wednesday
I’m a bit burnt out at the moment. Desperately in need of a vacation. Wishing I was paid to write these picks, wishing more people read them. All that jazz. So if my updates come later than usual, that’s what’s going on. Will be taking a week off in July (to celebrate my 30th birthday. Oh boy!) and Monty Ashley will be filling in for me. I can’t wait!
Chicago White Sox play the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome (ESPN2, 6pm, subject to blackout in some markets).
“Atonement” episode of Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed). Something about the Mimbari not being happy with Delenn’s relationship with Sheridan or something.
The acclaimed BBC miniseries Gormenghast (PBS, check your local listings) will finally air on PBS. Based on Mervyn Peake’s dark fantasy novel, there are two parts to this miniseries. It’s also coming out on DVD on July 3rd. Ian Richardson, Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Zoe Wanamaker, Lynsey Baxter and Celia Imrie star. Not to be missed.
Part 1 of the 2 part pilot episode of Miami Vice (TNN, 7pm and 11pm). Crockett and Tubbs . . . when they met, it was murder. Oh wait, that’s not how that goes.
Barry Bonds guest stars on Nash Bridges (USA, 7pm).
Carol’s music box is missing and she wants Ed to ask Bonnie Hayne to help out. I never could care much about this supposed love triangle since everyone knows Ed (NBC, 7pm) should be with Molly.
Doug gives a “cheesy card” to his boss (a man he hardly knows) and then ends up being selected to roast his boss at a dinner party on what sounds like a funny episode of King of Queens (CBS, 7pm).
John Ritter does guest voice work on King of the Hill (FOX, 7pm).
Margot Kidder is profiled on a new episode of Biography (A&E, 7pm and 10pm).
Paul Reubens hosts another new installment of You Don’t Know Jack (ABC, 7:30pm).
Woohoo! A new episode of Good Eats (Food Network, 8pm and 11pm). It’s called “A Chuck for Chuck” and is about making a pot roast without a pot. I know, now you’re wondering why I’m saying “woohoo!” over something involving the making of a pot roast. Blame Alton Brown. If you don’t understand, you haven’t watched the show.
“The Stackhouse Filibuster” is, I think, one of my favorite episodes of The West Wing (NBC, 8pm). Certainly among my favorites this season. And not just ‘cuz the senator in question is from my home state of Minnesota.
Sure, yeah, we all rolled our eyes at the appearance of a girlfriend robot on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (WB, 8pm), but this is the episode that ended with a bang– when Buffy finds her Mom sprawled on the couch (and not in a good way). And it also set up events in future episodes (BuffyBot!). I’m still boggled at how the Scooby gang knew this chick was a robot so quick, but weren’t so quick on the uptake re Buffy. Guess the BuffyBot was a more advanced model (with Spike’s, um, special modifications . . . ).
“Walking Machines” episode of Junkyard Wars (TLC, 8pm, 11pm), followed by Robotica (TLC, 9pm, midnight).
Season premiere of Soul Food (Showtime, 9pm).
Mark Pellegrino guest stars on a new episode of The Beast (ABC, 9pm). Nope, I still haven’t caught an episode. (Has anyone? Is it any good?) Jason Gedrick and Elizabeth Mitchell are among the stars about an unusual cable network (where the cameras are on, even behind the scenes).
Big Gay Al becomes the boys scoutmaster on a new South Park (Comedy Central, 9pm).
Martin Short (or, rather, that Glick guy) interviews Jerry Seinfeld and Dennis Miller on a new Primetime Glick (Comedy Central, 9:30pm).
A murder suspect flees to Israel on Law & Order (NBC, 9pm).
I adore the “Night of the Dead Living” episode of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, 10pm). But then I love all 9 of the first season episodes and 4 of the second season episodes wholeheartedly. This was the third episode filmed, but NBC didn’t originally air it until the end of the season because they feared it was too slowly paced to draw in viewers. Whatever. I like watching the detectives just hang around the squadroom all night on a very hot day. Great character moments and yeah, some stuff does happen, too. Written by Tom Fontana & Frank Pugliese, directed by Michael Lehmann.
James Woods on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Marlon Wayans on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Bridget Fonda, Kevin Pollak, Louis CK on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:35pm). I predict Conan will make Pollak “do a little Shatner.”
Arsenio Hall on Politically Incorrect (ABC, check your local listings).
“Eli’s Coming” episode of Sports Night (Comedy Central, 12:30am).
