Can Sarah Palin save Tina Fey’s ‘30 Rock’?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, October 27, 2008
Barack Obama’s primetime paid advertorial on Wednesday is probably the most notable event happening during a relatively low-key late October week in TV.
And for NBC, which is having a really tough fall so far during primetime, execs are hoping the hype from Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin impression on “SNL” translates into more eyeballs for her Emmy winning (yet low-rated) “30 Rock,” which comes back this Thursday.
MONDAY
• “Dancing With the Stars” 8 p.m. ABC — Cloris Leachman survived yet another week as the senior citizen demo votes furiously. Brooke Burke remains the fav to win it all though Warren Sapp could surprise.
• “Chuck “ 8 p.m. NBC — A Buy More efficient expert (Tony Hale) wonders why Chuck always seems so distracted from his paying gig.
• “Heroes” 9 p.m. NBC— Suresh is now out of control as Nathan and Tracy fight for their lives.Kristen returns with a shocker for Claire.
• “Boston Legal” 10:01 p.m. ABC — Betty White returns as murderous Catherin Piper.
TUESDAY
• “90210” 8 p.m. the CW 9— Naomi’s drug bust lands Adrianna in rehab.
• “Greek” 9 p.m. ABC Family (season finale) — Lauren Conrad, already proven to be a stiffly compelling “actress” in “The Hills,” makes a cameo.
• “Eli Stone” 10:01 p.m. ABC — Eli’s dad remains forefront in his mind after he reads his dad’s diary. (Adult guys write diaries?)
• “Law & Order: SVU” 10 p.m. NBC — Coroner Melinda Warner finally leaves the morgue and helps nab a dangerous quack.
• “Real Housewives of Atlanta” 10 p.m. Bravo — DeShawn’s big target of $1 million for her fundraiser won’t be reached while Kim and Sheree bond, much to NeNe’s chagrin.
WEDNESDAY
• “Obama paid political ad” 8 p.m. CBS, Fox, NBC — Looking for “Bones” or “New Christine” or “Deal or No Deal” at 8? Sorry — Obama is spending mucho bucks to run a big ad six days before the election and delaying all three shows by 30 minutes.
• “Pushing Daises” 8 p.m. ABC — This show, in need of a ratings boost, could benefit from the Obama infomerical as competition. Stephen Root guests as a supposed old associate of Ned’s dad.
• “Private Practice” 9 p.m. NBC — Sam and Naomi vie for a spot to run the office
• “America’s Next Top Model” 8 p.m. the CW — The remaining contestants travel to Europe.
THURSDAY
• “Ugly Betty” 8 p.m. ABC — Ralph Macchio waxes on, waxes off at Hilda’s salon now that her affair with the married man is over.
• “Grey’s Anatomy” 9 p.m. ABC — Kevin McKidd plays Owen Hunt, the new head of trauma, with obnoxious abandon.
• “The Office” 9 p.m. NBC — Pam forgets she’s not in Scranton and wears a costume to the Dunder Mifflin corporate office.
• “30 Rock” 9:30 p.m. NBC (season debut) — Megan Mullally plays an adoption official who deems whether Liz can adopt a child or not and her visit to the office does not go well.
FRIDAY
• “Ghost Whisperer” 8 p.m. CBS — The ghost of a tennis player shows no love by hovering around a family that isn’t his.
• “Crusoe” 9 p.m. NBC — Crusoe gets mutineers as visitors. In fact, he gets so many visitors, it makes you wonder why he can’t get off the island himself.
• “Numb3rs” 10 p.m. CBS — One of Don’s men is killed on duty and he’s not a happy man.
• “The Starter Wife” 10 p.m. USA — Lou, a man from Molly’s past, shows up just as she hits it off with Zach.
WEEKEND TELEVISION
• “Center Stage 2: Turn It Up” 8 p.m. Saturday. Oxygen — A sequel to the 2000 film.
• “Saturday Night Live” 11:29 p.m. Saturday. NBC — The final pre-election episode starring Ben Affleck and David Cook, plus a possible appearance by Barack Obama.
• “Ben Jones: A Conversation” 1 p.m. Sunday. GPB (repeated again Tuesday at 7 p.m.— Former Georgia Congressman and “Dukes of Hazzard” character Ben Jones talks about his rather interesting life.
• “Legend of the Seeker” 6 p.m. Sunday. WATL (new) — Back in the 1990s. “Xena” and “Hercules” were popular syndicated fantasy dramas. Now we have this drama based on the “Sword of Truth” novels.
• “Beer For My Horses” 7 p.m. Sunday. CMT — Toby Keith and Willie Nelson turn the song and video into a movie.
• “The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horrors XIX” 8 p.m. Sunday. Fox — Celebrity death, election shenanigans and a play off the Charlie Brown pumpkin special.
