TV BEST BETS
‘E.R.’ sees its last patient; ‘Osbournes: Reloaded’ replaces reality with variety
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, March 30, 2009
The most notable event this week is the end of NBC’s hugely successful drama “E.R.” Thursday for a two-hour finale. The show, which brought us quick camera cuts, medical jargon galore and soapy interludes, prefaced the likes of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “House.” It also helped turn George Clooney into a star.
And train wreck alert: the Osbournes (Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly & Jack) are back on Tuesday, after “American Idol.” It’s not a reality show again. It’s a variety show. Feel free to insert your own joke.
Joseph Cultice/FOX
The Osbournes, from left, Jack, Sharon, Ozzy and Kelly, host ‘Osbournes Reloaded,’ a six-episode TV variety show in Los Angeles.
MONDAY
• “Chuck,” 8 p.m. NBC — “Battlestar Galactica’s” Tricia Helfer guests as an agent curious about the Chuck/Sarah relationship.
• “Dancing With the Stars,” 8 p.m. ABC — Steve Wozniak is around not because he can dance but because he’s more amusing to watch than ousted Denise Richards.
• “Greek,” 8 p.m. ABC Family (season debut) — Frannie, out from ZBZ, forms her own sorority.
• “The Big Bang Theory,” 8 p.m. CBS — Penny faces a new hot gal in the apartment building as the geekazoid world’s girl of choice.
• “24,” 9 p.m. Fox — Exposed to a biochemical agent last week, Jack gets hosed down — naked! And the Starkwood-Sangala connection continues to be explored.
• “Rules of Engagement,” 9:30 p.m. CBS — Former 49er (and DWTS alum) Jerry Rice guests.
TUESDAY
• “American Idol,” 8 p.m.-9:20 p.m. Fox — With nine contestants left, “Idol’ shrinks to 80 minutes.
• “Biggest Loser: Couples,” 8 p.m. NBC — The challenge features the “losers” having to stay balanced above a swimming pool.
• “90210,” 9 p.m. the CW — The new bad boy “Luke” arrives.
• “Pretty Wicked,” 9 p.m. Oxygen (new series) — Ten gals who could be on “Bad Girls Club” try to show their “inner” beauty.
• “Osbournes: Reloaded,” 9:20 p.m. Fox (new series) — The Brady Bunch. Sonny & Cher. Donny & Marie. They all had variety hours – three decades ago. Now the Osbournes do pranks, sing and act goofy.
• “My Boys,” 10:30 p.m. TBS (season debut) — Bobby is about to get married but will his feelings for PJ get in the way?
WEDNESDAY
• “I Get That a Lot,” 8 p.m. CBS (special) — Ha ha! Regular folks get punk’d by the likes of LeAnn Rimes, Mario Lopez, Ice-T, Jessica Simpson and Heidi Klum.
• “Getting Real,” 8 p.m. MTV — “Milk” writer Dustin Lance Black does a biopic about the late Pedro Zamora from the early days of “The Real World.”
• “Lost,” 9 p.m. ABC— Kate can kill Ben — or not. Come on. Ben always manages to find a way to stay alive, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he?
• “American Idol,” 9 p.m. Fox — Kooky Megan Joy Corkrey survives on warbly hutzpah and a smile. But her time may finally be up.
• “Life on Mars” 10:02 p.m. ABC (series finale) — Maybe Sam can finally get back to 2008 from 1973.
• “Damages,” 10 p.m. FX (season finale)— Can Ellen finally take Patty down? Doubt it.
• “Reno 911!” 10:30 p.m. Comedy Central (season debut) — Sixth season arrival features a guest turn by Jonah Hill.
THURSDAY
• “Survivor: Tocantins,” 8 p.m. CBS — A fake immunity idol worked the last go around. Can it work again?
• “In the Motherhood ,” 8 p.m. ABC — Rosemary fakes pregnancy.
• “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 9 p.m. CBS — Episode 200 features Langston checking out Latino pro wrestling.
• “ER,” 9 p.m. NBC (series finale) — Ratings have been on critical life support for a long time and now it’s time to say goodbye to this once sturdy drama. Ernest Borgnine and Alexis Bledel costar.
• “Eleventh Hour,” 10 p.m. CBS (season finale) — Helen Slater (“Supergirl”) guest stars.
• “Free Radio,” 11 p.m. VH1 (season debut) — As Lance’s ratings skyrocket, he gets a posse and a fatter ego. Ed Helms from Atlanta is one of the guests.
FRIDAY
• “Everybody Hates Chris,” 8 p.m. the CW — Chris rebels against Rochelle’s chore list.
• “Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m. CBS — Melinda’s nostalgia trip with high school students involves a dead classmate’s ghost.
• “Friday Night Lights,” 9 p.m. NBC — Maybe Landry and Tyra finally truly genuinely hook up.
• “Dollhouse,” 9:01 p.m. Fox — Echo awakens with her original personality and tries to escape with a couple of her friends.
• “Escape to Chimp Eden,” 9:30 p.m. Animal Planet (new series) — Chimps who suffered under human captivity are rehabbed to go back into the wild.
• “Head Case,” 10 p.m. Starz— Dr. Goode may be getting married but that doesn’t stop her from picking “Survivor” host Jeff Probst’s brain.
WEEKEND
• “Love Takes Wings,” 9 p.m. Saturday Hallmark —Sarah Jones and Haylie Duff star as lady docs during the Wild West days.
• “Nora Roberts’ High Noon,” 9 p.m. Saturday Lifetime — Emilie de Ravin (“Lost”) is being chased by a psychopathic killer.
• “100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s,” 10 p.m. Saturday VH1 — A-Ha! This is an excuse to reference Kajagoogoo.
• “Academy of Country Music Awards,” 8 p.m. Sunday CBS — Vegas hosts this country awards show that is not the CMT Awards.
• “In Treatment,” 9 p.m. Sunday HBO (season debut) — Gabriel Byrne is back playing therapist.
• “The Tudors,” 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime (season debut) — Henry VIII is not to pleased that wife No. 3 (Jane Seymour) isn’t making babies.
