Another week. Another slate of recommendations.
Good TV is surprisingly easy to find this week. With a lot of special events, season premieres and new seasons in full swing, summertime has gotten a little less harsh from a TV perspective.
Still, there’s a lot of junk and a lot of reruns to sort through and nobody wants that. So before you go flipping around the dial, just read below. I’ve done all the work for you!
Monday
Plenty of good stuff tonight. The fun starts at 5:00 on ESPN with the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby. Of course there’s no local players in the field since Southern California teams seem to be allergic to the long ball, but there will be plenty of chances to see lefties launch it into the highest decks in right field.
For the non-sports fans, there are a couple season premieres over on TNT that should float your boat. That network’s dynamic duo of strong women return with all new episodes of “The Closer” and “Saving Grace.” Watch Holly Hunter and Kyra Sedgwick fight for an Emmy head-to-head!
Finally, I’ll steer viewers back to “Weeds.” This is a light recommendation as the show severely jumped the shark this season and the first couple episodes were dreadful. Last week, however, the Botwin clan returned to funny form so there may be hope for this Showtime sitcom yet.
Tuesday
At 5:00 on FOX, it’s the 2008 MLB All-Star game. Local players in the field include Dodgers catcher Russell Martin and a trio of Angels pitchers: Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Francisco Rodriguez. You must watch. It’s un-American not to!
If you refuse to be American, then there’s plenty of options for entertainment while you eat crepes and play fantasy soccer.
At 8:00 on We, catch a 3-hour block of The Secret Lives of Women. It’s a documentary series featuring a different female deviant in each episode. The first episode deals with Munchausen Moms who are mothers who keep their children sick in order to gain their attention. If that doesn’t disturb you enough, then you can enter the weird world of polygamy at 9:00. The real episode to watch is on at 10:00, as the series’ all-new episode plunges into the world of mistresses. Saucy.
There’s more newness on Tuesday, in fact there’s brand newness as A&E premieres their new original series “The Cleaner.” Benjamin Bratt stars as a different sort of drug interventionist; he captures junkies and forces them to clean up. It premieres at 10:00.
Wednesday
Those gearing up for the premiere of the new Batman movie on Friday will certainly be interested in what The History Channel has on tonight at 9:00. “Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight” explores the History of the Caped Crusader and delves not only into his mind but how his actions affect the psychology of all the citizens of Gotham City. A good way to get in the mood for “The Dark Knight.”
On a lighter note, HBO is airing another “Costas NOW” town hall forum after the circus created by his examinations of sports media the last time. This installment focuses on the current state of Major League baseball as the diminutive host welcomes a parade of Hall-of-Famers including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson at 9:00.
After that on HBO, you get a second chance to catch the premiere of the superb “Generation Kill”. It’s a bit tough to get into as creators David Simon and Ed Burns offer virtually nothing in the way of exposition and just launch into the world of the first battalion of Marines to invade Iraq. This is more brilliant work from the team that brought us “The Wire”, based on the book by embedded journalist Evan Wright.
Thursday
Crazy acts! Celebrity judges! Sarcastic hosting! It’s all back as “The Gong Show” makes its triumphant return to the airwaves on Comedy Central tonight at 10:00. Dave Attel presides over this parade of freaks that has a chance to be even zanier than the original.
If you want proof that you don’t have the best job in the world no matter what it is you do, tune into the Travel Channel tonight at 10:00 for a double dose of Samantha Brown. Previously this lucky lady hosted the series “Great Hotels,” which saw her staying at five-star resorts around the globe, and “Passport to Europe,” where she sampled the best that continent had to offer and got paid for it! Now she’s back with “Passport to Great Weekends.” This new series combines her previous work as she takes us through the streets, attractions and hotels of Cabo and New Orleans this evening. I’d hate her if she weren’t so damn good at her job.
Also on Thursday is the chance to watch one of the best bands of all time get the royal treatment on VH1. Bands like Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and Tenacious D all take the stage to pay homage to the one, the only, The Who. Expect great music and Pete Townshend to be entirely impressed by the whole thing.
Sunday
A pair of reality competition shows are all new tonight. First, we get the series premiere of “High School Musical: Get in the Picture.” Nick Lachey hosts a search for real high school students to star in a music video to air after “HSM3.” Not the hip abbreviation of the title.
Perhaps the most ridiculous reality show of all time (and that’s really saying something) trots out another freakshow installment at 9:00 on VH1. It’s “I Love Money” featuring contestants from “I Love New York” and “Flavor of Love” proving that dignity is a thing of the past.
Thankfully, there’s also good TV on tonight in the form of the second installment of “Generation Kill” on tonight at 9:00 on HBO. Tonight, the First Reconnaissance Battalion enters the city of Nasiriyah under orders to consider any Iraqi carrying a weapon as hostile. This series promises to get better and more powerful as it goes on.
Remember to check back every Monday for your guide through
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