Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

“Amateur Espionage” triple feature on TCM
Series premiere of Charlie Jade (Sci-Fi,7pm)
New Doctor Who (Sci-Fi, 8pm and 10pm)
New Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 9pm and 11pm)

Recommended Reruns

WKRP in Cincinnati (WGN, 7pm – 9pm)
Numb3rs (CBS, 9pm)
Criminal Minds (A&E, 10pm and 2am)
House (USA, 10pm)
Medium (Lifetime, 10pm)

News & Notes

There’s sure to be lots more good stuff today and this weekend on NASA TV, not that I’m addicted to it or anything– no, not at all.

Featured Pick

Series premiere of Charlie Jade (Sci-Fi, 7pm).

If you’ve never heard of Charlie Jade, you’re not alone. This series was filmed in South Africa and originally debuted back in 2005 in Canada and South Africa (as it was a co-production between the two countries). The show has aired in Canada, South Africa, Japan, Korea, France, Italy, the UK, and other parts of the world but is only now debuting in the United States.

Jeffrey Pierce (who appeared on Fear Itself last night and was a regular on The Nine) stars as a detective named Charlie Jade who finds himself trapped in a parallel universe. Here’s a link to the Sci-Fi Channel page about the show.

Charlie Jade certainly has a unique look and style, from what I’ve seen of it. It’s complicated and you really have to pay attention as the action occurs in at least three different parallel universes (each seems to have its own color palette to help you keep them straight). Episodes have been floating around the internet since the show debuted and it’s talked about a fair bit by fans of science fiction who have gotten hold of it. Alex Epstein is among those who worked on the show, he describes it as “a strange, impressionistic, dark SF series about a detective from a parallel universe who is blasted to our universe by an industrial accident. Complications ensue.” R.A. Porter wrote a good preview of the show as it’s one of his favorites; I figure he can cover it better than I can given I’ve only see bits and pieces of the first episode so far.

If you’re a fan of science fiction and you haven’t seen this yet, you definitely should check out the series premiere tonight on the Sci-Fi Channel. I’m looking forward to finally seeing the whole thing. Episodes are set to air each Friday at 7pm.

Daytime

Baseball classic Angels in the Outfield (TCM, 3:30pm).

“Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, Barbie: Meet the Real People Behind the Big Names” on this rerun of Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings). Includes an appearance from the man who is Elmo too.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

Series premiere (and U.S. debut) of Charlie Jade (Sci-Fi, 7pm). My featured pick for today, see above.

Turner Classic Movies airs a triple feature they’re calling “Amateur Espionage” tonight: My Favorite Spy (TCM, 7pm), Our Man in Havana (TCM, 9pm, letterboxed), and The 39 Steps (TCM, 11pm). You can, of course, read more about them on the TCM website.

If you get WGN, tonight you could watch some classic episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati including the first episode (WGN, 7pm), the infamous “Turkey’s Away” Thanksgiving episode (WGN, 7:30pm), the episode with the jingle for funeral homes (WGN, 8pm), and the final episode of the series (WGN, 8:30pm). It looks like WGN will be airing the show from the beginning starting on Sunday with the first two episodes at 6pm and 6:30pm.

New 90-minute installment of The Naked Brothers Band (Nick, 7pm and 10pm).

A new episode of Modern Marvels (History Channel, 7pm and 11pm) which is called “Most Dangerous” because they feature the most dangerous snakes, sports, weather events, and other such things.

Rerun of the “Going Bananas” episode of Good Eats (Food Network, 7pm and 2am).

Looks like they’re airing a bunch of episodes of Dog Whisperer today (National Geographic, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, midnight) today and tonight, I think the episode that airs at both 7pm and 10pm might be new though the listings are unclear.

Back to back reruns of Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 7pm, 8pm). These episodes are from 2006; the first features guest stars Markie Post and Debi Mazar, the second has Jason Gedrick as a guest star. Kevin says that in a choice between the two whisperers, the Dog Whisperer would always get his vote– yeah, I agree with that. I sometimes think that anyone who watches Ghost Whisperer but doesn’t watch Medium is really missing out– but then I think that if anyone tries both shows, they’ll be unable to watch the far-inferior Ghost Whisperer after checking out Medium. ‘Course though they both involve the supernatural to some degree, they are very different shows. If you’re a fan of Ghost Whisperer, what do you like about it? I try a few episodes every season (as I do with most shows) and always come away underwhelmed.

The Incredible Hulk: HBO First Look (HBO, 7:30pm).

Rachael Ray visits some of her favorite spots in Wine Country on a new episode of Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels (Food Network, 7:30pm and 2:30am).

Doctor Who (Sci-Fi, 8pm and 10pm). Georgia Moffett guest stars in this new episode which is titled “The Doctor’s Daughter”– interestingly enough, Moffett is the daughter of Peter Davison, who played the fifth Doctor. Now that’s some nifty Doctor Who casting and trivia, eh? Moffett also auditioned for the part of “Rose” back when that part was being cast. And there are some reports that Moffett is dating David Tennant, who plays the current Doctor. That report cracks me up, actually, regardless of whether it’s true or not– it’s worth a look if you’re a fan of the show.

Jenny: “And Time Lord. What are they for exactly?”
The Doctor: “For? They’re not-they’re not for anything.”
Jenny: “So, what do you do?”
The Doctor: “I travel. Through time and space.”
Donna: “He saves planets, rescues civilizations and defeats terrible creatures. And runs a lot. Seriously, there is an outrageous amount of running involved.”
  from Doctor Who

New episode of Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet, 8pm, 8:30pm, midnight, 12:30am).

A free spirited actress named Sunny dresses like a pixie and I’m guessing Clinton and Stacy would like her to stop doing that in this new episode of What Not To Wear (TLC, 8pm and 11pm).

New episode of Forensic Files (TruTV, 8pm and midnight; 8:30pm and 12:30am) followed by a rerun.

New episode of Dr. G: Medical Examiner (Discovery Health Channel, 8pm and 11pm) which is titled “Shock to the System” followed by a rerun of the “On the Run” episode (Discovery Health Channel, 9pm and midnight).

Bear meets Tuvans in Siberia on a new Man vs. Wild (Discovery, 8pm and midnight). Followed by a rerun of the “Jungle Swamp” episode (Discovery, 9pm and 1am).

Inside the FBI search for Cpl. Cesar Laurean (who is wanted in the death of pregnant fellow Marine Maria Lautterbach), a kidnapped mother manages to dial 911 without her captor’s knowledge on Dateline NBC (NBC, 8pm – 10pm).

A Triple Crown Special (ESPN Classic, 8pm; airs again at 8am Saturday).

Rerun of the “Logging” episode of Tougher in Alaska (History Channel, 8pm and midnight).

New episode of Best Week Ever (VH1, 8pm, 10pm, 1:30am; also on Saturday at 10am and 1:30pm).

Is it possible that Viper pilots and Cylon rebels are working together in this new episode of Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 9pm and 11pm; also on Sunday at 10pm)? That would be awesome.

A look at “5 Star Camping” on a new episode of Ecoluxe (Travel Channel, 9pm and 1am) including luxury eco-lodges with no electricity and a tree house built onto a baobab tree.

Tonight on a new 20/20 (ABC, 9pm): “A teen plots her mother’s murder; mental illness tears a seemingly perfect family apart; former members say the House of Yahweh in Texas is nothing more than a sex cult; when a gas tank is truly empty.”

New Animal Cops South Africa (Animal Planet, 9pm and 2am).

Jeff Dunham hosts the season premiere of Live at Gotham (Comedy Central, 9pm). With comedians R Brow, Erik Griffin, Jared Logan, Anjelah Johnson, Michael Palascak, and Lenny Marcus.

New episode of Shockwave (History Channel, 9pm and 1am). Listings say: “A pilot from the Air Force’s elite Thunderbird team crashes in a fireball; a sky diver tries to save a duo in freefall; disaster strikes during Texas Jack Hondo’s dynamite stunt; a Colorado avalanche buries a reporter; personal watercraft crash.”

Rerun of Numb3rs (CBS, 9pm) from November 2006. Toxic waste causes a sinkhole near a school. Guest stars in this episode include Deirdre Lovejoy (who was “ASA Rhonda Pearlman” on The WIre), Larry Gilliard Jr. (who was “D’Angelo” on The Wire), Joshua Malina (who was “Will Bailey” on The West Wing and “Jeremy” on Sports Night), and Erica Gimpel (who was Wallace’s Mom on Veronica Mars and “Angel” on Profiler). Kathy Najimy joined the cast in a recurring role in this episode.

New episode of The Soup (E!, 9pm and 11:30pm; also at 9am and 10pm on Saturday).

New episode of Rich and Reckless (TruTV, 9pm and 1am). TruTV is the station formerly known as Court TV.

New episode of 10 Years Younger (TLC, 9pm and midnight).

Late Night

The BAU profiles a serial arsonist who is setting fires on a college campus in this rerun of the second ever episode of Criminal Minds (A&E, 10pm and 2am). If the first episode of this show didn’t win you over, I recommend trying another episode– like, say, this one.

Morgan: Look, we need as close to the real voice as you can get, and anything that might be in the background. Can you do it?
Garcia: Okay, you know how on Star Trek when Captain Kirk asks McCoy to do something totally impossible, and McCoy says, “Damn it, Jim, I’m a doctor, not a miracle worker?”
Morgan: Hey, what are you tellin’ me, not to expect a miracle?
Garcia: No, I’m saying I’m not a doctor.
Morgan: (laughing) That’s my girl.
  from Criminal Minds

Rerun of the conclusion of the two-part season finale of this past season of House (USA, 10pm) which is titled “Wilson’s Heart” (part one was titled “House’s Head”). This episode is melodramatic and quite a downer, but I still enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to next season.

Thirteen: “It could be anything.”
House: “Great! Let’s explore that.”
  from House

A doll may be involved in a crime in this rerun of Medium (Lifetime, 10pm) from the third season. But then maybe the doll is just part of Allison’s visions this time around which have to do with a boy and his Dad, maybe. If you haven’t watched this show or gave up on it early on, it really grew into a sharp, clever, and cool series and is one of my favorites. This episode was directed by Arliss Howard, who memorably guest starred multiple times on the series as “Captain Push”. This episode also deals with some major stuff having to do with Allison’s boss Manuel Devalos (played by Miguel Sandoval); Roxanne Hart (of Chicago Hope) guest stars as his wife, Sandoval’s real-life daughter Olivia Sandoval guest stars as his daughter on the show.

Allison: “What if I told you I wasn’t gonna say anything to the District Attorney?”
Joe: “About your suspicion that a homicidal doll helped a six-year-old, 65 pound boy kill a full-grown adult male? I’d say that’s an absolutely prudent course of action.”
  from Medium

“Bean Stalker” (green bean casserole) episode of Good Eats (10pm and 1am).

Saiga and Kagura continue running on a new installment of Speed Grapher (IFC, 10pm and 1am; also Monday at 7:30pm and 11:30pm). There’s an official website for this anime series if you want to find out more about it.

New episode of My Parents’ House (HGTV, 10:30pm and 2:30am). In this show adult children return to redecorate at least one room in their parents’ house.

Saiga emerges from the prime minister’s house to find Tokyo in chaos on a new Witchblade (IFC, 10:30pm and 1:30am). I believe the series finale of this anime series is set to air next week; perhaps they’ll air the whole thing again from the beginning after that. You can find out more via the Wikipedia entry for the show and elsewhere online.

Jenna Fischer (of The Office), Jim Nantz, Gavin Rossdale on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Will Smith (of Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Pete Sampras, Ed Harcourt on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm).

Kim Cattrall (of Sex and the City), Matt Taibbi, Lightspeed Champion on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm).

Michael Clarke Duncan, Chelsea Handler, Griffin House on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

Kevin Nealon (of Weeds, Saturday Night Live), DeAnna Pappas, the Ting Tings on Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, check your local listings).

James Denton, the Heavy on a rerun of Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).

Tonight’s featured movie on TCM Underground is Wicked, Wicked (TCM, 1am, letterboxed). You can read all about it on the TCM Underground website. The movie is from 1973 and featured “Duo-Vision”.

The “Necktie Murderer” is killing people in London in the Alfred Hitchcock film Frenzy (TCM, 2:45am, letterboxed). Read more about it.