Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

Winter premiere of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX, 7pm – 8:01pm)
New Friday Night Lights (NBC, 8pm)
Series premiere of Dollhouse (FOX, 8:01pm)
New Flashpoint (CBS, 8pm)
New Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 9pm and 11pm)
New Psych (USA, 9pm and midnight)
Tom Selleck, Glen Campbell on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm)

Primetime Grid

New Series

Series premiere of Dollhouse (FOX, 8:01pm).

Eliza Dushku (of Tru Calling, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) stars in this new series. Joss Whedon, of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is the creator and executive producer of the show; he also wrote and directed this episode.

Dushku stars as “Echo” who is part of an illegal undeground organization; she’s someone who can be imprinted with any personality as needed for the folks who hire her; after each mission, her memory is wiped clean. In each episode, she can be a different person, but things get interesting when she starts to remember bits from previous missions. In the first episode, Echo works as a hostage negotiator.

The regular cast is made up of Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett, Olivia Williams, Fran Kanz, Harry Lennix, Enver Gjokaj, and Dichen Lachman. Guest stars in this episode include Amy Acker (of Alias, Angel) and Reed Diamond (of Homicide: Life on the Street) and it looks like they may very well be recurring characters on the show.

I was underwhelmed by the first episode. I’m not yet convinced I can buy Eliza Dushku in any kind of role; there also doesn’t seem to be much humor at all in the series and it could surely use a little of that. The premise means that this could really be a different sort of show in each episode, but there are also ongoing storylines involving an FBI Agent who is trying to find the Dollhouse and (of course) the nature of the Actives like Echo and what happens if they do remember things between memory wipes.

Tim Goodman has seen the first three episodes and I agree with his review of the show (at least based on the one episode I’ve seen). I’m disappointed, but then the series could grow into something good– if FOX gives it time. I’d say that so far it’s merely okay with some potential; fans of Whedon and/or Dushku or who would just like a bit more science fiction to watch on Fridays will probably want to check it out.

Primetime

It’s the weekend of the NBA All-Star Game, there’s a special All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN, 6pm) tonight and also the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam (TNT, 8pm). There’s coverage of other events this weekend on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. The Skills Competition which includes the Slam Dunk contest airs on Saturday night on TNT, the game itself airs on Sunday night on TNT.

As Sarah struggles to survive after an injury, she has visions of Kyle Reese in the winter premiere of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX, 7pm). Note the new regular night and time for this show. This season has been uneven so far, but it seems like there have been more good episodes as it wore on– let’s hope that trend continues. DVR/VCR Alert: This episode has a running time of 61 minutes.

Sam catches Melinda in some lies and begins to have second thoughts about their relationship on Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 7pm).

Tyra sees a different side of her new love and Coach Taylor makes a big decision on Friday Night Lights (NBC, 8pm).

Series premiere of Dollhouse (FOX, 8:01pm). For more on this show, see above.

A sniper takes over City Hall on Flashpoint (CBS, 8pm) and it turns out he’s got ties to a previous case. This sounds like an especially intense episode for Ed (who is played by Hugh Dillon).

Monk (USA, 8pm and 11pm; also on Sunday at 5pm) suspects a magician of being a murderer; Steve Valentine (who was “Nigel” on Crossing Jordan) guest stars.

Back to back new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network, 8pm and 11pm, 8:30pm and 11:30pm; also airs on Saturday morning at 8:30am and 9am).

New Adrenaline Rush Hour (Discovery Channel, 8pm and midnight).

New What Not To Wear (TLC, 8pm and 10pm; also on Saturday at 1pm).

New Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 9pm and 11pm). If commercials are to be believed, the final cylon is a part of this episode (the commercials also spoil the identity so if you aren’t up-to-date in your viewing of the show, it’s best to avoid them). This latest batch of episodes sure has been intense, tonight’s episode should be another interesting one.

A childhood friend hires Shawn and Gus to find a missing camp counselor in a special spooky Friday the 13th episode of Psych (USA, 9pm and midnight; also on Saturday at 8am and Sunday at 10pm).

Robin’s seemingly strong case against an arms dealer falls apart which causes the team to look into the jury who heard the case on Numb3rs (CBS, 9pm). Guest stars include James Marsters (who played “Spike” on Buffy and Angel) and Ray Wise (who plays the devil on Reaper).

Diane Sawyer reports on rural children living in poverty in Central Appalachia on 20/20 (ABC, 9pm).

Police look for the person who murdered a beloved wife and mother. on Dateline NBC (NBC, 9pm).

Late Night

Martha Stewart, Jake Johannsen, Matt Nathanson on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Anne Hathaway, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald Jr, Annie Lennox on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm).

Isla Fisher, the Jonas Brothers, Dan Auerbach on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm).

Tom Selleck (of Magnum P.I.), Glen Campbell on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

Johnny Knoxville, Tricia Helfer (of Battlestar Galactica, Burn Notice), Mark Seliger on Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, check your local listings).

Billie Piper (of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Doctor Who), Jerome Flood II, Flobots on a rerun of Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).