tuesday
Featured Picks:
If it’s Tuesday, it means some of the best shows on TV all air at the same time. What’s a tv fan to do? If you’re lucky, you’ve got a VCR or Tivo or something so maybe you can record at least one thing while watching another thing. But even so. It makes for some tough choices. You know, as TV choices go.
Two of the best series on the air now air opposite each other. How does one choose between a new episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (UPN, 7pm) and the two hour season premiere of Gilmore Girls (WB, 7pm-9pm)? It’s impossible, as far as I’m concerned. I’ll be recording both, somehow, but I know not everyone has that luxury.
Meanwhile, as if having those two shows on opposite each other wasn’t annoying enough . . . one of the funniest shows around– That ’70s Show (FOX, 7pm) is on at the same time. As well as Undeclared (FOX, 7:30pm), which so far is (by far) my favorite new show of this season.
Y’all know why all these shows are great, don’t you? They’re smart and funny and don’t underestimate the viewer, bless them.
If someone were to ask me why I bother with TV, I’d point ‘em to Buffy or Gilmore Girls or Undeclared in a heartbeat. And I hope to somehow find a way to watch or record all three shows tonight. ‘Cuz I’m greedy. Especially when it comes to good TV.
Watch one of ‘em. Or a couple of them. Or all if you can. You really can’t complain that there’s nothing good on tonight.
Other picks and possibilities:
Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Lana Turner in Love Finds Andy Hardy (TCM, 6:30am).
The pilot episode of the quirky David E. Kelly series Picket Fences (TNN, 8am).
Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in Dream Wife (TCM, 8:30am).
Gil Bellows (of Ally McBeal and The Agency), Kelci Stringer (widow of Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings) on The View (ABC, check your local listings).
Sweet! One of my favorite fun fluffy kindof series, Good vs. Evil (also known as G vs. E) is featured in the Sci-Fi marathon du jour (Sci-Fi, 10am - 3pm). Clayton Rohner and Richard Brooks star in this series from the Pate Brothers. They’re dead, you see, but back on Earth, to fight some bad guys. Um. Yeah. Something like that.
Laura and Remington compete with each other as they try to stop a jewel thief on Remington Steele (PAX, 3pm).
Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners (TCM, 3pm).
Deborah Kerr is torn between Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant (lucky woman!) in The Grass is Greener (TCM, 5pm).
Dwight Schultz Alert!
Dwight Schultz guest stars on Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed).
“Prophecy Girl” is the final episode of the short first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (FX, 6pm).
Two-hour season premiere of what is (arguably) my favorite series these days. I’m talking about Gilmore Girls (WB, 7pm-9pm), of course. Lorelai accepts Max’s proposal (boo!) and word spreads in town, of course. How will Luke react? And Rory? And Lorelai’s parents? Let’s not forget that Rory and Dean are back together, too. Will it be all hearts and flowers for the Gilmore girls or will things go awry? And how are things in Stars Hollow these days? I can’t wait to find out.
Buffy’s back from the dead, but how is she doing really? And how will Spike react? (That’s what I wanan know). And everyone else? The previews make it look like a demon or something came back from the grave with the Buffster and it looks awfully cheesy, but I have faith that the episode will be better than the previews. I trust Joss. So I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer (UPN, 7pm) even if it’s on UPN.
Hyde hooks up with an older woman, Jackie worries that she’s not the cutest girl in Wisconsin on That ’70s Show (FOX, 7pm).
The guys get their first credit cards and use them a lot on Undeclared (FOX, 7:30pm). It’s early and I still haven’t had a chance to watch all the new shows that have premiered (and some haven’t premiered yet), but so far this is the show that I like the best of the new crop. No wonder, since it’s from Judd Apatow (of Freaks and Geeks fame).
Max and Liz are arrested, Isabel has an affair, and Michael tries to “straighten out his life” on the season premiere of Roswell (UPN, 8pm). It’s on a new network and the gang is older and (one hopes) a little wiser. Will be interesting to see how aliens and humans alike are getting along.
The number 29 keeps cropping up on a new Mysterious Ways (PAX, 8pm).
Diane (and Sam) are in the spotlight on tonight’s Cheers marathon (Nick, starting at 8pm).
Reed Diamond continues his guest stint on Judging Amy (CBS, 9pm). Meanwhile, I can’t get into Philly (ABC, 9pm) no matter how hard I try. Not even with Kyle Secor as a castmember.
If you missed the two hour season premiere of Charmed (TNT, 9pm-11pm) last week (and you care about it), it airs again on TNT.
Walter Koenig, George Takei, Wil Wheaton, Majel Barrett, Bill Mumy, and Grace Lee Whitney guest star on a classic cheesy episode of Diagnosis Murder (PAX, 9pm). Yes, of course, it involves alien abduction. Or does it? (I just love the stunt casting).
Owen Wilson on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).
Tom Cavanaugh (of Ed), Steve Hartman, Leona Naess on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Billy Bob Thornton, James Taylor, Doug Flutie on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Lorraine Bracco, Snoop Dogg, Martina McBride on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:35pm).
Ming-Na on The Late Late Show (CBS, check your local listings).
Al Franken, Fyvush Finkel on Politically Incorrect (ABC, check your local listings).
The tv listings say that tonight’s rerun of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, midnight) will be the infamous “Deception” episode. But the listings have been a few episodes off of late, so don’t count on it.
“Napoleon’s Battle Plan” episode of Sports Night (Comedy Central, 12:30am).
