wednesday
Notes re Yesterday’s TV: How much do we love Giles? Giles rules. I knew he did, but he was so very fabulous in so many ways on Buffy yesterday, I just had to say it. If I’d known Smallville was going to run an extra ten minutes, I would’ve told you guys. Honest! As luck would have it, my Tivo knew it was running long, but none of the listings or press releases or ads mentioned this fact so I didn’t know ’til it was too late to warn you (I haven’t watched Smallville yet so can’t comment further). I still love Gilmore Girls. And love watching Buffy reruns on FX since there are many episodes I’m only now seeing for the first time.
Picks and Other Possibilities:
American League Championship Series, Game 1 (FOX, 3pm). Mariners versus Yankees.
Just a reminder that Animaniacs (Nick, 4:30pm) is on in the afternoon. And Batman Beyond (Cartoon Network, 5:30pm), too. When all else fails, watch cartoons, that’s what I always say.
The first-ever Halloween episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (FX, 6pm). It’s cool.
Dr. Franklin’s father (played by Paul Winfield) visits Babylon 5 (Sci-Fi, 6pm, letterboxed). And Dodger hits on Garibaldi.
Remember the Coreys? Well, if you’re my age you do. E! True Hollywood Story: Corey Feldman (E!, 6pm) and E! True Hollywood Story: Corey Haim (E!, 7pm, 9pm)
Carol continues to have problems with the new principal and Ed (NBC, 7pm) decides to adopt a new image (oh-oh).
National League Championship Series (FOX, 7pm). Diamondbacks versus Braves.
The crew makes first contact, badly, as one of them becomes pregnant. Oh puhlease. Have I mentioned this show is awful? It’s embarassing. It’s also Enterprise (UPN, 7pm).
The I Love Lucy marathon continues (TV Land, 7pm-midnight).
Part 2 (of 2) of the “Manchester” episode of The West Wing (NBC, 8pm). Wherein lots of folks work on the President’s speech to officially announce his candidacy for a second term. And C.J. considers resigning. How great was Allison Janney last week? Well, she’s always great. But she’s come a long ways since she played Ginger the maid on Guiding Light, that’s for sure.
“Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fish” episode of Good Eats (Food Network, 8pm and 11pm).
It’s a new season of Junkyard Wars (TLC, 8pm and 11pm). Tonight’s episode features “heavy artillery.”
The History Channel decided to go ahead and air their documentary about the design and construction of The World Trade Center (History Channel, 9pm). This was put together before the events of September 11th and I’m told it’s a really cool special. Some may find it hard to watch, but the folks at the History Channel decided to let it air as a tribute, of sorts, and I think they made the right decision.
Since, apparently, not enough people were watching Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 9pm) on Sunday nights at 8pm (well, it’s a weird timeslot, what does NBC expect?), the show gets a trial run tonight in Law & Order Classic’s usual timeslot. I watched a lot of L&O and Law & Order: SVU from this season yesterday, but still haven’t gotten around to the new series myself. It has a good cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Courtney B. Vance, et al. I just don’t yet know if the gimmick of following the criminals works. Guess maybe I’ll tune in tonight to find out.
Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety (AMC, 9:30pm).
Snoop Dogg on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).
Ethan Hawke, Judith Miller, Quincy Jones on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).
Salma Hayak, Hayden Christensen on The Tonight Show (NBC, 10:35pm).
Shannon Elizabeth, Ice-T, Sugar Ray on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:35pm).
Christine Lahti, Zack Braff (of Scrubs), Keb’ Mo on The Late Late Show (CBS, check your local listings).
Muslim students are panelists on Politically Incorrect (ABC, check your local listings).
James Earl Jones guest stars in part 1 (of 3) of the “Blood Ties” episode that opened the sixth season of Homicide: Life on the Street (Court TV, midnight).
Note that I’m no longer listing all the primetime network shows that are on– tonight there are new episodes of Drew Carey and Wolf Lake and other things, but if I don’t find ‘em to my tastes or worth recommending or singling out for any reason (like to make snarky remarks a la Enterprise), I probably won’t bother listing them. I figure if you’re a big fan of a given show, you likely know by this time in the season when it’s on and can track it. I will still, of course, list premieres and schedule changes and stuff like that (whether I like the shows in question or not).
