the latest installment of Entourage. First up is the remake of the BBC animated hit Little Britain. For the US installment they’ve kept the same name … and creative team. In fact, everything is the same … why didn’t they just import the original show?
11:00p/10:00 Central
- It looks like they’re going for shock humor, based on the description of The Life & Times of Tim, which premieres with two back-to-back episodes. It looks like Kurtwood Smith is pulling double duty on this and the funny Worst Week, and it’s great to see Cheri Oteri anywhere. And the star? Well, he’s the guy behind the ‘Lizards’ ad for Budweiser, so he’s a funny guy behind the camera.
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