Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

Directed by John Ford (TCM, 7pm, 10:30pm)
New Gilmore Girls (CW, 7pm)
New Friday Night Lights (NBC, 7:02pm)
New Veronica Mars (CW, 8pm)
New House (FOX, 8pm; also on 11/17)
New The Unit (CBS, 8pm)
New Nip/Tuck (FX, 9pm, 10:05pm)
The Daily Show and the Colbert Report Present the Midterm Midtacular (Comedy Central, 10pm, 11pm, midnight, 7am)

News & Notes

When I put together these picks, I write them for the timezone I live in here in Minnesota (Central) and that’s how you’ll see ‘em if you read the picks via the feed or email list. If you’re reading on the website, you can now easily switch between timezones by clicking on the appropriate links at the top of the sidebar on the right hand side. I hope you find this useful and I’m sorry it took so long to get this functionality back (I ended up paying someone to write code for me, they did an excellent job).

Primetime Grid

Primetime

The two-hour pilot episode of Dead Like Me (Sci-Fi, 6pm - 8pm) is a wonderful thing. Ellen Muth stars as a young woman just starting her post-high-school life only to, well, die. And she ends up a “grim reaper” along with Mandy Patinkin, Rebecca Gayheart, Callum Blue, and Jasmine Guy. They ease the transition for people when they die violent deaths– taking their soul before the worst happens. Cynthia Stevenson also stars as George’s Mom. The show is a fascinating look at both life and death while managing to be both funny amd moving. We recently watched both seasons on DVD and really liked them. Series was created by Bryan Fuller (who went on to Wonderfalls, create The Amazing Screw-On Head, and Heroes).

George (voiceover): “I was doomed to spend the rest of my life in a lousy dead end job and I’m not just being dramatic. It really is going to be the rest of my life, which actually only amounts to about an hour and a half or so.”
  from Dead LIke Me

Debut of an updated version of Directed by John Ford (TCM, 7pm, 10:30pm). Runs 110 minutes. Contains interviews and film clips, was originally made in 1971, but this is a new version. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, narrated by Orson Welles. Great stuff. Followed by some great John Ford movies: Stagecoach (TCM, 8:50pm), They Were Expendable (TCM, 12:30am), The Wings of Eagles (TCM, 3am), and How The West Was Won (TCM, 5am).

Lorelai and Christopher visit Rory at Yale during Parents’ Weekend, April’s swimming coach convinces Luke to get swimming lessons (the hell?) on Gilmore Girls (CW, 7pm). I know many people are not caring for this season for a variety of reasons, including some can’t stand the pairing of Lorelai with Christopher. I’m finding this season interesting and entertaining and I’m just rolling with it and giving it a chance. The show is still a breath of fresh air compared to so much of the other stuff that’s on. I’m not gonna panic about the spoilers I’ve seen for upcoming episodes because I really do trust that the showrunners have a plan and an interesting story to tell. So far I do, at least.

A win for the team may be reversed/overturned because of how that one quarterback ended up on the team (you knew that would have repercussions, right?) on Friday Night Lights (NBC, 7:02pm). And friends break Jason Street out of rehab for a while. DVR/VCR Alert: Supposedly starts at 7:02pm, ends at 8:02pm.

NCIS (CBS, 7pm) must work with an Army Criminal Investigative Unit on a case involving a suspected terrorist attack at a country club. Susanna Thompson guest stars (she was awesome as “Karen” on Once and Again, was also in Revelations, and was the Borg Queen on Star Trek: Voyager).

The team is on the trail of a sniper and I’m guessing that at some point there’s a (wait for it) Standoff (FOX, 7pm).

Ed Begley Jr. and Patrick Fabian guest star on Veronica Mars (CW, 8pm). Speaking of shows that may or may not have a plan, this is one show where you can tell things are plotted out for the entire season (if not beyond). I love that. And, frankly, I love this show. Should I tell you what the press release says will happen in this episode? Why should I spoil the fun? If you’re watching, you’re already hooked and will tune in. If you aren’t watching, go get the DVDs and get caught up already. Hot shopping tip: when I was at Sam’s Club a week or so ago, they had season one for just $18.88 (they also had other cool TV DVD for the same price, including seasons of Nip/Tuck, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., MI-5, and more).

Pruitt Taylor Vince (of Deadwood), Kadeem Hardison (of A Different World), and David Morse (of Hack) guest star on House (FOX, 8pm; airs again on USA at 10pm on 11/17). The day after the last new episode I received a package from FOX that contained a thermometer– I’m not sure how I feel about that (somewhat amused, someone grossed out I think).

Jonas and Bob could get in big trouble when they do a rather large favor for Ron Cheals on The Unit (CBS, 8pm). They try to rescue someone from a cult on his behalf (I’m guessing they succeed ‘cuz you know, that’s what they do. But at what cost?). This is such a great show and I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise given it’s from David Mamet and Shawn Ryan (of The Shield).

What starts out as a run of the mill hit-and-run becomes a bigger deal because the victim was a high profile music producer on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 8pm). Logan and Wheeler investigate.

Election coverage abounds starting at 9pm on most stations.

Need some lighter fare to watch, maybe an alternative to news coverage? Check out Paula Poundstone’s first standup TV special in ten years: Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In (Bravo, 9pm, midnight, 2am).

Or you could watch the season finale of Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty (Oxygen, 9pm) if you want something really . . . um . . . different.

Sean and Christian receive an unexpected visit from Merrill Bobolit on Nip/Tuck (FX, 9pm, 10:05pm). Plus there’s blackmail and a big secret is revealed. DVR/VCR Alert: runs 65 minutes.

Late Night:

Expect most late night talk shows to be delayed and/or be reruns. Check Sue’s listings for details on guests (link in sidebar).

Dan Rather, Warren Beatty (via phone), Rep. Robert Wexler (via satellite), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (via satellite) on The Daily Show and the Colbert Report Present the Midterm Midtacular (Comedy Central, 10pm, 11pm, midnight, 7am).