Laurel’s TV Picks

Futurama (FOX, 6pm)
The Simpsons (FOX, 7pm)
Alias (ABC, 8pm)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 8pm)
Boomtown (NBC, 9pm)
The Shield (FX, 9pm, 10pm)

Breaking news could still preempt, delay, or change schedules (especially for the major networks).

The “Once More, With Feeling” episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be released on DVD in the UK on April 14th. Will only play for you if you’ve a DVD player that can handle Region 2 DVDs. I do keep a list of DVDs available in the UK and Canada on the TV on DVD page towards the bottom as some series and episodes are available there first.

I’ve added a bunch of new links for forthcoming DVDs of TV shows to the TV on DVD page. Here are some highlights. You can pre-order these sets now, usually save some $ if you pre-order. I’d appreciate it if you order via my links. Release dates are in parenthesis:

Season 2 of 24 (September 2nd)
Season 2 of Angel (August 19th)
Season 1 and Season 2 of Dark Angel (May 20th, October 21st)
Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Family Guy (April 15th, September 9th)
Season 2 of Futurama (September 3rd)
Season 1 and Season 2 of King of the Hill (July 1st, November 11th)
Season 4 and Season 5 of M*A*S*H (July 15th, December 9th)
Season 1 of The Monkees (May 13th)
Season 2 of NYPD Blue (August 19th)
Season 2 of The Shield (October 7th)
Season 8 of The X-Files (November 4th)

I’m glad the History Channel still airs China Beach (History Channel, 5am), even if it’s only once a week and very early in the morning. Really is one of my favorite series of all time. Some things still surprise me. A couple of weeks ago, in the episode “Nightfall,” Marg Helgenberger as K.C. actually utters the line “Do I look like some queen of forensics?” I almost fell out of my chair when that happened (‘cuz Helgenberger now, of course, plays a “queen of forensics” on C.S.I.). Weirder still, later in the same episode Robert Picardo says “do I look like an Emergency Medical Hologram?” (hee! Okay, he really doesn’t. My boyfriend thinks I should stop making that joke, but I can’t help it, it cracks me up ‘cuz it’s just so darn silly).

Tiny Toon Adventures (Nick, 5am, 5:30am).

We learn that Dana is afraid of fish on Sports Night (Comedy Central, 6:30am).

Part 2 of the 2-part “To Sire, With Love” episode of Get Smart (TV Land, 7am). ” The chief hides King Charles by posing him as Max.”

Chris Noth returned to Law & Order, sortof, with Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (USA, 8am). If only it’d been a better movie. Still fun if you’re a fan of the show (if a little maddening ‘cuz of what is done to one character in particular).

The Burns & Allen Show (TV Land, 8am).

The Honeymooners (TV Land, 8:30am).

Spartacus (TCM, 9am).

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (TV Land, 9am).

Rerun of last night’s new episode of Trading Spaces (TLC, 11am).

NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament (ESPN, 11am).

NBA Basketball : Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves (ABC, 12:30pm). My Dad and I will be at the game. If you were watching the game with me, I could point out where Kirby Puckett, Prince, and Jimmy Jam sit at the games (okay, they’ll probably be at the game, so I could point to the celebs themselves). The last time I saw the Wolves play in person, they played the Mavericks and won with a shot at the buzzer; somehow I don’t think this game can top that one. Remember: Kevin Garnett is sci-fi. (I always think of those ads when I see K.G., I’m weird).

Saturday Night Live Twenty-Five: The Music (VH1, 1pm-5pm). Four hours showcasing the music of SNL, starting with the 1975-79 episode/installment.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (TCM, 1pm).

NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament (CBS, 1:30pm).

NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament (ESPN2, 1:30pm).

“Fish hires Larry to represent Elaine in a sexual harassment case” on Ally McBeal (FX, 2pm).

Four episodes of groundbreaking series Julia (TV Land, 2pm-4pm).

NBA Basketball : Phoenix Suns at Indiana Pacers (ESPN, 3pm).

Walter Matthau and George Burns are The Sunshine Boys (TCM, 3:15pm).

“Clark finds a beautiful girl and the key to his identity in a cave” on a rerun of Smallville (WB, 4pm in most markets).

Trading Spaces (TLC, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm).

“Doctors scramble to help when Bright’s appendix bursts during a blizzard” on a rerun of Everwood (WB, 5pm in most markets).

Driving Miss Daisy (TCM, 5:15pm).

“Fry Hard 2: The Chicken” episode of Good Eats (Food Network, 5:30pm).

“The professor regains his youth, while the others turn into children” on Futurama (FOX, 6pm).

Lorelai and Rory take a road trip to Harvard on a classic second season episode of Gilmore Girls (WB, 6pm). Well alright, it’s not one of the better episodes, but it still has good moments. Of course my favorite show always has good moments.

“Buck turns to Luanne for Bible tutoring after his past catches up with him” on King of the Hill (FOX, 6:30pm).

Spring is now officially here as baseball season finally starts. You can watch the first game of the season: MLB Baseball: Texas Rangers at Anaheim Angels (ESPN, 7pm).

“Lisa chooses a career in astronomy after a British filmmaker (Eric Idle) makes her feel inadequate” on The Simpsons (FOX, 7pm).

James Woods stars in Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story (USA, 7pm, 10pm).

New two-hour long Biography (A&E, 7pm-9pm, 11pm-1am) of John Travolta.

Nicolas Cage on Inside the Actor’s Studio (Bravo, 7pm and 11pm).

“Meg tries to help a columnist land an interview with a hit singer (Duncan Sheik)” on American Dreams (NBC, 7pm). Anyone watching this? Liking it? I got bored with the only episode I tried, despite having liked the lead girl when she was on Guiding Light.

“When Piper’s baby is nearly abducted, Paige seeks out the kidnappers at a black market” on Charmed (WB, 7pm).

Terms of Endearment (TCM, 7pm).

Christian Slater guest stars on Alias (ABC, 8pm). I thought it’d be cool if he was playing his character from West Wing, but he’s actually a scientist of some sort, not a soldier.

“Detectives discover a murder victim wanted her late father to be cryogenically frozen” on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 8pm; reruns on USA on Saturday night at 10pm). Um . . . okay.

“Hal invites his friend Larry over while Lois is out of town” on Malcolm in the Middle (FOX, 8pm).

Six Feet Under (HBO, 8pm; check your local listings).

“A disgraced ex-cop (Russell Wong) returns to San Francisco to start over and teach martial arts to troubled teenagers” in the series premiere of Black Sash (WB, 8pm). I’ve already mistyped it as “Back Slash” once. Oops. Hey, Mako is on this show; just thought you’d want to know.

Three more “uncut episodes” of Kingpin (Bravo, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm). Final three of the first (only?) season of the show.

7 Days Left … Queen Latifah Goes to the Oscars (VH1, 8pm and 11pm). The Queen prepares for Oscar night.

“An average family copes with an above-average number of catastrophes; the children’s new nanny turns out to be a psychotic woman from Bob’s past” on the series premiere of The Pitts (FOX, 8:30pm). No, you won’t have heard of anyone associated with this show. Do I even need to make the obvious joke? Do I? Make it yourself.

“Smith is shaken by the shooting death of a small-time drug dealer” on Boomtown (NBC, 9pm). The episode is titled “Fearless” so presumably we can expect to see a lot of the character named the same as the episode title, right? Cool! ‘Cuz Mykelti Williamson rocks.

“A friend from Johnny’s high school awaits a heart transplant” on a new episode of The Dead Zone (USA, 9pm and 11pm).

Two more second season episodes of The Shield (FX, 9pm, 10pm). Part of a marathon (with two episodes each night) leading up to the season finale on Tuesday night.

Yet another airing of Live by Request Starring Hall & Oates (A&E, 9pm-11pm, 1am-3am). How many times can they play “Maneater” anyway?

Philadelphia (TCM, 9:15pm).

SportsCentury: Roger Maris (ESPN Classic, 10pm).

Fastlane (MTV, 10pm).

“Fry travels to forbidden planet Omega 3 to retrieve all 79 episodes of Star Trek” on Futurama (Cartoon Network, 10pm).

“Brak, Zorak and Dad have a staring contest” on The Brak Show (Cartoon Network, 11pm).

Dilbert (Comedy Central, 11pm).

The Pride of the Yankees (TCM, 11:30pm).

Gary & Mike (Comedy Central, 11:30pm).

Undergrads (Comedy Central, midnight).

The Critic (Comedy Central, 12:30am).

Duckman (Comedy Central, 1am, 1:30am).

TBS begins airing a whole lot of Dawson’s Creek. Looks like episodes air weekdays from 7am ’til Noon. If you’re a fan of the show, you might want to get some videotapes ready or something (or just order the first season on DVD).

Gregory Hines, the new Miss USA on Live with Regis and Kelly (syndicated, check your local listings).

Richard Chamberlain, Queen Noor, Deana Carter on The View (ABC, 10am or so, check your local listings).

Rita Moreno, Connie Nielsen on The Caroline Rhea Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

Della Reese, Tracey Gold, Cristian De La Fuente, Too Hot Tamales, Stephen Collins on The Wayne Brady Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Follow Ups” on Dr. Phil (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Venus and Serena Williams” on a rerun of Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings).
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