thursday
Oscar the Grouch on Martha Stewart Living (syndicated, check your local listings).
Joel and Maggie have sex in the “Ill Wind” episode of Northern Exposure (A&E, 7am and 1pm). (Is this when the series jumped the shark? You make the call).
Both parts of the two-part “Filthy Pictures” episode of WKRP in Cincinatti (TNN, 8am and 8:30am). The staff fights back when they learn that a photographer took nude pictures of Jennifer without her knowledge.
McMurphy learns she has post-traumatic stress syndrome on China Beach (History Channel, Noon and 6pm).
Can Murdock save Face, B.A., and Hannibal from execution? And what is Robert Vaughn up to? In the “Firing Line” episode of The A-Team (TV Land, 1pm).
William Holden et al in Stalag 17 (AMC, 1pm, midnight). Which is required viewing if you plan to watch Chicken Run (Cinemax, 3:30pm). Oh alright, Chicken Run holds up on it’s own just fine, but it’s funnier if you’re familiar with Stalag 17.
Max looks just like this king, you see, and so he takes his place as part of a case and well, it’s a hilarious episode of Get Smart (TV Land, 4pm).
Behind the Scenes (E!, 6pm) looks at the movie O, which is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello from director Tim Blake Nelson (who you may best known for playing Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?). Julia Stiles, Mekhi Phifer, and Josh Hartnett star. This movie was completed back in 1998, I’m thrilled it’s finally being released.
“Infection” episode of Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed); “Throne for a Loss” episode of Farscape (Sci-Fi, 7pm).
Aaliyah: A Life Cut Short (E!, 7pm), a special look back at the singer’s too-short life.
“The Deer Hunters” is another fine early episode of Gilmore Girls (WB, 7pm). Rory’s trying to make a good impression at her new school, but then she’s hit by a deer en route to an important test and, of course, complications ensue.
James Garner in The Thrill of It All (TCM, 7pm), Boys’ Night Out (TCM, 9pm), The Wheeler Dealers (TCM, 11pm), and They Only Kill Their Masters (TCM, 1am).
Coverage of The Goodwill Games (TNT, 7pm) from Brisbane, Australia.
Mare Winningham, Jane Adams, and Stephen Baldwin are among the guest stars on this week’s installment of Night Visions (FOX, 8pm).
The excellent “Small Town” episode of Sports Night (Comedy Central, 9:30pm).
“Stakeout” is a truly fine episode of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, 10pm). There’s not a lot of plot here, it’s mostly about the different detectives talking to each other while on a stakeout. I like that.
Mo’Nique, Bob Balaban, the Wild Colonials on The Sandra Bernhard Experience
Seth Green on a rerun of The Daily Show (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).
Sarah Jessica Parker, John Witherspoon on The Late Show w/ David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Henry Rollins, and Lyle Lovett on a rerun of The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Morgan Freeman on a rerun of Charlie Rose (PBS, check your local listings).
