Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Valentine’s Day episode of The Simpsons (FOX, 7pm)
New King of the Hill (FOX, 7:30pm)
New The Wire (HBO, 8pm, 9:30pm)
Knight Rider (NBC, 8pm - 10pm)
New Breaking Bad (AMC, 9pm, 10pm, midnight)
CBS debut of Dexter (CBS, 9pm)

News & Notes

Do you find the weekend picks useful? Do you like it when I cover daytime TV as well as primetime? It’s all a lot of work, if you want me to keep doing it, you need to encourage me (with an email, a donation, whatever).

I covered Saturday daytime, but just don’t have the time/energy to cover Sunday daytime stuff this weekend. So far haven’t received any feedback about the weekend picks so it’s hard to know if anyone is out there reading.

Daytime

Well okay, I’ll tell you one thing about daytime programming this Sunday: TCM is airing John Wayne movies that featured Oscar-nominated work. Check out the TCM website for the full schedule and info about the films.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

New 60 Minutes (CBS, 6pm). “A renowned researcher estimates that 22,000 patients could have been saved if the Food and Drug Administration removed the heart surgery drug Trasylol two years ago.” And Morley Safer reports on why Denmark is considered the “happiest country in the world” and where and why the U.S. ranks as it does on the list.

Two-hour season finale of American Gladiators (NBC, 6pm - 8pm). The winners will each receive $100,000 and get to become Gladiators next season.]

Nature (PBS, check your local listings) takes a look at the differences and similarities between polar bears and grizzly bears. I guess as it gets warmer in polar bear territory, they may start acting more like grizzly bears. Or something like that. Watch the show to find out.

Gillian Anderson hosts Masterpiece (PBS, check your local listings). Tonight it features part two of the Pride and Prejudice miniseries. With Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

Films featuring Oscar-nominated work from the “1990s and beyond” on Turner Classic Movies: A River Runs Through It (TCM, 7pm, letterboxed), Amistad (TCM, 9:15pm, letterboxed), L.A. Confidential (TCM, midnight, letterboxed), and Jerry Maguire (TCM, 2:30am, letteboxed). All are letterboxed and uncut. You can read more about these films on the TCM website.

When Homer and Marge are trapped in a Tunnel of Love, Homer tries to cheer Marge up by recounting some of the greatest love stories of all time on a special new episode of The Simpsons (FOX, 7pm). I believe the tales recounted in this episode are those of Bonnie and Clyde, Lady and the Tramp, and Sid & Nancy. But played by Simpsons characters. Or something. Could be a classic, we’ll just have to tune in to find out.

NBA Basketball: 2008 All-Star Game (TNT, 7:30pm; pre-game special at 7pm). Did you catch the slam dunk contest last night? I must say, I was impressed. The competition had been boring there for a while, but the competitors were pretty darn creative this year.

Melinda Clarke (who was “Julie Cooper” on The O.C.) guest stars as a single Mom who gets involved with Bill on a new King of the Hill (FOX, 7:30pm). Dale doesn’t much care for her and things get, um, weird and complicated.

That bad reporter Templeton receives another phone call from, um, well, you know (if you’re watching) on a new The Wire (HBO, 8pm, 9:30pm). A homeless man goes missing. And Bunk is Not Happy. Really, the less I say the better. I will say that I’ve seen this episode and it’s yet another good one. Boy do I love this show. It saddens me to note that there are only three more episodes after this one.

Clashes between the actresses lead to oil wrestling on a new The L Word (Showtime, 8pm, 9pm). Really? Really.

The new TV movie Knight Rider (NBC, 8pm - 10pm) is a sequel of sorts to the original NBC series of the same name. If this movie does well, it could be the start of a new series for NBC. David Hasselhoff makes a special appearance as Michael Knight. Val Kilmer is the voice of KITT, taking over after Will Arnett (of Arrested Development) had to bow out (presumably because he lends his voice to commercials for a different brand of car). NBC didn’t send this to critics, which isn’t a good sign. The stars of this movie are: Justin Bruening (who played “Jamie Martin” on All My Children), Deanna Russo (”Logan Armstrong” on The Young and the Restless), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (who was in Grindhouse and who had multi-episode arcs on Veronica Mars and Joan of Arcadia), and Bruce Davison (of Close to Home, the X-Men movies).

The team re-opens the 1998 case of a murdered teenager on a new Cold Case (CBS, 8pm). Jeffrey Combs (of The 4400) and Dondre T. Whitfield are among the guest stars. Some are billing this as a season finale, but since the show returns with new episodes in April, I’m not sure that’s quite accurate. But yeah, this is the last episode to have been filmed before the strike. DVR Alert: This episode was originally scheduled to air on an earlier date, so your DVR might think you already recorded this episode.

Charles S. Dutton stars as an officer at a teenage correctional facility who breaks down racial divisions by organizing a track team in the new Lifetime movie Racing for Time (Lifetime, 8pm; also on Monday at 8pm). With Elizabeth Pena, Yaya DaCosta, Zulay Henao, and Saige Thompson.

James Woods returns to seek revenge on Peter on the season premiere of Family Guy (FOX, 8pm). Naturally, James Woods guest stars as himself.

Network debut of the series premiere/strong> of Dexter (CBS, 8:57pm). DVR Alert: Note odd early start time. This successful Showtime series has been edited down to air on primetime network TV. This critically acclaimed series seems an odd fit for CBS. Michael C. Hall (of Six Feet Under) stars as a serial killer– the twist is, he’s a serial killer who works for the police in their forensics department (he’s a blood spatter expert). And he only kills bad guys (other murderers). Julie Benz (of Angel) plays his girlfriend. With James Remar as his father (in flashbacks). I’ve seen the “edited for CBS” version of this episode and it’s still pretty gruesome and dark, though (I’m told) nowhere near as gruesome as the Showtime version. Definitely not a show for everyone. If you’ve been curious about the show but weren’t sure you could handle it, you might want to try this version.

The DEA suspects there’s a new drug kingpin in town on a new Breaking Bad (AMC, 9pm, 10pm, midnight; also on Wednesday at 11pm). And Walter’s wife may finally learn about his health condition.

Nora learns that Isaac may not be the man she thought he was on a new Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 9pm). Last episode filmed before the strike, should return with new episodes this Spring. Guest stars in this episode include Danny Glover, Ken Olin (of EZ Streets, thirtysomething), Steven Weber (of Studio 60, Wings), and Enrico Colantoni (of Veronica Mars).

David Arnold, Gerard, Timmy Hall, and Rasheed on a new Def Comedy Jam (HBO, 9pm). With host D.L. Hughley (of Studio 60, The Hughleys).

Series premiere of Bulging Brides (We, 9pm and midnight) followed by a second new episode (We, 9:30pm and 12:30am). This show follows brides as they try to lose weight before their wedding day. Ugh. There is so much wrong with this show I don’t even know where to begin. I’m continually disappointed in the shows that air on networks that are supposedly aimed at women.

Late Night

Another fine rerun of Mad Men (AMC, 11pm).

L.A. Confidential (TCM, midnight, letterboxed) is one of my favorite movies; I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it (or have’t seen it lately).