Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Bones (FOX, 7pm)
Series premiere of Carpoolers (ABC, 7:30pm)
New House (FOX, 8pm)
New The Unit (CBS, 8pm)
Season finale of Eureka (Sci-Fi, 8pm and 11pm)
New Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9pm; also on Sat at 9pm)
New Damages (FX, 9pm, 10pm, midnight; also on Wednesday at 10pm)
Lotsa good late night talk show guests

News & Notes

Still sick, thus the relative lateness of the picks (my schedule is all screwed up and I’m sleeping a ton).

Primetime Grid

Featured Pick

Series premiere of Carpoolers (ABC, 7:30pm; will be available on ABC.com tomorrow).

Bruce McCulloch (of Kids in the Hall) is the creator of this new half-hour comedy; he’s also an executive producer and writer for the show. He wrote this episode as well as the second episode and I’ve seen both of them.

The premise is fairly simple: four men carpool together and end up sharing a bit about themselves with each other during their twice daily drives each week. Fred Goss (of Sons & Daughters) plays a man named Gracen who works as a mediator; he’s happily married (his wife is played by Faith Ford), but has a creepy adult son named Marmaduke (yes, really; he’s played by comedian T.J. Miller). Gracen and his friend Laird started the carpool. Laird is played by Jerry O’Connell (of Crossing Jordan, Sliders); he’s a dentist who is a bit of a player since his wife divorced him and took everything. Jerry Minor plays Aubrey, a responsible husband and father with far too many kids and a wife who appears to have checked out and left all the work to him. He’s been in the carpool for a while; in the first episode he brings a new guy named Dougie into the carpool; Dougie, played by Tim Peper, is a newlywed who has a brighter view of marriage (and life) than the rest of them.

A $200 toaster causes the drama in the first episode and I take that as a good sign as the funniest stuff in sitcoms often comes from the smallest things. In this case, Gracen begins to wonder if his wife makes more money than he does and then hijinks ensue. In the second episode, Laird borrows his friend’s wedding ring and a whole lot of complications ensue.

This show is blessedly free of a laugh track (or live audience), in case that sort of thing matters to you. Eagle-eyed viewers can try to spot former Kid in the Hall Scott Thompson as one of the rich carpoolers (blink and you’ll miss him).

I couldn’t help but like the show, though I admit I watched it while hopped up on Nyquil so my judgment may have been slightly impaired. Of course the show is doomed– it airs after Cavemen, a show that’s been mocked and dumped on (and it hasn’t even aired yet). This show also airs opposite Bones, NCIS, Beauty and the Geek, and a bunch of other established shows.

Carpoolers is not edgy and it probably won’t make you laugh out loud very often, but it’s a pleasant little show. Good half-hour comedies are hard to find and this one is well-made and has a lot of potential– pity it won’t be around for long enough to make the most of it. I guess I approve of any show that has the song “Come On, Eileen” prompt a call to OnStar (that happens in the second episode). If you’re a fan of any of the stars or of Bruce McCulloch, you should give it a look tonight or watch it while you can on ABC.com (starting tomorrow).

Primetime

The team from Bones (FOX, 7pm) gets a new case: “The Soccer Mom in the Mini-Van” and you can be sure that soccer mom must have a secret or two. Brennan also visits her Dad (Ryan O’Neal) in prison.

The seemingly random murder of a petty officer leads to a whole other kind of case on NCIS (CBS, 7pm). And Tony is still rather upset about the events of the season premiere.

There’s a “wild game of Truth or Dare” on tonight’s new episode of Beauty and the Geek (CW, 7pm). And a romance begins that “throws the mansion into turmoil”. Those quotes are from the press release, so take them with a press release sized hunk o’ salt. The geeks are challenged to create a romantic gift, the beauties are made to study anatomy in preparation for a test where they’ll have to draw bodily organs onto their geeky partners. DVR/VCR Alert: I don’t see any additional airings of this episode on the schedule (as some have been in the past).

Part 1 (of 5) of the new HBO limited run series Five Days (HBO, 7pm – 8pm, with lots of additional airings this week). Janet McTeer, Hugh Bonneville, and Edward Woodward star in this miniseries that HBO co-produced with the BBC. It covers five days during a period of time when a young mother goes missing.

Cassie’s love for art may be coming between her and Charles on Lincoln Heights (ABC Family, 7pm and 11pm). There’s another shooting in the neighborhood that causes tensions to rise. Kevin Sandbloom performs his song “Trouble” during this episode.

Series premiere of Sunday Best (BET, 7pm; airs again on Friday at 9pm and on Sunday at 10am and 7pm). This new show is a nationwide search for America’s next great gospel singer. Kirk Franklin hosts and BeBe Winans is one of the executive producers, so it’s got good gospel credentials. Bebe Winans and Mary Mary serve as judges. The top contestants will be coached by great performers from gospel and secular music, they’ll also receive prizes for themselves and for their churches and communities. Cool! If you enjoy gospel music, this is certainly worth a look.

The season premiere of The Singing Bee (ABC, 7pm) features the music of Toni Basil. Possibly so fine it’ll blow your mind.

One of the guys is worried about what his friends will think of him if they know he’s dating a regular Homo sapien woman in the series premiere of Cavemen (ABC, 7pm). And perhaps his girlfriend is ashamed to tell her friends she’s dating a caveman. This show is based on a series of Geico commercials and I haven’t had a chance to see the revamped version of the pilot (as ABC hasn’t sent it to critics). Don’t expect much from this, I also doubt it will last long. If you’re curious about the show but don’t want to skip watching a better show to see it, this episode will be available on ABC.com starting tomorrow.

Ianto is hiding a rather big secret at Torchwood (BBC America, 7pm and 10pm; also airs again on Saturday). He’s hiding his girlfriend in the basement: the tricky part is that she was partially converted into a cyberman when last they attacked Earth (as seen in the Doctor Who episodes “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”). And now Ianto wants to wake her up, which seems like a really bad idea, especially without telling Captain Jack first. Lots of drama in this episode, that’s for sure.

Gwen: Why didn’t you tell us? We could have helped you.
Ianto: Torchwood exists to destroy alien threats. Why would I tell you about her?
Owen: A little loyalty perhaps?
Ianto: My loyalty’s to her. She worked for Torchwood. She was caught up in battle. I owe it to Lisa– we owe it to her– to find a cure.
Captain Jack: Ianto, you have to believe me there is no cure. There never will be. Those who are converted stay that way. Your girlfriend will not be the exception.
Ianto: You can’t know that for sure.
Captain Jack: Okay, you need know what’s happening here because this is where these things start: small decisions that become mass slaughter. These creatures regain a foothold by exploiting human weakness. Then they take a base, rebuild their forces, and before you know it, the Cyber race is spreading out across the universe, erasing worlds, assimilating populations, all because of the tiny beginnings here. We need to stop her. Together.
  from Torchwood

Rebroadcasts of the latest episodes of Brotherhood (Showtime, 7pm), Dexter (Showtime, 8pm), and Weeds (Showtime, 9pm, 9:30pm).

Series premiere of Carpoolers (ABC, 7:30pm). Today’s “featured pick,” see above.

Spend “A Night at Global Dynamics” in the season finale of Eureka (Sci-Fi, 8pm and 11pm). I’m very pleased that the show will be back for another season next summer.

A candidate for NASA’s astronaut training program pays House (FOX, 8pm) to diagnose her symptoms off the books, because she fears she’ll be kicked out of the program if word of her medical issues gets out. Not only does House have fun trying to keep this patient a secret, in this episode he also has about forty (yes, forty) people to pick on. He starts out with forty candidates to take the place of Chase, Cameron, and Foreman. Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn, and a bunch of other people with familiar faces play doctors willing to do just about anything to work with House. House also thinks he’s seen his former team in the hospital (Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, and Omar Epps return in this episode). I loved this episode and can’t wait for you guys to see it. Didn’t you love the kidnapped guitar plot last week? Robert Sean Leonard is so great as Wilson.

Part two of the season premiere of The Unit (CBS, 8pm). I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what happens next. This show is so very good, but doesn’t seem to be talked about very much. Jonas tries to uncover who is behind the conspiracy that tore the team apart so that he can clear their names. And Kim Brown is asked to help keep the wives safe from CIA scrutiny. Mamet faves Rebecca Pidgeon and Ricky Jay are in this episode (they’ve got recurring roles on the show).

The devil gives Sam a remote-controlled mini monster truck in this new episode of Reaper (CW, 8pm) and sends him out to catch an angry soul who sucks energy from power lines for strength. The true test for new shows begins with their second episodes: will people tune in a second time? As for me, I can’t miss either House or The Unit so Reaper might end up not making the cut (or else I’ll resort to watching it online, if the CW doesn’t do any additional airings during the week).

Season premiere (and 100th episode) of Queer Eye (Bravo, 8pm and 11pm). This marks the beginning of the final season of this show (formerly known as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). In this special first episode, the Fab Five are reunited with some of the people they helped in previous seasons. Susan Lucci (of All My Children hosts a special “Straight Guy Pageant” where the straight guys compete for the “Ultimate Straight Guy” crown, presumably with the Fab Five as judges. This special episode is followed by a new regular episode (Bravo, 9pm and midnight).

Queen Latifah performs tonight on Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 8pm – 9:02pm). And Jimmy Kimmel takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the show.

Series premiere of Exalted! (BET, 8pm). This is a new biography series that will profile various spiritual leaders from around the country.

Just three more episodes for this season of Damages (FX, 9pm, 10pm, midnight; also on Wednesday at 10pm) after this new one. I don’t want to give anything away as this show is best when one is surprised.

One sister is raped and another goes missing on Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9pm; also on Sat at 9pm and on Sunday the 14th on USA at 10pm). The detectives end up using one of the women’s avatars in an online video game to try and track down the kidnapper. As someone who regularly hangs out in Second Life and who knows a fair bit about virtual worlds, online games, and the internet, I’ll be curious to see how the show handles that aspect of the story. Christina Brucato, Liza Joyce, and Ryan Lynn guest star.

The high profile short-notice murder trial moves on ahead on Boston Legal (ABC, 9pm). The defenders face off against Brad Chase, who is now an A.D.A. (former series regular Mark Valley guest stars). Clarence takes on the case of a woman who loses her faith after she’s dumped by a pastor. Guest stars also include Gail O’Grady and Tony Todd.

Alex continues to have problems with his brother Frank on Cane (CBS, 9pm). And– oh yeah– there’s fallout from that little bit of murder that took place in the first episode. D’oh! Ned Vaughn and Jason Beghe are among the guest stars. At this point, if I didn’t feel obligated to watch at least a couple more episodes so I can report on this show, I might be giving up on this show given there are so many other shows on at this time on Tuesday night that I like (Damages, SVU, and Boston Legal in particular). Strong cast, but the story hasn’t grabbed me yet.

Tori & Dean: Inn Love (Oxygen, 9pm, 9:30pm). Preceded by a bunch of reruns of the show.

Late Night:

Chris Matthews on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).

John Mearsheimer on The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 10:30pm and 12:30am).

Jude Law, Sarah Silverman, John Fogerty on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Jason Lee (of My Name Is Earl), Kristin Chenoweth (of Pushing Daisies), Pat Monahan on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm).

Ted Koppel, Jason Schwartzman, Dana Gould on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm).

Chi McBride (of Pushing Daisies), Teri Polo, Steve Bertrand on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

Sandra Oh (of Grey’s Anatomy, Mark Ronson, and the latest celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, check your local listings).

Jerry Stiller, Paolo Nutini on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).

Wednesday Daytime

Ted Danson, Ted Koppel on Live with Regis and Kelly (syndicated, check your local listings).

Sarah Silverman, Lee Pace (of Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls) on The View (ABC, check your local listings).

Jamie Foxx, six-year-old piano prodigy Emily Bear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

Gingerbread houses; pumpkin candy faces; what Halloween looked like in the 40s, 50s, and 60s; recipe for chicken cardamom marsala with cashews on Martha (syndicated, check your local listings).

Oktoberfest episode of The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated, check your local listings). Heidi Klum yodels, Rachel polkas, and sausage for every day of the week.

The “12 Commandments of High and Low” on The Tyra Banks Show (syndicated, check your local listings). How to mix high end stuff with discount stuff when it comes to fashion, housewares, makeup, etc.

A look at “Why Did I Get Married?” on Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings). This is a look at the question and at the new movie of the same name. The show will include appearances by Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, and Jill Scott.

“Mama Drama” on Dr. Phil (syndicated, check your local listings).