TELEVISION
Post-Olympic TV viewing boasts variety
Reality shows, documentaries, top series offer apolitical fare
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Olympics are over. The Democratic National Convention will dominate the news channels this week with a modest presence on the broadcast networks. Otherwise, there are plenty of choices for the non-political types as we enter Labor Day weekend and Jerry Lewis shows up again.
Monday, Aug. 25
COURTESY: HBO
Native Atlantan and close advisor to former President Bill Clinton is one of many African-American trailblazers interviewed in-depth for the HBO documentary ‘The Black List: Vol. One’, which premieres Monday at 9 p.m.
• “Deal or No Deal” 8 p.m. NBC (new series) — Howie Mandel promises $1 million will finally be won this season. We doubt it’s imminent because it’s all about anticipation, eh?
• “America’s Toughest Jobs” 9 p.m. NBC (new series) — Contestants try out tough jobs such as logging and oil rigging. First, it’s Alaskan crab fishing. This makes “The Apprentice” or even “The Amazing Race” look like a day at a spa (though at least they get fed better than the folks on “Survivor.”)
• “The Black List: Vol. One” 9 p.m. HBO— Elvis Mitchell talks to a bevy of successful blacks, from Colin Powell to Chris Rock. Simply shot but compelling.
• “The Closer” 9 p.m. TNT — Kevin Bacon directed this case where Sanchez’s brother is murdered.
• “Exiled” 10:30 p.m. MTV (new series) — Pampered “Super Sweet 16” alums get sent to places such as Kenya and the Arctic Circle.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
• “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” 8 p.m. ABC Family — Amy and Ashley have forgiven dad for adultery, while Adrian tries to find her dad.
• “World’s Funniest Commercials” 9 p.m. TBS — Kevin Nealon hosts what is known as really low-cost programming and for the advertisers, a freebie.
• “Greek” 9 p.m. ABC Family (season two debut) — Charisma Carpenter of “Buffy” fame returns as ZBZ’s Tegan Walker.
• “Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” 10 p.m. Oxygen (season four debut) — Dickinson moves the agency, which includes Atlantan Mia Fields.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
• “America’s Got Talent” 8 p.m. NBC — Check out the singing quartet Kazual from Atlanta, who got very little airtime during the auditions.
• “Greatest American Dog” 8 p.m. CBS — The dogs have to deal with the elephant in the room. Literally.
• “Mythbusters” 9 p.m. Discovery — The boys check out the idea that the 1969 moon landing was a big fat fakery. This is one of those favorite conspiracy nut job theories.
• “Shear Genius” 10 p.m. Bravo (season finale) — Finalists Charlie, Dee and Nicole vie for $100,000.
Thursday, Aug. 28
• ABC, NBC, CBS and the news channels will air Barack Obama’s live acceptance speech at 10 p.m.
• “Moment of Truth” 8 p.m. Fox — Sadly, this execrable show is still on. And Fox is airing two hours of it.
• “Big Brother” 8 p.m. CBS — It’s double elimination time.
• “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” 10 p.m. Bravo — Tabatha uses her sharp tongue and eye for change to get the workers to focus on work.
• “Glam God With Vivica A. Fox” 10 p.m. VH1— Last week’s challenge among these would-be fashion stylists to revamp an existing dress was so modest, why did they need three people for each team? Let’s hope for a tougher task this week.
Friday, Aug. 29
• “Gone Country” 8 p.m. CMT — The would-be country singers (with or without an exasperated Irene Cara) have to entertain prisoners, kind of like Kathy Griffin did once back on her Bravo reality show.
• “Outsider’s Inn” 8:30 p.m. CMT — Would you like some lime Jell-O in the tub of your newlywed suite? But of course!
• “Grizzly Man Diaries” 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Animal Planet (new series) — An eight-part series about life with grizzlies from Timothy Treadwell who was mauled by bears in 2003.
• “Real Time With Bill Maher” 11 p.m. HBO (season debut) — Maher is back in time for the final weeks of the Presidential campaign.
Weekend, Aug. 30-31
• “Disney Channel Games” 8 p.m. Saturday. Disney (season finale) — The Cheetah Girls show up for the final showdown.
• “Saturday Night College Football” 8 p.m. Saturday. ABC (season debut) — The matchup: Alabama at Clemson.
• “For the Love of Grace” 9 p.m. Saturday. Hallmark — Kelly Ripa’s hubby Mark Consuelos plays a hard-luck firefighter who falls in love with someone he rescues.
• “Hannah Montana 8 p.m. Sunday. Disney — Greg Itzin, the evil president in season five of “24,” pops in to play a baddie, this time the snooty dad of Miley’s new boyfriend.
• “Jerry Lewis Telethon” 9 p.m. Sunday. The CW — Yes, Jerry’s still alive and his kids get help once again.
• “Robot Chicken” 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Adult Swim — Seth Green’s delightfully funny claymation comedy show is back for six new episodes.
