Drama Archives

The makers of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" splatter the screen with sex, violence and plenty of R-rated language, but you won't convince them that any of it is out of place.

"I take issue with you using the word gratuitous," star Lucy Lawless said. "In fact, all of us, the actors and writers, are very serious about why we do it. We do not want one single thing to be gratuitous; it's not what we're about."

The gladiators of Starz' exciting new series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," won't step into the Coliseum until Jan. 22, but Chicago fans can get a sneak peek of the show on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Andy Whitfield plays the rebel gladiator Spartacus. (Starz photo)

Make sure you get there early because space will be limited. And you must be at least 21 years old to attend. It can get naughty.

"Spartacus," from producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi and writer/producer Steven S. DeKnight, is a heady mixture of "300," "Rome" and "Gladiator." There is plenty of gore, sex and intrigue provided by the strong cast consisting of newcomer Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless ("Xena"), John Hannah ("Four Weddings and a Funeral"), Craig Parker ("Legend of the Seeker"), Peter Mensah ("300"), Erin Cummings and Manu Bennett.

Watch the trailer for the series below, and click the "Spartacus" link for my past coverage, including an interview with Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield's photo gallery.

Charlie Hunnam (front) rides again. FX photo

When Charlie Hunnam took the role of Jax Teller on "Sons of Anarchy," he knew he could play the tough-but-tender member of a motorcycle club. But he wanted to make sure he looked like he belonged on top of his ride.

"I try to keep Jax about 12 to 15 pounds heavier than I cruise usually," Hunnam told me at the end of last season, saying that he began working out to get his body into believable shape. "I go to a 24-Hour Fitness. I usually go about 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock in the morning and I have the whole place to myself."

The towel comes off, people. FX photo

This week's offering (Again, all for you dear readers) is Gilles Marini. The French actor begins his 2-episode guest stint on FX's "Nip/Tuck" at 9 p.m. Wednesday. He's playing Renaldo, the new husband of Julia's mother, Erica (Vanessa Redgrave). Marini, who already has appeared shirtless on Show Patrol thanks to his recurring role on ABC's "Brothers and Sisters," told EW.com that Renaldo is nothing like Luc.

"This one is very, very bad," Marini told the Web site. "He's a player. He has an agenda."

SONS OF ANARCHY
9 p.m. Tuesday, FX
Tune in or out? out of four.

Kurt Sutter's searing drama about the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club get better each week. I've loved it from the start of its first season, but every Tuesday I'm floored by how intense it gets and how far Sutter's willing to push his characters.

You can see more of Ben McKenzie and Michael Cudlitz when "Southland" moves to TNT in January.

TNT will broadcast the seven-episode first season, as well as the six episodes shot for the second season that NBC never aired. The show will air at 9 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 12, TNT said today.

The network will wait to examine the show's ratings before deciding to order more episodes. "Southland" stars Michael Cudlitz, Ben McKenzie, Regina King, Tom Everett Scott, Kevin Alejandro and Shawn Hatosy, among others, as cops and detectives working in the Southland area of L.A.

I've rounded up other TV talk about renewed shows below:

OCCUPATION
7 p.m. Sunday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four

As stories about the conflict in Iraq go, you can't do much better than this gritty look at three British soldiers who can't escape their experiences in the war-torn country. James Nesbitt is especially good as a husband and father who risks his family when he falls for an Iraqi doctor, while Stephen Graham and Warren Brown play two opposites--practical profiteer and naive idealist--both of whom return to Iraq as mercenaries. Their gripping, tragic stories illuminate the moral quagmire of war.

Alex O'Loughlin gets stuck behind a stethoscope in "Three Rivers." I say bring back "Moonlight." CBS photo

THREE RIVERS
8 p.m. Sunday, CBS
Tune in or out? out of four.

DEFYING GRAVITY
8 p.m. Sunday, ABC
Tune in or out? out of four.

ABC tries to lure both fans of sci fi and nighttime soaps with this new summer series. I'm not sure "Defying Gravity" will fly with fans of both genres.

THE PHILANTHROPIST
9 p.m. Wednesday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Paulo Costanzo stars as Evan Lawson in USA Network's "Royal Pains."

Paulo Costanzo is rolling in wealth on his new TV series, "Royal Pains."

As Evan Lawson, the social-climbing brother of Dr. Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein), he gets to spend time in East Coast mansions and on beaches in the Hamptons with lots of babes. But those aren't even the best perks, he told me recently.

"My trailer is actually made of platinum and virgins," he said. "Platinum's more expensive than gold, just so you know. And diamond studs as well. Don't forget the diamond studs."

Mark-Paul Gosselaar fans have seen the former "Saved by the Bell" and "NYPD Blue" star with blond, brown, black, shaggy and spiked hair.

Brand new 'do, same bad suit. Mark-Paul Gosselaar in "Raising the Bar." TNT photos

"I didn't have too many friends to tell me, 'Jeez man, that looks like shit,'" he told me during an interview in which we chatted about, yes, yet another new 'do.

As the second season of his TNT hit, "Raising the Bar," opens at 9 p.m. Monday, Gosselaar's character, dedicated defense attorney Jerry Kellerman, finally gets that shaggy mane shorn.

And Gosselaar's glad for that, considering that he's been talking about the hair ever since he grew it out for the role. But he's not bitter.

"At least, at 35 years old, I can have a conversation about hair," he said. "I feel very fortunate."

Gosselaar also discussed Jerry's never-ending feud with Judge Trudy Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek), his budding relationship with a new judge and if fans will ever see Jerry's bare butt. (And don't forget to watch Gosselaar on Jimmy Fallon's "Saved by the Bell" edition tonight.)

WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND
PBS' "Masterpiece Mystery"
8 p.m. Sunday, WTTW-Ch. 11
Tune in or out?

With "One Step Behind," PBS closes the first and first-rate season of "Wallander" mysteries starring Kenneth Branagh as the melancholy Swedish detective Kurt Wallander.

John Lithgow

Showtime announced Wednesday that John Lithgow will play Simmons in all 12 episodes of the drama's fourth season, which launches Sept. 27.

Simmons is one of those guys that people hardly notice, a mild-mannered suburbanite who moves to Miami to pursue his passion--killing people. It turns out Simmons is a prolific serial killer called the "Trinity Killer." Apparently he likes to kill in groups of three. He comes to Miami after FBI Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) gets too close to finding him. Lundy taps Dexter (Michael C. Hall) to help track Simmons.

Fans of the show can guess what happens next. Dex, no slouch in the killing department himself, kind of falls for Trinity's methods. Lithgow should be a great addition to the season.

Posted at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 24

U.S. Senator Joan Cameron (Judy Davis, left) searches for answers in her daughter's death. ABC photos

DIAMONDS
8 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday, ABC
Tune in or out? out of four.

This ambitious two-part film about the seedy blood diamond trade loosely weaves together five stories, which is at least two stories too many.

U.S. Senator Joan Cameron (Judy Davis, left) searches for answers in her daughter's death. ABC photos

DIAMONDS
8 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday, ABC
Tune in or out? out of four.

This ambitious two-part film about the seedy blood diamond trade loosely weaves together five stories, which is at least two stories too many.

Posted at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 1

Lisa Edelstein knows how to tease fans of "House" and actor Hugh Laurie.

“He’s super sexy, so who could complain about kissing him?” Edelstein told reporters during a Friday conference call to discuss Monday's episode, in which House and Edelstein's Dr. Cuddy—the pair known as Huddy—finally hook up.

“You’re not going to see me get naked or anything,” Edelstein teased, “but it was a pretty hot scene.”

Edelstein wouldn’t give too many details about Monday’s 7 p.m. episode, called “Under My Skin,” or the May 11 season finale, except to say there will be repercussions from the Huddy hook-up, he’s not going to stop seeing Amber any time soon, and it was a blast working with guest star Carl Reiner. Read more after the video below.

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 1

Ed Westwick is going from bad boy to vampire geek this summer.

Westwick, who plays “Gossip Girl” troublemaker Chuck Bass, will guest star on the second episode of Showtime’s “Californication” as Balt, a student fascinated with vampire literature who enroll sin a class taught by star David Duchovny’s Hank.

Westwick is one of several guest stars appearing on the show’s third season. Showtime today said that Rick Springfield, Embeth Davidtz and Eva Amurri will join previously announced guest stars Kathleen Turner, Diane Farr and Peter Gallagher.

Amurri, Susan Sarandon’s daughter, also will play a student in Hank’s class. Hank decides to give up the womanizing and hold down a regular job by becoming a university writing professor.

I doubt Hank will be able to stay away from the ladies. Davidtz guest stars as Felicia Koons, the wife of the dean of students (Gallagher). Showtime hasn’t said who Springfield will play, but he’ll guest in at least one episode.

A rep at Showtime tells me Season 3 will debut this fall.

Posted at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 27

CBS is giving "Harper's Island" the same treatment Uncle Marty (Harry Hamlin, above) got on the show. CBS photo

CBS has found a way to end “Harper’s Island” fast than any serial killer could: It’s moving the show to Saturday’s beginning this week.

Saturday is the night where shows go to die—at least in live viewership.

CBS says the move comes after it learned that many folks are watching via DVR and online, as opposed to live during the 9 p.m. Thursday time slot.

The show’s April 9 premiere was watched on TV by 9.65 million viewers, but increased by 1.64 million viewers to 11.29 million after factoring in the 7-Day DVR numbers. The show’s debut was CBS’ best online premiere ever in terms of viewers, the network reports.

“Harper’s Island” will air at 8 p.m. Saturday and be followed by “48 Hours Mystery.” CBS will show a repeat of “Criminal Minds” at 9 p.m. this Thursday. A “CSI: NY” repeat will air in the time slot on May 7.

On May 14, the season finale of “CSI: NY” will be broadcast at 9 p.m. Below is look at other schedule changes:

Posted at 12:25 a.m. Monday, July 27

Matthew Bomer (right) and Tim DeKay co-star in a new USA Network series tentatively called "White Collar." USA photo

Don’t panic, “Chuck” fans. Just because Matthew Bomer’s pilot for USA Network, “White Collar,” has been greenlit for a series doesn’t mean all hope is lost for “Chuck’s” renewal.

Bomer wasn’t a series regular on “Chuck,” where he occasionally played spy Bryce Larkin, Chuck’s former bud and Sarah’s former boyfriend. (He’s back for Monday's season finale, by the way.)

Posted at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 19

WELLER, MCCORMACK TALK ROMANCE, "IN PLAIN SIGHT"

IN PLAIN SIGHT
9 p.m. Sunday, USA
Tune in or out? out of four.

Each week U.S. marshals Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann solve mysteries surrounding witnesses they’ve helped place in the federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), yet USA Network’s “In Plain Sight” is anything but a cop drama.

Posted at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 19

REVIEW: "IN PLAIN SIGHT" IS A TREAT

Fred Weller and Mary McCormack of "In Plain Sight." USA Network photos

“In Plain Sight” co-stars Mary McCormack and Fred Weller seem to get along great, but that doesn’t mean they’re on the same page about their characters’ feelings for each other.

“Mary led me to believe at some point last year that her character looked at Marshall as a brother. I don’t think that’s entirely true,” Weller, who plays U.S. marshal Marshall Mann on the engaging USA Network drama, told me during a recent conference call.

Fred Weller and Mary McCormack of "In Plain Sight." USA Network photos

"In Plain Sight" co-stars Mary McCormack and Fred Weller seem to get along great, but that doesn't mean they're on the same page about their characters' feelings for each other.

"Mary led me to believe at some point last year that her character looked at Marshall as a brother. I don't think that's entirely true," Weller, who plays U.S. marshal Marshall Mann on the engaging USA Network drama, told me during a recent conference call.

IN PLAIN SIGHT
9 p.m. Sunday, USA
Tune in or out? out of four.

Each week U.S. marshals Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann solve mysteries surrounding witnesses they've helped place in the federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), yet USA Network's "In Plain Sight" is anything but a cop drama.

Posted at 4:10 p.m. Friday, April 17

GREY GARDENS
7 p.m. Saturday, HBO
Tune in our out? out of four.

Who knew Drew Barrymore could do drama? She’s a huge surprise in this film based on the real lives of “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale (Barrymore) and her mother, “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale (Jessica Lange), who were the subjects of Albert and David Maysles’ 1975 cult classic documentary. The touching, uncompromising film follows the Beales from their New York society heights of the 1930s to the 1970s, when Jackie O’s rich, eccentric relatives were found living with dozens of cats and raccoons in their run-down East Hampton estate, called Grey Gardens. Lange and Barrymore give exceptional performances as two women who, for whatever reason, went from beautiful to batty.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15

YES, ROSE STARRED IN "FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY"

Anika Noni Rose stars in HBO's "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." RedEye/Chase Agnello-Dean photo

You can't keep Anika Noni Rose down.

The actress has chosen to play characters that, although outwardly very different, share her obviously indomitable spirit.

"I grew up in a little town and I decided to do something that people automatically were like, 'Really? Good luck,'" Rose told me during an interview at the RedEye offices. "I know that feeling that you are bigger than the constraints around you."

Posted at 8:15 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2009

Eric McCormack, Tom Cavanagh and “Trust Me” won’t be back on TNT. TNT photo

We saw the writing on the wall when Eric McCormack signed up to do a pilot for ABC. TNT isn’t bringing back McCormack’s “Trust Me” for a second season, the New York Times reported Friday. McCormack, Tom Cavanagh and Monica Potter starred in the comedy-drama about a Chicago advertising agency. TNT has three new dramas in the hopper—the Ray Romano series “Men of a Certain Age,” Jada Pinkett Smith’s “HawthoRNe,” and Dylan McDermott’s drama “Dark Blue.” (The show titles have apparently changed.)

Posted at 2:45 p.m. Monday, April 13

Queen Jane (Annabelle Wallis) will be long gone when King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) returns for a fourth season. Showtime photo

Heads will continue to roll at Showtime next year. The network has picked up “The Tudors” for a fourth and final season. The drama, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII, will delve into Henry’s life with his last two wives, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, and his descent into madness, Showtime said. The 10 one-hour episodes will begin in Spring 2010. Production will begin this June in Dublin. Showtime says creator Michael Hirst will have written all 38 of the series episodes.

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 10

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
8 p.m. Friday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Benjamin McKenzie wasn't looking to get back on TV after playing Ryan Atwood on "The O.C."

But the 31-year-old read a script that he couldn't put down--for NBC's new police drama "Southland," which airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays.

"I really fell in love with the pilot," McKenzie told reporters during a conference call last week. "The writing is very intricate, the dialogue is somewhat sparse but there's always a lot going on underneath."

Officer John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) becomes a mentor to rookie Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) in NBC's drama "Southland." NBC photos

SOUTHLAND
9 p.m. Thursday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2009

We haven’t seen the end of “Pushing Daisies,” "Eli Stone" and “Dirty Sexy Money." ABC says it will air the unseen episodes of the cancelled series on Saturdays over the summer.

The “Pushing Daisies” news actually made me smile today. I miss it. Here’s the schedule from an ABC press release:

Posted at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday, April 8

HARPER’S ISLAND
9 p.m. Thursday, CBS
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 7

RESCUE ME
9 p.m. Tuesday, FX
Tune in or out? out of four.

I’ve watched the first four seasons of this darkly comic series only sporadically. But if Season 5 were a book, I’d have to say that I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up nearly all night watching. Denis Leary and his messed up firefighting crew revisit the 9-11 tragedy when a French author interviews them for a book project. Despite that bleak premise, “Rescue Me” is one of its funniest shows on TV. I didn’t remember that.

Posted at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 8

SPOILER ALERT! TURN AWAY OF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS WEEK'S "HOUSE" OR READ A PAPER OR WATCHED TV AT ALL THIS WEEK!

Kal Penn is leaving "House" for the White House, where he will work for President Obama, who he embraced at an inauguration event in January. Fox (above) & Getty Images (below) photos

Read this spoileriffic story by clicking the link below.

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 6

When “Californication” returns to Showtime in the fall, horny author Hank (David Duchovny) will being working as a university professor.

Seriously? How’s he going to swing that and stay faithful to Karen (Natascha McElhone)? He won’t, not with Diane Farr (“Numb3rs”) playing a teacher’s assistant. Showtime says the two will “strike up a naughty relationship.”

Producers also have cast movie great Kathleen Turner and Peter Gallagher of “The O.C.” in the new season.

Turner, who starred in “Romancing the Stone” and “Peggy Sue Got Married,” stars as Charlie’s (Evan Handler) boss when he ditches working as a porn star agent. Turner will get to smolder like she did in “Body Heat” because her character has a thing for Charlie. She’ll star in 10 of the 12 episodes, Showtime says.

Gallagher will play the dean of students at Hank’s university. He and Hank won’t be getting along, but then Hank has had a problem with authority figures—which is surprising since he is an authority figure for daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin).

MORE GUEST STARS

Posted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

Don’t mess with Meat Loaf.

The “Bat Out of Hell” singer guest stars on Monday’s “House," where Hugh Laurie’s cranky Dr. House berates Loaf’s critically ill character like he does everyone in his path.

That was fine for the show, Meat Loaf told reporters last week, but if a doctor was that mean in real life, look out.

Posted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

Don’t mess with Meat Loaf.

The “Bat Out of Hell” singer guest stars on Monday’s “House," where Hugh Laurie’s cranky Dr. House berates Loaf’s critically ill character like he does everyone in his path.

That was fine for the show, Meat Loaf told reporters last week, but if a doctor was that mean in real life, look out.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

THE TUDORS
8 p.m. Sunday, Showtime
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

THE TUDORS
8 p.m. Sunday, Showtime
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 6:50 p.m. Friday, April 3

IN TREATMENT
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne returns as Dr. Paul Weston, a psychotherapist who has demons of his own. The new season, like the critically acclaimed first, has Weston treating a handful of clients, then hitting the couch himself with his therapist, Dr. Gina Toll (Dianne Wiest). The drama is well-acted, and I suppose well-written. But it’s boring! Talk, talk, talk. Believe me, I have enough issues of my own. I don’t need to listen to this lot whine about theirs.

Posted at 6:50 p.m. Friday, April 3

IN TREATMENT
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne returns as Dr. Paul Weston, a psychotherapist who has demons of his own. The new season, like the critically acclaimed first, has Weston treating a handful of clients, then hitting the couch himself with his therapist, Dr. Gina Toll (Dianne Wiest). The drama is well-acted, and I suppose well-written. But it’s boring! Talk, talk, talk. Believe me, I have enough issues of my own. I don’t need to listen to this lot whine about theirs.

Posted at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 2

Chicago insidER.
Chicagoan Sharif Atkins got break with “ER.”
A few words from Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle<\a>
RedEye appears in final season of “ER.”
George Clooney’s return to the “ER.”
“ER” Chicago photo gallery.

“ER” closes shop after 15 years with a one-hour retrospective at 7 pm. Thursday, followed by a two-hour series finale that’s expected to bring back a lot of the old docs. Are you already suffering from medical TV withdrawal? Here's my prescription:

Posted at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 2

Chicago insidER.
Chicagoan Sharif Atkins got break with “ER.”
A few words from Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle<\a>
RedEye appears in final season of “ER.”
George Clooney’s return to the “ER.”
“ER” Chicago photo gallery.

“ER” closes shop after 15 years with a one-hour retrospective at 7 pm. Thursday, followed by a two-hour series finale that’s expected to bring back a lot of the old docs. Are you already suffering from medical TV withdrawal? Here's my prescription:

Posted at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 31

PEDRO
7 p.m. Wednesday, MTV
Tune in or out? out of four

Posted at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 31

PEDRO
7 p.m. Wednesday, MTV
Tune in or out? out of four

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

It’s almost like winning the state championships—thee years running. NBC and DirecTV made it official today: “Friday Night Lights” will be back for two more 13-episode seasons.

The partnership allowed for the current season of the NBC drama, based on the book and feature film about the townspeople in football-crazy Dillon, Texas. In the updated deal, DirecTV has exclusive rights to the series' fourth and fifth seasons on “The 101 Network.” NBC will air the shows later during each season.

"We're proud that a deal for the renewal of 'Friday Night Lights' has been reached," NBC co-chair Ben Silverman said in a release. "It is one of the best shows in the history of television and we've worked hard to keep it alive for future seasons.”

Now fans have to wonder what will happen to some favorite characters who are seniors: Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), Landry (Jesse Plemons), Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Matt (Zach Gilford).

At least we know sophomore quarterback J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter) will be back, along with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife and principal, Tami (Connie Britton).

Maybe NBC will strike a similar deal with DirecTV to keep "Chuck" on TV.

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

It’s almost like winning the state championships—thee years running. NBC and DirecTV made it official today: “Friday Night Lights” will be back for two more 13-episode seasons.

The partnership allowed for the current season of the NBC drama, based on the book and feature film about the townspeople in football-crazy Dillon, Texas. In the updated deal, DirecTV has exclusive rights to the series' fourth and fifth seasons on “The 101 Network.” NBC will air the shows later during each season.

"We're proud that a deal for the renewal of 'Friday Night Lights' has been reached," NBC co-chair Ben Silverman said in a release. "It is one of the best shows in the history of television and we've worked hard to keep it alive for future seasons.”

Now fans have to wonder what will happen to some favorite characters who are seniors: Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), Landry (Jesse Plemons), Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Matt (Zach Gilford).

At least we know sophomore quarterback J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter) will be back, along with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife and principal, Tami (Connie Britton).

Maybe NBC will strike a similar deal with DirecTV to keep "Chuck" on TV.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 30

Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale are better than the early episodes of "Cupid." ABC photos

CUPID
9 p.m Tuesday, ABC
Tune in our out? out of four.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 30

Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale are better than the early episodes of "Cupid." ABC photos

CUPID
9 p.m Tuesday, ABC
Tune in our out? out of four.

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

This in official news, but it is good news. NBC might be renewing “Friday Night Lights” for two more seasons. According to the Associated Press, “a person close to the production” said the drama will get two more 13-episode seasons, which means it will be on through the 2010-11 season.

The person, of course, spoke on condition of anonymity. I haven't heard back from two NBC sources I've tried to contact.

“Friday Night Lights” is far from a ratings winner, but has gained critical praise for NBC, who kept it on this year through a partnership with DirecTV.

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

This in official news, but it is good news. NBC might be renewing “Friday Night Lights” for two more seasons. According to the Associated Press, “a person close to the production” said the drama will get two more 13-episode seasons, which means it will be on through the 2010-11 season.

The person, of course, spoke on condition of anonymity. I haven't heard back from two NBC sources I've tried to contact.

“Friday Night Lights” is far from a ratings winner, but has gained critical praise for NBC, who kept it on this year through a partnership with DirecTV.

Posted at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 29

RedEye appears in final season of “ER.”
George Clooney’s return to the “ER.”

After 15 years, “ER” closes shop this Thursday. At 7 p.m., NBC will air an hour-long retrospective of the ground-breaking series that was set and often filmed in Chicago, followed by a two-finale that will reunite several old characters—and the actors like Noah Wyle who played them.

Posted at 6:50 p.m. Friday, March 27

MAKING OF ME: JOHN BARROWMAN
6 and 9 p.m. Sunday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

The star of the “Torchwood,” who grew up in the Chicago area, returns to the Windy City as part of his search to uncover the origins of his homosexuality. He believes people are born gay, and he consults scientists using state-of-the-art research to prove it. Barrowman also judges the talent show “Any Dream Will Do,” in which 50 actors compete to play the lead in a new production of the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (4 and 7 p.m. BBC America).

Jill Scott and Desmond Dube star in "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." HBO photo

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY
7 p.m Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

For a show involving crime fighting—and airing on HBO—this seven-episode series offers little darkness, instead remaining stubbornly positive as it moves at its own rambling tempo. In a word, it’s precious, like its lead character, Precious Ramotswe (singer Jill Scott), who begins sleuthing in her beloved Botswana. Scott shines, as does Anika Noni Rose as her fussy secretary. “No. 1” may be too sunny to keep HBO’s “Sopranos” fans happy, but Precious’ unrushed story is a refreshing, delightful change of pace.

LITTLE DORRIT
8 p.m. Sunday, WTTW
Tune in or out? out of four.

With times being so tough, you may not want to spend five Sundays watching this timely tale of chronic debt and financial ruin. This absorbing adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic offers a wonderful romance and riveting whodunit. Seamstress Amy Dorrit (Claire Foy) has lived her whole life in a debtors prison when she is summoned to work for cranky Mrs. Clennam (Judy Parfitt), whose estranged son, Arthur (Matthew Macfadyen), suspects may have caused the Dorrit clan’s troubles.

Posted at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 26

ANOTHER STRONG ROLE FOR ROSE

Anika Noni Rose stopped by RedEye in Tribune Tower on Thursday. RedEye/Chase Agnello-Dean

Anika Noni Rose has starred opposite some big-name singers.

In “Dreamgirls,” she sang with Beyonce and Chicago’s own Jennifer Hudson. In “From Justin to Kelly”—“a masterpiece,” she jokes—Rose danced with “American Idol” alums Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini.

But Rose, who won a 2004 Tony Award for best actress in a musical for “Caroline, or Change,” knows something about music too. And that helped her prepare for her latest role—a non-musical one—in HBO’s new series “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”

Posted at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 25

Will Lorraine Bracco (left) and James Gandolfini be revisiting New Jersey? HBO photo

“The Sopranos” ended its HBO run with a controversial fade to black.

Is creator David Chase (right) about to turn the lights back on? Series co-star Lorraine Bracco says yes. Well, maybe.

Bracco, who played Dr. Jennifer Melfi, psychiatrist to mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), told AOL Television that Chase is preparing to write a film version. AOL interviewed her after naming “The Sopranos” the No. 1 TV drama of all time.

“I'm so glad that he's going to write the movie soon,” she told AOL TV, adding that she is “trying to make him crazy and write the script before we all get too old and fat.”

Later in the interview when asked specifically about plans for a movie, Bracco did a reverse.

“I have no idea. But you know, it is something that I bring up with him,” she said. “I hope [Tony’s] fine, happy in New Jersey, bringing AJ to colleges. I think that would be a great way to start the movie, bringing AJ to colleges ... It would be very funny.”

An HBO spokeswoman on Wednesday whacked the idea of a "Sopranos" feature.

"I'm not aware that anything is going on with that," she told me, adding that the movie sounds like "something on [Bracco's] wish list."

Bada bing.

Chase currently is working on a miniseries for HBO, called “A Ribbon of Dreams, about the history of the Hollywood film industry. According to the network, the mini will begin in 1913 and follow two men who form an unlikely producing partnership in a very young Hollywood. The duo will cross career paths with such Hollywood greats as John Ford, John Wayne, Bette Davis and Billy Wilder.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dr. House may not be getting the final word on an upcoming episode of “House.”

The episode, called “Locked In,” is the first “House” hour to be shot and told almost entirely from the patient’s perspective.

Mos Def stars as that patient, named Lee. He suffers from “locked-in” syndrome, which means he can’t move or communicate after a bicycle accident. House (Hugh Laurie) and his team must try to “unlock” Lee before it’s too late.

The episode features a song by Mos Def called “Life in Marvelous Times,” which has been made into the video preview above. The episode airs at 7 p.m. Monday on Fox.

Posted at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, March 24

For Jennifer Beals, the new "L Word" is "lie," as in "Lie to Me."

The Chicago native will guest star for several episodes on Fox’s “Lie to Me” in a plum role as Zoe Landau, Dr. Cal Lightman’s (Tim Roth) ex-wife and Emily’s (Hayley McFarland) mom, Fox announced.

Apparently Landau and Lightman still have feelings for one another. Things get complicated when Landau, an assistant U.S. attorney, hires The Lightman Group to help with an arson case.

Beals debuts on the show beginning April 29. Her Showtime series, "The L Word," recently ended its run.

Posted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 23

Nothing against Holly Hunter, but Kenny Johnson seems happy their “Saving Grace” characters are no longer sleeping together.

Johnson, who plays Oklahoma City Det. Ham Dewey, the former partner and lover to Hunter’s Det. Grace Hanadarko, said that getting naked on set isn’t as fun as viewers might think.

“I always think ‘Just suck in and tighten your stomach,’” he told me during an interview at the Four Seasons. “Every [scene] I’m so in the moment of doing what I’m doing I’ve never sucked in my stomach. When I’m done with the whole scene I’m like, ‘God dang it, I forgot again.’”

Johnson’s character hasn’t been stripping down since the TNT drama, airing at 9 p.m. Mondays, resumed its sophomore season earlier this month. After the death of his brother and the breakup of his marriage, Ham took a break from Grace—both in the office and under the sheets.

Even though they’re speaking and may partner up again as cops, she’s keeping a cool distance.

“She was like, ‘I’m outta here, dude,’” Johnson said, adding that their troubles will carry into Season 3, which begins filming April 1. “He gets distanced more and more by what he said, that he can’t be with her. Grace will not accept him back so easily.”

“The Shield” veteran said that the Ham-Grace dynamic is what drew him to “Saving Grace,” not to mention the chance to work with Hunter.

“I fell in love with Holly when she was in ‘Raising Arizona,’” Johnson said. “She’s so unbelievably thorough and well thought-out with everything she does, it’s mind-boggling.

“Being in [an acting] situation with Holly, it’s hard not to be in the moment, right there, with her. I mean, she’s amazing; she’s that good.”

Johnson and I talked more about Hunter, being naked and “The Shield.” Read on by clicking the link below.

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21

Sunday is finale night on HBO, as “Big Love,” “Flight of the Conchords” and “Eastbound & Down” wrap their seasons. Sunday night won't be the same.

BIG LOVE
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO

The exemplary and controversial third season has been building to tonight’s showdown between Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton, right), his double-crossing second wife Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and her evil father, Roman (Harry Dean Stanton).

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
9 p.m. Sunday, HBO

In the finale of the uneven second season, Bret and Jemaine are forced to move in with superfan Mel (Kristen Schaal). It should be a fun send-off—possibly forever. The guys still are talking about this season being the end.

Danny McBride (above) brought the heat--and the funny--to the first season of "Eastbound & Down." HBO photos

EASTBOUND & DOWN
9:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO

The too-short first season of the comedy ends with foul-mouthed Kenny (Danny McBride) leaving his teaching job for another shot at the major leagues.

Posted at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17

As if Josh Schwartz isn’t busy enough with his hilarious spy comedy “Chuck” (watch it, it’s awesome) and the bitchy soap “Gossip Girl,” he’s launching a new show Tuesday on TheWB.com.

Schwartz teams with co-executive producer Alexandra Patsavas on “Rockville CA,” a 20-episode scripted series set in a fictional L.A. rock club called Rockville. It follows several twentysomethings who work and/or hang out at the club, and features tons of known and up-and-coming bands.

Just from watching the preview clip above, "Rockville CA" appears to have Schwartz's signature sharp banter between characters. And it has some great music from such bands as Kaiser Chiefs, Phantom Planet, Travis, The Duke Spirit, Eagles of Death Metal, The Kooks, Bishop Allen and The Broken West.

You can thank Patsavas for finding the cool new bands. She’s made a name for herself in Hollywood as the music supervisor for such shows as Schwartz’s “The O.C.” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She helped introduce several acts to America, including The Killers (“The O.C.”), Death Cab for Cutie (“The O.C.”) and The Fray (”Grey’s Anatomy”).

The series debuts Tuesday with four episodes that run between four and six minutes. Two new episodes will post every Tuesday through May 12. If you like the music you hear—The WB promises no lip-synching—you’ll be able to stream or download exclusive live music tracks from the show, watch videos, download a content-rich ”Rockville CA” widget, and enjoy exclusive band interviews and other “Rockville CA” content at TheWB's RockvilleCA site.

Click the link below to learn more about the first four episodes and the show’s stars.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15

CHRIS EGAN IS ONE OF MANY AUSSIES ON U.S. TV
AUSSIE PHOTO GALLERY

KINGS
7 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Give NBC some props, people. Despite drowning in one of the worst periods in its history, the network still insists on bringing quality, innovative programming to TV.

NBC has tossed some real stink-bombs on the little screen in recent years while grasping for a hit. But it’s also giving truly wonderful shows a chance to gain viewers. Ratings be damned, the proud Peacock seems to be saying as it continues to support outstanding, yet little watched programs (on TV proper anyway) such as “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights” and—keeping my fingers crossed for the future—“Chuck.”

Add “Kings” to that list. The invigorating new drama is an ambitious, atypical program for network TV. It’s not another cop drama, which could be its undoing.

In his contemporary retelling of the Biblical story of David, Goliath and King Saul, Michael Green has created a challenging soap opera filled with palace intrigues, secret romances, betrayals and “Deadwood” veteran Ian McShane.

McShane rules, literally, by honing his Al Swearengen persona into devious King Silas Benjamin, the Saul-like monarch overlooking Gilboa, a fantasyland not unlike America that is fighting for its survival in a war against neighboring Gath.

When Silas learns that a young soldier—David Shepherd (Chris Egan)—has faced down a Gath tank, which incidentally are called Goliaths—and saved his soldier son Jack (Sebastian Stan), he summons the boy to the capitol city of Shiloh.

Silas simultaneously exploits, embraces and fears the war hero, whose swelling popularity threatens the king. All the ever-so-humble former farm boy wants is to get back to his brother and friends on the frontlines, to serve his leader—and date Silas’ idealistic daughter Michelle (Allison Miller).

The rest of Silas’ family and confidantes heat up the already steamy brew. Susanna Thompson plays Silas’ scheming Queen Rose with delicious deviance. She may know about Silas’ secret lover and son on the side. Their troubled son, Jack, keeps his own secrets that could embarrass his father. And Rev. Samuals (Eamonn Walker), Silas’ former confidante who believes the king has lost his way, appears to know something about David destiny.

“Kings’ is definitely an odd duck of a show. At times it overbakes the dialogue—“ War asks the heart to freeze at room temperature,” Silas says. Then the writers come up with a gem of a phrase, as when David tells Michelle what he thinks of the people in court, "In the sea of fish, you're a mermaid.”

It follows the Old Testament story so closely, and invokes God’s name throughout, which might be too much for some viewers.

But I’m hoping “Kings” finds an audience. The stellar cast, the intriguing storytelling possibilities and the intricate details brought to the world Green and his writers have created have me hooked.

“Kings” is unlike anything else on TV. That’s reason enough to tune in.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12

George Clooney and Julianna Margulies checked back into “ER” on Thursday in an unsentimental, excellent episode.

Their characters, Doug Ross and Carol Hathaway, are still together and living in Seattle, where they were trying to convince a grandmother played by Susan Sarandon to donate the organs of her grandson.

Their scenes with Sarandon were the touching, emotional kind that “ER” fans have grown accustomed to, but having Clooney and Margulies back one last time made them extra special.

I applaud the “ER” writers for not getting cheesy on us. I sooo wanted Doug and Carol to figure out that the kidney they were securing would save their old Chicago co-worker, Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle), who was being attended to by another old County General doc, Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). But Doug and Carol didn't learn how close they were to reconnecting with Carter and Benton.

It was frustrating, but perfect.

NBC has several clips from the episode, which I’ve posted here. Ross does reminisce about Country General with Dr. Neela Rasgotra (Parminder Nagra) and Nurse Samantha Taggart (Linda Cardellini), who are in Seattle to collect the liver and a heart. But the pair doesn’t know most of the former Country General folks he mentions.

Click the link below for more videos from NBC featuring Clooney.

Posted at 11:12 a.m. Thursday, March 12

So the rumors are true: George Clooney will be on Thursday’s “ER” along with Julianna Margulies. It airs at 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

Why NBC didn't promote the heck out of this I don't know, but today they're confirming, through a PR firm, that Clooney does come back as Dr. Doug Ross. Alums Margulies, Eriq LaSalle and Noah Wyle also guest star.

“Access Hollywood” talked to Clooney and Margulies about their “ER” roles. The romance between his Doug Ross and her Nurse Carol Hathaway almost never happened, the stars said. Here’s a clip from the “Access Hollywood” interviews.

Check the blog after the show. I’ll have clips from the episode.

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 6

ASHES TO ASHES
8 p.m. Saturday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

You don’t have to feel nostalgia for the 1980s to get into this sequel to the British hit “Life on Mars,” but it sure helps.

Fuzzy perms, leg warmers and Adam Ant—you’ll find them all when modern-day police psychologist Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) is transported back to 1981 after being shot. It’s a fantastical leap for viewers, but one they’ve already taken with “Life on Mars,” which saw contemporary cop Sam Tyler make a similarly surreal trip to 1973, where he fought crime and butted heads with racist, sexist detective Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).

Alex has studied up on Sam’s case—he did make it back to his real life and report his experience, but that’s all I’ll spoil of “Mars”—and she’s more than equipped to handle the situation. She knows all about Gene and his boys, and laughs off their sexist remarks by calling them “figments.”

In the original “Mars”—not the current ABC version—Sam constantly fretted over his situation. Although she’s not exaclty shouting “I love the ’80s,” Alex seems to be having a better time. She’s rocking the off-the-shoulder sweat shirt look of Jennifer Beals in “Flashdance,” guzzling booze, dancing to an ’80s soundtrack (Adam Ant again) and sexing with a slick businessman. <

Alex knows that she’s in a coma and dreaming, saying matter-of-factly, “I might be one second away from life or one second way from death.”

All she’s got to do to mind-leap back to the present and the daughter she misses is snap out of it, she decides. She searches for clues in her casework and tries to make peace with her mother, who will be killed later in 1981, in order to trigger that wake-up call.

Maybe reliving the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana will shock her back to her future.

Posted at 2 a.m. Friday, March 6

BREAKING BAD
9 p.m. Sunday, AMC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Walter White is living one of life’s little ironies.

Before he went into business cooking meth, Walt (Bryan Cranston) was a wimpy high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico struggling to support his pregnant wife and teen son. It took a death sentence—he learned he had terminal lung cancer—for him to start living. Sure, he’s thriving on the wrong side of the law, but he’s gained the purpose, passion and power he’d never before possessed.

The show’s second season picks up right where the excellent first left off. Walt and his former student/now drug meth-making partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), are selling their improved product to sadistic Mexican drug lord Tuco (a scary Raymond Cruz). Walt figures he has to make just 11 more sales before he earns enough money to take care of his family before he dies.

That plan changes when Tuco takes a snort of Walt's new drug and gets so amped up he kills one of his buddies—making Walt and Jesse witnesses to murder.

But Tuco is the least of Walt’s worries. His DEA agent brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris), has video footage showing Walt and Jesse—hilariously disguised and fumbling—as they steal a barrel of chemicals for the meth lab. Hank doesn’t know it’s them, but he’s closing in on Walt’s secret life. Walt’s wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), also grows suspicious that her hubby is hiding something.

Walt comes up with a plan to cut ties with Tuco and throw his own family off his trail. But as usual, things go tragically—sometimes comically wrong—for Walt and Jesse.

That’s the beauty of “Breaking Bad”: It’s bleak and brutal, but it’s also darkly humorous. And if ever an actor earned his Emmy, Cranston did last year. With quiet magnetism, he exposes Walt’s complicated, conflicted psyche to viewers. Loving family man or stone-cold killer? Brilliant chemist or bumbling businessman? He’s all of these, and you’ll love him for it.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1

SAVING GRACE
9 p.m. Monday, TNT
Tune in or out? out of four.

As if Oklahoma City Det. Grace Hanadarko doesn’t have enough problems, she now has to break in new rookie partner Abby Charles (guest star Christina Ricci).

“Are you crying? You don't cry at a crime scene,” Holly Hunter’s Grace tells Abby after bawling her out for being late.

It’s Abby’s introduction to the hard-charging, whiskey-guzzling, sex-loving Grace viewers have come to know and love, thanks to Hunter’s soulful, honest portrayal of the flawed woman.

Her intense acting is matched by that of other cast members, including Kenny Johnson as her former partner/lover, Ham, and Laura San Giacomo as her friend, Rhetta.

Unfortunately, the show’s realism is often undercut by the presence of Earl (Leon Rippy), Grace’s guardian angel. I think the show could stand on its own without Earl. The writers offer up rich, emotional story lines with surprising twists that don't need the supernatural elements to keep our interest.

Posted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28

“The Simpsons” isn’t the only show to earn more air time. Fans will get more “Survivor” and “Crash” in the future too.

CBS has announced the 19th and 20th editions of “Survivor” that will air in the 2009-2010 season. “Survivor: Tocatins” currently airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays, drawing 12.3 million viewers this week against “American Idol.” CBS didn’t announce where the new editions would be filmed.

Starz Entertainment renewed "Crash" for its second season that will air this fall. The network’s first original drama wrapped its 13-episode first season in January. Starz announced that writer/producer Ira Steven Behr ("The 4400," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "The Twilight Zone") will be executive producer/showrunner for the second season, while James DeMonaco ("The Kill Point") will exec produce and Todd Harthan ("The Kill Point") will be supervising producer.

Also last week, Fox renewed “The Simpsons” for its 21st and 22nd seasons.

Posted at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24

Apparently something’s working over at The CW. The network, which ejected its entire Sunday night line-up earlier this year, has picked up several of its series for next season.

“Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill,” “90210,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “Smallville” and “Supernatural” all will be back for another season, the network announced Tuesday. Let’s hope “Reaper” is added to that list. It returns March 3—up against “American Idol” unfortunately.

Posted at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22

Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and Walt White (Bryan Cranston) in “Breaking Bad.” AMC photo

Brian Cranston doesn’t return to his Emmy-winning role as Walt on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” until 9 p.m. March 8, but you can watch him now at AMC’s press site.

The network has created five minisodes here and a customized viral video with Cranston called “Walt’s Warning” here. All seven Season 1 episodes of “Breaking Bad” will be made into 5-minute shorts that can be watched at on The Minisode Network on Crackle, YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video, Hulu, Adobe Media Player, Sling, TV.com, Veoh and on mobile at Verizon Wireless' V CAST Video service and Sprint TV.

Cranston’s also a director, and at 10 p.m. March 7 fans can watch his directorial debut of the romantic drama “Last Chance” on WeTV. According to We, Cranston wrote and directed the film for his wife, actress Robin Dreardon, who stars with him in the film.

Here’s We’s description of the film: “LAST CHANCE tells the story of Lauren, a woman in a small town who’s been stripped of all aspirations. Resigned to her life with a louse of a husband, she pragmatically trudges about her everyday existence with no hope, except that her kids may have a better life. But when she makes the acquaintance of Sam, an older man who has lived his entire life driven by his dreams, she might just find the inspiration to truly live to the fullest.”

Posted at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

The "Dollhouse" cast: Tahmoh Penikett (from left), Enver Gjokaj, Eliza Dushku, Dichen Lachman, Fran Kranz, Olivia Williams and Harry Lennix. Fox photo

DOLLHOUSE
8 p.m. Fridays, Fox
Tune in or out? out of four.

I’m a big fan of Joss Whedon and his series’ “Firefly,” “Angel” and, of course, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

“Dollhouse” is none of those. And honestly, I’m disappointed. I’m not suggesting the guy needs to repeat himself to make me happy, but his Web hit “Dr. Horrible” was perfectly different and I loved it.

Whedon’s getting a little too serious with “Dollhouse,” in which a covert group is convincing people who have no other options to have their minds wiped clean of their own memories. After that, the “dolls,” or “actives,” are imprinted with the memories of others in order to assume different identities for each mission.

It’s a little human trafficking mixed with fractured identities injected with a little weird science—and a whole lot of boredom. "Dollhouse" seems to be devoid of any of the joy in those other shows.

At this point the actives, chief among them Echo (who in her past life was Caroline), mindlessly trade pleasantries at the Dollhouse, get massages, swim, shower and sleep. Nothing too exciting there.

My belief was that their missions, or engagements as Dollhouse doyenne Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams) calls them, would allow the actives to really bust out the personalities and action. But Eliza Dushku, as nice as she is to look at as Echo, seems kind of brain-drained no matter who she is. In last week’s misfire of a series premiere, she played a troubled hostage negotiator. On tonight’s much better second episode, she’s an adventurous gal on a hunting date with the devil. Bows and arrows, backwoods, dead rangers—you’d think there’d be plenty of opportunity for Dushku to give us just a glimmer of her “Buffy” slayer Faith. Instead, she’s a scared victim until the last part of the episode.

Yawn. I want some action. I want some mystery. I want a lot more smart-ass dialogue. (Ironic boy genius Topher (Fran Kranz) provides some, but even he’s a little lethargic.)

Hope comes in the form of FBI agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett), who is hell-bent on uncovering the “urban legend” of the Dollhouse, as well as the series’ mythology involving an escaped active called Alpha. This guy has recovered his memories (and has kept a lot of imprinted knife skills) and is secretly feeding Ballard hints about the dolls, as well as killing people. All that becomes more firmly established tonight and next week.

Maybe Dushku’s Echo—and the series—will get more interesting as she and the other actives start to malfunction like Alpha, regaining some of their own memories. Maybe then she’ll show us all some personality.

Posted at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

TAKING CHANCE
7 p.m. Saturday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Kevin Bacon (right) is an understated wonder in this fact-based film that follows Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl as he volunteers to escort the body of Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps to his Wyoming family after the 19-year-old was killed in Iraq in April 2004.

Bacon’s disciplined, poignant performance makes viewers feel every emotion that Strobl feels—from guilt for being a “desk-jockey” and not fighting in Iraq to honor for caring for a fallen Marine to pride, sadness and humility.

The story hits its emotional peak when, as Phelps’ body is removed from a plane, civilians all around stop to silently show their respects—and seemingly thank Strobl for taking on his difficult task. It’s a powerful moment in a simple, honest film that may move slowly at times, but will leave even the most cynical viewers pondering the preciousness of life.

Posted at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Shelley Conn (from left), Sharon Small, Sarah Parish and Orla Brady star in “Mistresses.” BBC America photo.

MISTRESSES
7 p.m. Friday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

Honestly, I don’t know how the quartet of British women in this series—doctor Katie (Sarah Parish), lawyer Siobhan (Orla Brady), event planner Jessica (Shelley Conn) and 9/11 widow Trudi (Sharon Small)—manage their time so well. They work, keep decent-looking places, take care of the kids or hubby, go to the gym, have secret affairs and, somehow, manage to get together and dish at least once a week. How!?

Throw that hard-to-swallow scenario aside and you may just enjoy this “Sex and the City”/“Desperate Housewives”/“Lipstick Jungle”-inspired drama. It’s similar to all those shows, except the melodrama isn’t as goofy and the dialogue is cheekier. (Am I using “cheeky” correctly, Anglophiles?)

Because it strips away all the flipness of those other shows, you're left with the women and whether you agree or disagree with their lack of self-control. Wait, that sounds judgmental, doesn't it? I'd be the last guy to fault a person for getting some, but the situations these women—especially Katie—find themselves in makes you wonder what they are thinking.

I connected most with Trudi, who gets a $2 million payoff for her hubby’s death, but isn’t sure she wants to cash the check—or start dating the single father of her daughter’s BFF. Now there’s a character I haven’t seen on any TV show.

Posted at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18

Noah Wyle (right) returns to “ER” at 9 p.m. Thursday, part of the parade of the show’s former stars guest starring in the series’ 15th and final season.

I talked to Wyle in November, when he said that the only reason he left “ER” after 11 years playing Dr. John Carter was his growing family.

“I would have stayed with ‘ER’ probably until it ended had my son not been born,” he said. “That was the first time I ever looked at my watch on set and thought, ‘Let’s get going. I got some place I want to be.’”

Watch the video above from NBC for more from Wyle, and check out my earlier interview with him here and here.

Posted at 11 a.m. New York time, Feb. 9

CHUCK VS. COMIC CON, OR OBAMA
"TORCHWOOD" AT COMIC CON

"Fringe" stars John Noble (from left), Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Mark Valley, Jasika Nicole and Kirk Acevedo. Only Valley was missing from the Comic Con panel. Fox photo

Fans learned one thing for certain at New York Comic Con’s panel for “Fringe” on Sunday: Fox loves the show.

The network is so into its new hit that it lobbied to get the mysterious “Observer” character, the bald-headed guy who watches all the creepy goings-on and is played by Michael Cerveris, onto the platform when Barack Obama was sworn in as president, executive producer Jeff Pinkner said.

“They spent a lot of time and effort” but ultimately failed, Pinker told the packed house of at least 2,000 fans.

The network did manage to get Cerveris on the sidelines at the New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles divisional playoff game this year, a development that angered star Joshua Jackson, who plays Peter Bishop.

“I don’t mean to be a pissy actor,” said Jackson, who was stuck way up high in the nosebleed section during the game. “But I mean, really Fox? You couldn’t hook a guy up?”

Jackson was the star of the panel, offering the best one-liners and cracking up the audience, who clearly appreciated him. The rest of the panel consisted of Pinkner; Anna Torv (who plays FBI agent Olivia Dunham); John Noble (scientist Walter Bishop); Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo and Jasika Nicole (FBI agents); and Blair Brown (a boss at the shady biotech firm Massive Dynamics).

As funny as Jackson was, Pinkner seemed to be in a revealing mood, offering several hints about little extras fans can pick up watching the show.

“There are several little games embedded in the show,” he said. The Observer can be spotted in every single episode, he said, whether or not he is mentioned. Also, every episode contains a clue about the following episode. And those “Pattern” icons that appear before commercial breaks? They’re a code, he said.

“It’s not easy to crack,” he said, “but it ultimately speaks to the larger controlling issues of the show.”

Jackson said that he has such a hard time figuring out the intricate plotlines that he made a flow chart that covered his dressing room wall. The diagram has gotten so big now that he had to take it home, he said.

“I’m such a nerd,” he said. “I’m an actor with a flow chart.”

If you want to know more of the secrets Pinkner and the cast revealed—and what happened in the sneak peek of Tuesday’s episode that we were shown, click the link after the photo below.

Jasika Nicole laughs at Joshua Jackson during the "Fringe" panel. Fox/Getty Images photo

Posted at 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6

XIII
8 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 15, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Would sibling politicians belong to two different parties? I guess it could happen, but it seems unlikely to me. Much of this derivative and silly two-part mini is unlikely, which isn’t always a deal-breaker if the story is compelling and the acting is good. Unfortunately, this rip-off of the worst things about “24” and the basic premise of the “Bourne” movies—secret agent shoots the president right in front of her governor brother and thousands of others, conveniently gets that kind of amnesia where he can’t remember who he is but remembers how to do all kinds of high-tech stuff and be a killing machine, then works to stop a corporate/military conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Stephen Dorff makes an OK amnesiac agent, whose only clue to his identity is a “XIII” tattooed on his chest, Val Kilmer, on the other hand, is poorly cast and very bloated as the man sent to shut Dorff up.

Sadly the mini leaves the door open for a sequel. Do yourself a favor, rent the “Bourne” movies and watch them instead.

Kimberly Elise is the best thing about "Gifted Hands." TNT photo

GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY
7 p.m. Saturday, TNT
Tune in or out? out of four.

Cuba Gooding Jr. (right) gets top billing in this made-for-TV movie about the troubled childhood and meteoric medical rise of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, a pioneering pediatric neurosurgeon. Yet I’ll remember Kimberly Elise, who shines as his illiterate single mother demanding that her two boys be the best they can be. The inspirational story loses some dramatic steam once Ben grows up and Elise is out of the picture, but it’s still a stirring tale.

THE GOOD WITCH’S GARDEN
8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark
Tune in or out? out of four.

Catherine Bell (left) returns as the seemingly all-knowing and never flustered Cassie Nightingale of last year’s “The Good Witch.” This time, the witchy woman made peace with most of her neighbors, but when she opens up her home as a bed and breakfast, a mysterious stranger threatens to cause trouble. That may sound like a juicy conflict, but this “Garden” could use a few more exotic flowers. It’s just very exciting.

Posted at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5

“Big Love” is getting a fourth season, HBO said today. Big bonus: It will begin later this year.

The network currently is airing the drama’s excellent third season, which is averaging nearly 5 million viewers per episode, HBO says.

It tells the story of Bill Henrickson, his three wives Barb, Nicki and Margene, and their eight kids. Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin star.

Over at TNT, the new series “Leverage” has been renewed for a second season, the network said Monday. TNT ordered 15 new episodes of the caper drama that stars Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge.

“Leverage” currently airs at 9 p.m. Tuesdays, drawing an average of 3.2 million viewers per episode. Its second season will begin later this year. Read my review here.

Posted at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2

MONDAY'S "CHUCK"
MONDAY'S "HOUSE"
MONDAY'S "HEROES"

"Medium" stars Patricia Arquette and Jake Weber love their onscreen marriage. NBC photo

MEDIUM
9 p.m. Monday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

One of the most endearing things about NBC’s veteran drama “Medium” is the relationship between Patricia Arquette’s psychic character, Allison DuBois, and Jake Weber’s mild-mannered Joe.

There isn’t a better marriage on TV, it seems.

“For me that is the foundation and the heart and soul [of the show],” Arquette told reporters last week during a phone interview. “[It’s] what I care about and what I thought was interesting about it.”

“Medium” returns at 9 p.m. Monday for its fifth season, and the first episode contains a wonderful scene between Arquette and Weber in which a discussion about their three children turns into a little teasing. It’s a sweet, lovely moment among the nastiness that Allison psychically dreams up to solve crimes.

Weber says it’s this easy rapport that allows the couple to have such a good marriage.

“I think they make each other laugh; they tease each other,” he said. “I think that they fight hard but they make up very easily. And I think that that’s a hard thing to do in relationships, you know, if you have a strong-willed individuals. ... When they do get into conflict they resolve it quickly because there’s a very strong sort of foundation there of respect and love and lots of fun.”

In Monday’s premiere, the couple deal with a family issue when daughter Bridget (an engaging Maria Lark) repeatedly draws nude pictures of her male art teacher. Meanwhile, Allison works a case in which a woman marries the man who killed her first husband in a car accident after he convinces her he is the resurrected spirit of dead hubby No. 1.

It sounds bizarre, but fans—and Arquette—love the mix of family realism with Allison’s psychic sleuthing of chilling murders.

“Family life is a little bit monotonous,” Arquette said. “You need that with this crazy kind of [psychic] premise. I think you need that normalcy.”

For more from the interview, click the link below.

Posted at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2

MONDAY'S "CHUCK"
MONDAY'S "HEROES"
MONDAY'S "MEDIUM"

House (Hugh Laurie), Kutner (Kal Penn) and Taub (Peter Jacobson) treat an esteemed cancer researcher (Judith Scott) in "The Greater Good." Fox photo

HOUSE: THE GREATER GOOD
7 p.m. Monday, Fox
Tune in or out? out of 4.

I might be the only person I know who isn’t blown away by “House.” It’s a well-acted, fine drama, to be sure.

I just don’t need a weekly dose of it.

The drama celebrates its 100th episode Monday, and as far as I can tell, “The Greater Good” is pretty much the same basic story as the previous 99.

A patient is admitted to the hospital with an unexplained illness. The grumpy genius Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is totally indifferent to the patient’s feelings. He bullies and berates his team of underlings to figure out a diagnosis. He puts the patient through dozens of tests and procedures, taking time out only to make life worse for his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelestein), and his BFF (if such a jerk can have one), Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard).

Before House solves the medical mystery in the last few minutes, he and the team learn things about themselves based on the patient’s condition.

“House” couldn’t get any more formulaic, so it’s a good thing Laurie is starring as the pill-popping, wisecracking doctor. He gives this jerk a brutal honesty, cutting wit and, just peeking through that tough, sarcastic shield, a bit of humanity.

In “The Greater Good,” the team treats a former cancer researcher who left her career to pursue personal happiness. Her decision makes House and his staff members question their own choices.

It’s a fine example of how this series works—how it’s always worked. I’m just not dying to watch more of the same.

So what’s wrong with me? Let me self-diagnose: I am not addicted to “House.”

Posted at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28

“Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes is working on a new pilot for ABC about Washington, D.C., journalists.

ABC has approved “Inside the Box,” according to TV Guide and The Hollwood Reporter. The series focuses on a female news producer and her co-workers. What they do after reporting the news is the big news in the series, ABC says.

ABC also OK’d “I, Claudia,” about a prosecutor who is destined to be considered for U.S. president. Another pilot now going into production is an adaptation of Argentine series “Brothers & Detectives.” “Dexter” producer Daniel Cerone is developing the untitled project about a detective with an 11-year-old brother who helps him solve crimes.

“Doogie Howser, P.I.”?

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24

Ryan Kelley and Sigourney Weaver star in "Prayer for Bobby." Lifetime photos

PRAYERS FOR BOBBY
8 p.m. Saturday, Lifetime
Tune in or out? out of four.

Sigourney Weaver makes her TV movie debut in “Prayers For Bobby,” elevating the beyond the usual Lifetime weeper of the week.

Lifetime should feel fortunate to have Weaver, because the film, based on Leroy Aarons' true-life book, is none too subtle in getting its very important message across: Treating homosexuality as a sin or “abomination” does no one any good.

Weaver plays God-fearing Mary Griffith, whose idyllic late 1970s suburban life is shattered when her son, Bobby (a terrific Ryan Kelley, right), tells the family he's gay.

Quoting Bible passages and evoking eternal damnation, Mary tries to "cure" Bobby, causing him such emotional turmoil that the 20-year-old kills himself.

It’s only after the tragedy that a tormented Mary begins to understand her intolerance has wreaked havoc on the entire family. Searching for answers, she reaches out to the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church and the group Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Eventually she changes her anti-gay beliefs and becomes a fierce human rights advocate.

“Bobby” plays a little too simplistically, but thanks to Weaver, Kelley and a few other heartbreaking performances, its delivers a strong message about love and acceptance.

Posted at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18

Ginnifer Goodwin (from left), Jeanne Tripplehorn, Bill Paxton and Chloe Sevigny star in "Big Love." HBO photo

BIG LOVE
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), his three wives and all their children finally return for their third season after a long delay, and it’s worth the wait.

Yes, you read that correctly: three wives. The Henricksons are polygamists with a very complicated family tree.

Bill’s No. 1 wife, Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), gets some bad medical news that makes her urge wives Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) to accept a fourth wife.

Nicki’s dad, “prophet” Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) is in jail for transferring minors across state lines, betrayed by his greedy son, Alby (Matt Ross), who wants to take over the polygamist community of Juniper Creek.

Bill is dealing with all this, plus getting a gambling business off the ground and fighting his neighbors, who are reacting badly to learning just what Nicki’s dad has done.

As if the Henricksons’ lives aren’t complicated enough, Nicki gets a job at the Utah attorney general's office so she can secretly keep an eye on the state’s case against Roman. Bill is forced to go back to Juniper Creek, where he is banned, to help a boy who has been railroaded by the polygamists. He also is trying to woo a fourth wife, and Barb finds out she has cancer.

The first two episodes are as solid and rewarding as the series ever has been, but the third, in which Barb and Bill’s daughter, Sarah (Amanda Seyfried), goes to the prom, is truly jarring.

Posted at 11:50 a.m. Friday, January 16

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
8 p.m. Friday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
9 p.m. Friday, Sci Fi
Tune in or out? out of four.

Two of TV’s most underwatched series return Friday night—and both deserved to be embraced by larger audiences.

"Friday Night Lights" already has aired its terrific third season on DirecTV, but for most fans, NBC’s airing will be their first chance to check in with the folks in football-crazed Dillon, Texas. The incredible cast is led by the amazing Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton (right).

During the new season fans will say goodbye to two favorite characters, Tami (Britton) becomes the new school principal and Coach (Chandler) must deal with the cocky father of a talented new QB (Jeremy Sumpter). That means QB1 Matt (Zach Gilford) has some competition.

Admittedly, the show was derailed in its second season by Landry Clark’s (Jesse Plemons) murder storyline, but this season it’s back where it belongs, showing the high drama in everyday life. (Read my full review here.)

Things get compellingly strange on "Battlester Galactica," which begins its final 10 episodes Friday. Fans know that the humans and Cylons have begrudgingly teamed to find Earth. But when they got their, all that was left was a nuclear wasteland.

Where do they go now? No spoilers here. Sci Fi has sworn critics to secrecy. In fact, the network didn’t include the final scene of the episode in screeners, which presumably offers the big reveal we’ve all been waiting for: who the final Cylon is.

Honestly though, I wouldn’t want to ruin for you the whiplash-inducing ride this episode takes us on. There is a “what the frak!?” moment nearly every 10 minutes, so don’t miss it.

"BSG" transcends the sci fi genre to deliver a thoughtful take on what it means to be human. It’s intelligent, literary television.

Posted at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16

File this under shocking: NBC announced Thursday that “Lipstick Jungle” is not, after all, canceled.

Angela Bromstad, new president of prime-time entertainment for NBC, told the Television Critics Association in California that she feels “very strongly” about the Brooke Shields series, according to reports.

"I think there are alternatives we may look into,” she said. “It's all a conversation for the fall.”

The outlook for “Knight Rider” and “Kath & Kim” isn’t so rosey. Bromstad said those shows are "indicative of shows that may or may not be coming back." Christian Slater’s “My Own Worst Enemy” already is canceled.

The NBC exec expressed optimism about “Life” and “Friday Night Lights,” which returns to NBC Friday night in “Lipstick’s” time slot.

"What we're intending to do is make sure that we have a good amount of pilots to choose from,” Bromstad said. “We're going to have to beat existing shows [with ones showing more promise] or bring those shows back.”

Posted at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15

NBC gave comedy fans good news on Thursday: “30 Rock” and “The Office” will be back for the 2009-10 season.

The network set a premiere date for Amy Poehler’s new comedy, which still has no name; it will debut at 7:30 p.m. April 9. The new police drama “Southland” will debut the same night, at 9 p.m.

In other NBC news, “The Biggest Loser” was renewed for another season and “ER” was given three more episodes for its current and final season. That means the finale will air April 2.

A new cooking competition series, called “The Chopping Block,” will begin at 7 p.m. March 11. And the premiere date of the new drama "Kings" is now at 7 p.m. March 15. Go to the jump to read NBC’s descriptions of the series.

Posted at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14

The “Gossip Girl” rumors are flaring again, now that Zap2it's Korbi Ghosh is reporting executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage have started work on a new original series that would follow the wild teen years of Lily Rhoades, who is now Lily van der Woodsen Bass (Kelly Rutherford, right).

Zap2it says inside sources claim the May 11th episode of “Gossip Girl” will serve as a backdoor pilot for the new series.

Here’s what Zap2it says about the new show: After a falling out with her well-to-do California parents, young Lily is forced to move in with her ne'er-do-well sister who's slumming it in the Valley. Suddenly without the means she's used to, Lily begins living two lives, often crossing "over-the-hill," trying to fit into the fast-paced Hollywood world as well.

That’s all I have for you, readers. XOXO, me.

Posted at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

Teri Polo (above left), Jason Priestley and Cheech Marin star in "Expecting a Miracle." Also starring are Shalim Ortiz (below left), Kevin Hernandez and Rebeka Montoya. Hallmark photos

EXPECTING A MIRACLE
8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark
out of four.

With the title “Expecting a Miracle,” this slight-but-sweet TV movie has to be about a baby, right? Yes, it is that obvious, with a main plot that follows an L.A. couple (Jason Priestley and Teri Polo) who are about to break up because they can’t get pregnant. It also offers a subplot about a Mexican boy with a bum leg and his wise priest (Cheech Marin). They both teach the couple powerful lessons while providing a whole lot of hopeful Hallmark moments. Yes, I did shed a little tear.

Posted at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9

"Flashpoint" showcases great folk songs. Listen here.

Amy Jo Johnson, Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantini and David Paetkau play SRU team members in "Flashpoint." CBS photo

FLASHPOINT
8 p.m. Friday, CBS
out of four.

CBS’ surprise hit from last summer returns for its new season with members of an elite police tactical unit working as bodyguards for a business mogul (Colm Feore) and his wife (Wendy Crewson).

I like this series. The task force is called upon each week to stop a hostage crisis, take down a sniper or some other tough job. The ace cast playing the officers includes Enrico Colantoni, Amy Jo Johnson, David Paetkau and especially Hugh Dillon.

As sniper Ed Lane, Dillon truly explores the emotional toll the job takes on his character's personal life. He makes the series more than just another cop drama.

Posted at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8

Dylan McDermott will star in "The Line." TNT photo

Has Jerry Bruckheimer ever seen a cop drama he didn’t want to make into a TV series?

I don’t think so, but that’s probably a good thing. The producer of the “CSI” series and practically everything else on CBS is working with TNT this time on the new cop drama “The Line.”

The 10-episode first season, starring Dylan McDermott, will debut sometime this year along with the medical drama "Time Heals," TNT said in a press release. The series co-stars Logan Marshall-Green, Omari Hardwick and Nicki Aycox.

Here’s TNT’s description of the show:

McDermott stars as Carter Shaw, the head of a crack undercover team of police officers who are so covert, many of their own colleagues don’t even know they are involved. Shaw is a deeply wounded character, having lost his wife and much of his former life as he struggles to bring down bad guys through complex undercover assignments. His team includes a recently married cop (Hardwick) who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; a shoot-from-the-hip officer (Marshall-Green) whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the bad side; and a green patrol cop brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and a shady past (Aycox).

“The Line” comes from Warner Horizon Television, and has some pretty powerful producers behind it. Besides Bruckheimier, there are Jonathan Littman (the “CSI” series, ”Cold Case”), Danny Cannon (the ”CSI” series, ”Eleventh Hour”) and Doug Jung (”Big Love”) serving as executive producers. KristieAnne Reed (”Eleventh Hour”) is co-executive producer.

Posted at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8

Jada Pinkett Smith in "Time Heals." TNT photo

TNT’s original series have covered cops (“The Closer,” “Saving Grace”), lawyers (“Raising the Bar”), ad men (the upcoming “Trust Me”) and even con men (“Leverage”).

Sooner or later, the network had to offer up a medical drama. “Time Heals” has been greenlit for 10 episodes. It stars Jada Pinkett Smith as Christina Hawthorne, the director of nursing at Richmond Trinity Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Pinkett Smith also serves as a producer for the series.

Here’s TNT’s description of the series:

Whether treating the homeless woman in front of the hospital like a human being or trying to talk a suicidal cancer patient off the ledge, Christina must challenge hospital administrators, heartless doctors, apathetic colleagues and a system that sometimes forgets it’s there to serve the sick. Recently widowed and the mother of a smart, willful teenager, Christina juggles her career with her equally important role as a single parent. Between the two, she barely has time for herself and has difficulty keeping things together. But she knows she has to and can’t give up on anyone. That’s what her passion requires; it’s what it takes to be a hero.

The series co-stars David Julian Hirsh, Laura Kenley, Christina Moore and Suleka Mathew.

“Time Heals” and another new series, “The Line,” are set to premiere sometime this year according to TNT.

Posted at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7

24
7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Fox
Tune in or out? out of four.

It’s been almost two years since “24” aired a complete season, just enough time for the writers to come up with a new way to test Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland): The super agent faces down a Senate committee investigating abuses of power and use of unlawful methods—torture, that is—by the disbanded Counter-Terrorist Unit.

“Do not sit there with that smug look on your face and expect me to regret the decisions that I have made,” a defiant Bauer tells a committee member, “because, sir, the truth is I don’t.”

By the end of the first four hours of Season 7 (over two nights), even the staunchest Dove is likely to agree with Bauer.

He’s once again tossed into a ridiculously impossible mission in which baddies are plotting to harm America. FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) springs him from the Senate hearings and pleads for help to stop his presumed-dead fellow former agent, Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who has kidnapped a computer whiz and hacked into a government computer system that controls air traffic, water supplies and electrical grids.

It’s familiar territory for Bauer and viewers. But “24” knows how to put its audience in a choke-hold. There are more plot twists and murky machinations in the first hour of “24” than there are prisoners held (unjustly?) by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay. And although CTU is gone, all our favorite characters return, including brainiac Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and former CTU boss Bill Buchanan (James Morrison).

After setting “24” in L.A. for six years (not including last fall’s TV movie, “24: Redemption”), the series benefits from its move to Washington, D.C. All the players—a female president (Cherry Jones), her paranoid husband (Colm Feore), FBI computer geek Janis Gold (Janeane Garolfalo) and several evil-doers—are within Bauer’s reach.

New setting aside, don’t expect to believe that familiar announcement before each episode that claims “events occur in real time.” In order to enjoy Bauer’s 24-hour adventures, you can’t cling to reality.

Just let every implausible, nail-biting minute rock your Monday nights.

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7

DAMAGES
9 p.m. Wednesday, FX
Tune in or out? out of four.

Patty Hewes better watch her back.

The manipulative lawyer played with unsentimental brilliance by Emmy winner Glenn Close won her case in the first season of FX’s legal thriller “Damages.” But she made a lot of enemies along the way, and they’re rallying against her in Season 2.

She faces the most dangerous foe in her protégée, Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), who is working with the FBI to take down her boss after Patty tried to have her killed in Season 1.

“I want to destroy her,” Ellen tells her FBI handlers.

She’s not alone. Patty’s old nemesis, former billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), still is lurking, as is Patty’s guilt over the death of Frobisher’s lawyer—a suicide Patty caused by blackmailing him.

Patty’s haunted by her past in other ways, too. An old, um, “friend” comes to her for help. Scientist Daniel Purcell seems to have run afoul of an energy conglomerate.

I say seems because, as Patty herself says, “everyone is looking to play an angle.” And in “Damages,” the angles are sharp—and deadly.

Purcell, played by Close’s “The Big Chill” co-star William Hurt (right), is most definitely more than Patty’s newest client. They have a past, we learn, that may mean he’s gunning for her as well.

Watching Close and Hurt work together is a thrill. They’re incredible actors, as is Marcia Gay Harden, who digs into her role as Patty’s new competition, lawyer Claire Maddox. Rounding out the new cast is Timothy Olyphant as Ellen’s grief counseling acquaintance Wes Krulik, who’s working an angle of his own.

There’s no simple character in “Damages,” which means there’s no simple plot line either. But I’m happy to report that although the writers still are playing with timelines, they don’t jump back and forth nearly as much as they did in Season 1.

I have to be honest, though, the show demands your concentration and dedication. This isn’t “The Mentalist” or some “Law & Order” series. But unraveling the twisted mysteries surrounding Patty Hewes is what makes watching “Damages” so deliciously fun.

Posted at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6

"Scrubs" moves to ABC, begins Tuesday.

John Lehr bags more laughs in "10 Items or Less."

Not cool, guys, not cool! FX photo

NIP/TUCK
9 p.m. Tuesday, FX
Tune in or out? out of four.

I have a problem with knives—as in knives that are repeatedly jabbed into a man’s back. I get dizzy when I see that kind of stuff; then I pass out. So I had some real trouble watching the extremely bloody, violent opening minutes of the second half of “Nip/Tuck’s” strike-delayed fifth season.

My reaction is sort of indicative of my "Nip/Tuck" experience over the past few seasons. I delight in some of the show's wackiness, but then am stunned by its mean-spirited, cruel turns. It's why I've stopped being a regular viewer.

If you remember way back in February, Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh, above right)—a newly minted TV star on the soap “Hearts & Scalpels”—was dealing with all kinds of crazy. His former agent, Colleen Rose (Sharon Gless, right), killed his new rep by stuffing him with Teddy Bear filling; his daughter Annie and his partner Christian Troy (Julian McMahon, above left) were involved in a paparazzi-caused traffic accident. Just as Sean was preparing to work on Annie’s face, Colleen stabs him from behind.

The opening minutes revisit every gory detail of that scene, showing creepy Colleen sneaking into McNamara/Troy, attacking Sean and then dragging him off to an empty room.

Once Colleen is dispatched, the episode gets more serious, for while anyway.

Confined to a wheelchair, Sean refuses to do any surgeries and takes a job teaching med students. Christian, meanwhile, is diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

Both men are wallowing in self-pity, so naturally, they bring home a couple of gals from a bar and present an extended (wheelchair) sex scene that’s even graphic by this series’ standards.

So overall, not much has changed on one of TV’s most over-the-top series. If only I found that enjoyable.

Posted at 9:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2

Don’t bother complaining to Tom Cavanagh about how silly it is that his new series, “Trust Me,” is set in Chicago but wasn’t filmed here.

He understands that Chicagoans might feel offended.

“You want to talk offended? Don't get me started,” he told me during a recent phone conversation. “Half of my family is from there and I love it there … [Co-star Eric] McCormack and I want to film there.”

In the series, debuting Jan. 26 on TNT, Cavanagh and McCormack play best buds who work at the same Chicago advertising agency. Cavanagh hopes the show is a success, he said, so the production can film the second season on location in the Windy City.

“We have our fingers crossed that it happens sooner rather than later,” he said, adding that he’d love to shoot in the summer so he could watch the Cubs.

“I'm a huge baseball fan, massive baseball fan,” he said. “The Cubs were heartbreaking this year. With that pitching staff, how did they not win the NL? Don't even get me started. Wait, you did get me started …”

Posted at 9:35 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2

Gemma Arterton and Eddie Redmayne star in the new PBS production of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles." PBS photo

TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES
8 p.m. Sunday and Jan. 11, PBS
Tune in or out? out of four.

Laura Linney debuts as the new host of Masterpiece Classic by introducing the Thomas Hardy classic—that really annoys me. Don’t get me wrong, this new production is beautifully done, with Gemma Arterton (yes, that was her in “Quantum of Solace”) as the ill-fated Tess and Eddie Redmayne as her love, Angel. But why, why, why do these old romances always tease us with a sassy, strong female lead who is neither sassy enough to say what she wants nor strong enough to fight for it? Argh!

Posted at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2

GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD
7 p.m. Saturday, CBS
Tune in or out? out of four.

CBS has fallen under the spell of producer Ashton Kutcher (right), who does not appear in this new game show. The home of everything “CSI” is airing his lame hidden-camera game show that has the feel of his old MTV hit, “Punk’d.” Host Joe Rogan orders contestants via an earpiece to generally act foolish in public for cash prizes. The first episode’s player must get a perfect stranger to “marry” her. Sorry Ashton, I will not be watching this show ’til death do we part. In fact, not even 'til it's third episode.

THE NANNY EXPRESS
8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark
Tune in or out? out of four.

“Las Vegas” alum Vanessa Marcil (left) plays Supergirl—I mean a good Samaritan who can do anything. She’s going to school to be a teacher, tutors low-income kids at her church, takes care of her ailing father and has time to work as a nanny!. After initial trouble, she wins over a widower’s scheming kids—and the widower! Oops, did I spoil that for you? Not really, since everything thing in the made-for-TV movie is predictable, and predictably weepy.

Posted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9

TNT’s new series “Leverage” drew 5 million viewers in its special Sunday debut, according to Cable Fast Nationals. After "The Closer," "Saving Grace" and "Raising the Bar," "Leverage" gives the cable network another successful launch of an original series.

The breezy action-drama premieres in its regular time slot at 9 p.m. Tuesday, with the team of con artists led by Timothy Hutton scamming a defense contractor on behalf of a soldier its workers injured. (The videos posted here show action from Tuesday’s episode; read my review. )

Hutton plays Nathan Ford, a former insurance investigator disillusioned by his business after his own company refuses to pay for an experimental treatment that could save his son’s life.

The child dies, and Ford is hell-bent on revenge. As viewers watched in the Chicago-shot series premiere on Sunday (and can see again at 8 p.m. Tuesday), Ford puts together a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who steal from those who use power and wealth to victimize others.

Hutton told me during an interview last week at the Four Seasons that the story, although fictional, resonates during our current tough economic times.

“People are really struggling,” he said. “It used to be if you were paying insurance companies in a timely fashion and something happened ..., they were there for you. I’m sure that’s the case with some companies [now], but for a lot of them it’s not.

“You’re subjected to being interviewed, investigated—because the insurance company wants to find out one thing that’s wrong with the claim so they can deny it.”

Hutton and co-star Gina Bellman agreed that they were intrigued by the show's premise.

“I read the script and really thought it was great fun,” Hutton said. “I thought [Nathan Ford] was an interesting character to play. I was really interested in the starting point of the character, the guy being—in his view, nothing left to live for—drinking excessively, living out of a car, his son's gone and marriage destroyed. It's great for a character to be completely tapped out.”

But don’t think “Leverage” is all drama. There are plenty of humorous situations, great stunts and snappy dialog.

“We get to be a little tongue and cheek, and we get to be a little kitsch,” said Bellman, a British actress best known for her work on the original “Coupling.” “The show doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

SHOW FILMED IN CHICAGO

TNT's new series "Leverage" drew 5 million viewers in its special Sunday debut, according to Cable Fast Nationals. After "The Closer," "Saving Grace" and "Raising the Bar," "Leverage" gives the cable network another successful launch of an original series.

That success probably doesn't surprise series star Timothy Hutton, who told me during an interview last week at the Four Seasons that the Robin Hood themed show, although fictional, resonates during our current tough economic times.

"People are really struggling," he said.

Posted at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

HOUSE OF SADDAM
8 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 14, HBO
out of 4.

As I watched the opening night of HBO's four-hour mini about Saddam Hussein's rise and fall, something struck me: He was the Tony Soprano of Iraq, at least as his story is told here.

We see his meddlesome mother constantly disapproving of him, pushing him and even scolding him—all while he's Iraq's dictator. We also see an evil dictator dispatch anyone who gets in his way—including his best friend and his wife's brother.

The story begins as Hussein takes control of the government in 1979, the most chilling part of the mini-series. As Hussein, Yigal Naor does his best work here, portraying the tyrant as an energetic bully mad for power. Shohreh Aghdashloo, as his first wife, Sajida, does excellent work here as well. I've really never seen Aghdashloo in a bad performance, now that I think about it.

But back to the man under the microscope. Hussein's time running from American soldiers gives Naor another chance to shine. He's broken and anything but invincible in these scenes.

In between the bookends, Hussein is exactly what we'd expect—a thug. Certainly a scary thug, but pretty much only that note. The story gets too convoluted in this period as well, jumping back and forth and glossing too quickly over certain events. It can be difficult to follow.

For at least half of its four hours, however, "House of Saddam" makes recent history an entertaining drama.

Posted at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5

ABC’s “Boston Legal” brings down its final gavel at 9 p.m. Monday. In a two-hour farewell, titled “Made in China” and “Last Call,” David E. Kelley’s wacky lawyer series has Alan (James Spader) petitioning the Supreme Court in hopes of securing Denny’s (William Shatner) access to an experimental medicine that could slow his Alzheimer’s, and Denny, it appears in the video here, is in a heap of trouble for a randy indiscretion. Will he be locked up or will he get to light up a final cigar with Alan?

Here’s the episode description from ABC: "Crane Poole & Schmidt are in dire financial straits—possibly forcing the firm to find a buyer. And Alan Shore heads to the Supreme Court to persuade them to let Denny Crane have access to a non-FDA approved drug that could slow down his rapidly progressing Alzheimer's. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt and Carl Sack plan their wedding, and Denny poses an important question to Alan."

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5

"Leverage" stars feel Windy City love

LEVERAGE
9 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday, TNT

The scoop: Former superstar insurance investigator Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton) had recovered millions for his former employer. Then his son got sick, and his own company wouldn’t pay the medical bills. Now his son is dead, his marriage is over and Ford’s a drunk.

He’s boozing at a bar when aeronautics company exec Victor Dubenich (Saul Rubinek) offers him a job: Steal back an airplane design that was stolen by a rival company, a company that is insured by Ford’s former employer.

With vengeance on his mind, Ford accepts the job and puts together a team of scam artists and thieves who all have their own talents. Eliot (Christian Kane), the muscle, is a weapons and fighting expert; awful actress Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman) is a great grifter; Alec (Aldis Hodge) knows his way around computers; and daredevil Parker (Beth Riesgraf) is an exemplary thief.

After their first adventure (Sunday’s Chicago-shot pilot, called “The Nigerian Job”; scenes above) the team decides to take on one more job, and then another, for 13 episodes. They’ll steal from evil types who have cheated others and help those who can’t defend themselves.

What works: “Leverage” takes its cues from the “Ocean's” films and especially the British series “Hustle,” yet I didn’t have that “been there, done that” feeling when I watched. Although very tongue-in-cheek, “Leverage” has an underlying seriousness—I’m as sucker for noble causes—that makes if different than what we’ve seen before.

I like Hutton as the bitter, broken Ford who finds a cause that gets him back on his feet. His co-stars provide a lot of witty repartee and comedic moments. They form a happy, dysfunctional family that’s a joy to watch.

The stings—I’ve seen the first four episodes—vary in complexity and cleverness, but always zip along and entertain. The team grifts in Chicago, L.A. and other locations, taking on everyone from corporate baddies to a security force contractor in Iraq to race horse owners.

What doesn’t: OK, I admit it, there are plot holes aplenty. I ignored them.

Tune in or out: out of 4. “Leverage” has action, intrigue, whimsy and wit. And I’ll never complain when the good guys win.

The scene above from the "Leverage" series premiere was shot at 55 W. Monroe St.

TNT's new caper series, "Leverage," focuses on a band of merry con artists, but Chicago steals the show's season premiere.

"Chicago practically plays the sixth character," co-star Gina Bellman told me this week at the Four Seasons. "It plays such a fantastic backdrop."

Charlie Hunnam's Jax has an ax to grind on the season finale of "Sons of Anarchy." FX photo

Charlie Hunnam gets picky when choosing roles, which may explain the years-long gaps in his resume. But the British actor has found a character he loves--and will get to do for at least another year.

In the FX series "Sons of Anarchy," which wraps up a successful freshman season at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Hunnam plays Jackson "Jax" Teller, a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang in the fictional town of Charming, Calif. Jax, the son of the gang's founder and step-son of its shady current boss, is conflicted about the group's violent, outlaw ways.

"This character's wonderful for me," Hunnam told me at the start of this season. "It's everything I could have ever wanted. The range of stuff that I get to do and the complexity of this guy's journey is really delightful to get to play."

Posted at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20

As you can see in the clip above, Katie Holmes can sing. She may not be Beyonce, but she does wonderful work Tuesday performing the Duke Ellington jazz classic "Hit Me With a Hot Note" on "Eli Stone." Holmes is currently starring on Broadway in the play "All My Sons." After Tuesday, the casting directors down the street at "Chicago" might be seeking her out for a run in the musical.

On "Eli," Holmes plays Grace, a lawyer who shows up first in one of Eli's visions--the one where she does her sultry singing. Shoe's not nearly as smooth in reality, it turns out. Grace is an accident-prone klutz who is leaving San Franscico for Africa in a matter of days.

I won't tell you any more, except to say the Holmes is sweet and radiant as Grace, and her character's departure Tuesday leave sthe door open for Holmes to return to the show. That is a hot note.

"Eli Stone" airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on ABC.

KATIE HOLMES ISN'T THE ONLY BIG NAME BACK ON TV THIS FALL. CLICK ME

Posted at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16

CRASH
9 p.m. Friday, Starz

The scoop: Inspired by the 2004 Oscar-winning movie of the same name, the 13-episode “Crash” series tells the stories of the (eventually) intersecting lives of L.A. residents.

Among the many characters you’ll meet are has-been record producer Ben Cendars (Dennis Hopper) and his new chauffeur Anthony Adams (Jocko Sims); Christine (Clare Carey) and Peter Emory (D.B. Sweeney), a couple living beyond their means; Guatemalan immigrant Cesar Uman (Luis Chávez); and LAPD cop Bebe Arcel (Arlene Tur) and her pig of a partner Kenny Battaglia (Ross McCall), who stalks a woman (Moran Atias) he arrested after side-swiping her car.

What works: In this cast of extremely unlikable characters, only Eddie Choi (Brian Tee) made me feel anything but outrage. The former Koreatown gang member is trying to go straight as an emergency medical technician, but he gets sucked back into his former life and ends up the target of crooked police detective Axel Finet (Nick Tarabay).

What doesn’t: Hopper—bless his heart—gives his bosses exactly what they want: a crazy, over-the-top performance. But the writers give Hopper the silliest lines onscreen. We meet the wacked-out music mogul during a limo trip in which he’s lecturing a certain part of his anatomy, asking “where did all those veins come from?” and calling it “a private road map to death.” It’s the most grievous example of the show’s overwritten, pretentious dialogue.

Tune in or out? out of four. Though the movie couldn’t have been more obvious in playing its race cards, “Crash” the series, at least in its opener, is more reserved. But it also doesn’t go anywhere, leaving me to wonder why I should spend more time with these unpleasant people.

Posted at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15

Jason O’Mara walks through 1973 New York in “Life on Mars.” ABC PHOTO

Here’s the “Life on Mars” playlist for Thursday’s episode, just in case you want to get into the groove before it airs at 9 p.m. on ABC.

ABC provided the list of oldies we’ll hear in the new show’s second episode, called “The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler”:

Posted at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13

ELI STONE
9 p.m. Tuesday, ABC

The scoop: After experiencing visions—possibly from God—San Francisco lawyer Eli Stone (Jonny Lee Miller) became a prophet of sorts, championing little guys against bigger baddies in his cases. The Season 1 cliffhanger had doctors removing a brain aneurysm that may have caused Eli’s visions and odd behavior. Is he “cured,” and if so, is that a good thing?

What works: Here’s hoping Eli keeps having visions (I know the answer, but I hate to spoil the fun for you), because, unlike in last year’s TV disaster “Viva Laughlin!,” the visions’ musical numbers—from the George Michael solos to the big production numbers—make perfect sense within the story being told.

What doesn’t: For a show about spirituality, I don’t find “Eli Stone” all that preachy. But at times it can get self-righteous and melodramatic.

Tune in or out? out of 4. Three reasons to watch: The devine Loretta Devine belts out “Dancing in the Streets” to open the new season (above), Sigourney Weaver guest stars this week, and she’s followed by Katie Holmes in Week 2. Not to mention that Miller and his TV brother (Matt Letscher) couldn’t be more charming.

Posted at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13

TV's HOT NEW SPIES

SHOW PATROL REVIEW: Who needs logic when you've got Christian Slater?

Who is Christian Slater playing now—Henry or Edward? NBC PHOTO

In the new series “My Own Worst Enemy,” super spy Edward Albright gleefully kills foreign operatives while super dad Henry Spivey kisses his wife before heading to the office.

Both personalities, it turns out, inhabit the same body—that of actor Christian Slater.

Slater takes on his first starring TV role—make that roles—at 9 p.m. Monday on NBC, and he’s thrilled to be playing an angel and a devil.

“I thought taking the Jekyll and Hyde type of premise … and blowing it out in such an extreme way was something that was very identifiable,” said Slater, who has seen his own devilish moments made public over the years.

Besides his tabloid-ready exploits, Slater is mostly known for starring in such cult films as “Heathers,” “True Romance” and his self-proclaimed favorite, “Pump Up the Volume.” He wasn’t looking for a TV series, he said, but when the producers contacted him about “My Own Worst Enemy,” he couldn’t resist.

“It was just one of those opportunities I think I would’ve been crazy not to agree to [do],” Slater told a group of reporters during a recent conference call. “[The producers] told me that each week they were going to try and put a movie on TV and … the things we’ve been able to do have been extraordinary.”

Slater, who once guest-starred as an intelligence operative on another TV spy show, “Alias,” said he’s always been a fan of the spy genre.

“I love Sean Connery. I grew up watching all of his films as [James] Bond,” he said. “I love Daniel Craig and think he’s a great Bond.”

The other plus doing series TV, especially playing two characters, Slater said, is that there’s very little down time on set like there is in filmmaking.

“I can honestly say I haven’t spent a lot of time hanging out, sitting still,” he said. “It’s been like jumping on board of a very fast-moving train and just hanging on and keeping up, and enjoying the ride.”

Don’t miss the rest of the Christian Slater interview here and below.

Posted at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12

TV's HOT NEW SPIES

CHRISTIAN SLATER INTERVIEW: Click here and here.

MY OWN WORST ENEMY
9 p.m. Monday, NBC

The scoop: Edward Albright (Christian Slater) and Henry Spivey (Christian Slater) share the same body—and two very different worlds. Edward is a ruthless spy and Henry is a suburban family man. The two personalities, programmed to remain ignorant of each other, start to wake up in each other’s realities and all hell breaks loose.

What works: I never doubted that Slater would deliver as Edward, the magnetically intense spy. He’s also remarkably effective as wimpy Henry, who gets drunk when he learns that Edward is the original personality and Henry is the by-product of an experiment. As Henry, Slater hilariously sings to himself: “Roses are red. Violets are blue. I’m a split personality—and so am I.”

What doesn’t: OK, the Edward/Henry split personality thing is preposterous. There's little logic to most of the first episode. But the show trots outs practically every spy game cliché done from James Bond to "Alias."

Tune in or out? out of 4. Hell yes, it’s far-fetched. But who cares? Slater’s the draw here, and watching his two personalities battle for control while trying to keep each other alive is fascinating—and believable.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11

Secret agents are hot this TV season—as evidenced by yet another secret agent man on “My Own Worst Enemy,” debuting at 9 p.m. Monday on NBC.. Here’s a look at five current small-screen spies and the undercover agents of past TV shows who seem to have inspired them.

EDWARD ALBRIGHT

“My Own Worst Enemy,” NBC

Actor: Christian Slater

Dossier: Edward (above) speaks 13 languages, is trained to kill, works for a clandestine organization and has a split personality that gives him a cover.

Spy forebear: When Sydney Bristow’s personal and work lives intertwined on “Alias,” people died—and actress Jennifer Garner (right) pouted.

CHUCK BARTOWSKI

“Chuck,” NBC

Actor: Zachary Levi

Dossier: Bumbling nerd Chuck (right) isn’t trained as a spy, but this season he’s getting serious about becoming one with the help of top-of-her-game agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski, right).

Spy forebear: Maxwell Smart (Don Adams, above left) of “Get Smart” was an actual secret agent, but you’d never know it by the way he stumbled through his cases. Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon, above left) bailed out Max all the time.

JACK BAUER

“24,” Fox

Actor: Kiefer Sutherland

Dossier: Jack Bauer (above) never met an enemy he didn’t want to torture—or a phone he didn’t like to scream into. Does "I need it NOW, Chloe!" sound familiar?

Spy forebear: No TV spy has used torture like Jack, but Vinnie Terranova (Ken Wahl, right) of “Wiseguy” tried to quit the Organized Crime Bureau as much as Jack has tried to leave Counter Terrorist Unit—always being sucked back in by another chance to kick ass.

MICHAEL WESTON

“Burn Notice,” USA

Actor: Jeffrey Donovan

Dossier: Spurned by his former government employers, Westen (above right) uses watches, cell phones and household products to create low-tech spy gadgets for use in his new spy-for-hire life.

Spy forebear: Angus MacGyver of “MacGyver” (above left) was well-known for his homemade gadgetry; he carried only a Swiss Army knife and duct tape.

MIKE TRACEUR

“Knight Rider,” NBC

Actor: Justin Bruening

Dossier: Ex-Army Ranger Mike Traceur drives a tricked-out KITT car (above) that's far more interesting than their adventures: It can change into a truck Transformers-style!

Spy forebear: Mike is the son of Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff, left), who drove an earlier model of the talking car/spy vehicle called KITT.

Photos courtesy NBC, USA, Fox, ABC and CBS

Posted at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9

TV REMAKES: OLD VS. NEW

WATCH the original British mini-series "Eleventh Hour" all day Sunday, Oct. 12, beginning at noon on BBC America.

ELEVENTH HOUR
9 p.m. Thursdays, CBS

The scoop: Brilliant but eccentirc biophysicist Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, above right) works with FBI agent/bodyguard Rachel Young (Marley Shelton, left) to crack science-related cases.

What works: This slick remake of a British mini-series has everything other CBS cop dramas do—attractive stars, well-paced plots and high production values. The premiere’s crime deals with botched human cloning, which despite being done already on Fox’s “Fringe,” is creepy and compelling.

Sewell takes what could have been another smart-but-cranky character beyond the House prototype; he lends Hood a wry humor.

What doesn’t: By the second episode, “Eleventh Hour” seems to have forgotten it’s weird science premise. The plot is a fairly standard murder mystery even if the murder weapon is unusual.

Tune in or out? out of 4. Without the science-based mysteries, “Eleventh Hour” is just another well-done but unremarkable crime procedural.

Posted at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9

TV REMAKES: OLD VS. NEW

LIFE ON MARS
9 p.m. Thursdays, ABC

The scoop: After getting hit by a car, NYPD Det. Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) wakes up and is dumbfounded to learn he’s living in 1973. Is he insane, in a coma or has he actually traveled in time?

He’s even more confused that he’s still (or previously?) a detective working with a tough boss (Harvey Keitel), other detectives (Michael Imperioli, Jonathan Murphy) and a woman officer (Gretchen Mol) who they call “No Nuts.”

What works: This remake of the hit British series has fun with the 1970s, including low-tech police work (no CSI-style crime solving!), clothing, music, sexism and New York culture. O’Mara’s hot in his leather blazer, and all the cast members seem to inhabit their roles. Really, you can’t beat Keitel as a mean, egotistical, king-of-his-domain cop.

What doesn’t: Some viewers might be turned off by the sci-fi elements, including the time-shift and the confusing “messages” Tyler seems to receive through his TV and the voices in his head.

Tune in or out? out of 4. I’ve seen just the first episode, but this remake seems to have traveled well from Manchester, England, to New York. Besides, David Bowie’s song, “Life on Mars,” is an all-time favorite.

Posted at 3:26 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3

SHOW PATROL REVIEW: Who needs logic when you've got Christian Slater?

TV's HOT NEW SPIES

Christian Slater loves playing a spy.

"Is it fun for me?" Slater said during a conference call on Friday, laughing. "Running through dark corridors. Having a gun battle. It does go back to being a kid playing in my back yard, I’ll be honest with you. I enjoyed doing it then, and I certainly enjoy doing it now."

Slater was stumping for his new NBC series, "My Own Worst Enemy," which debuts Oct. 13. Slater plays Edward, a James Bond-like spy with a second personality, Henry, who is a peaceful suburban dad. When the show begins, neither personality knows about the other.

Slater told me that at first he wanted to be Edward, "because he’s this cool guy, this tough guy." But now, he said, he has reconsidered ever being that extreme.

"If I could hang out with one in particular," he said, "I’d feel a lot safer with Henry."

Slater said he didn't think his bad boy image from the past helped him get the role, and he got kind of Zen master when asked if he's ever felt that he had Jekyll/Hyde personalities struggling for control over his actions.

"I think, as you grow in life," he said, then changed course. "The easiest way to sum this up is to say the fastest way to know who you are is to first know who you're not."

MORE CHRISTIAN SLATER

Posted at 8:35 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3

Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Hephner star in "Easy Money."

EASY MONEY
8 p.m. Sunday CW

The scoop: Like the rest of his family, Morgan Buffkin (Jeff Hephner) helps run Prestige Payday Loans, a high-interest loan company that was started by his tough-as-nails mom Bobette (Laurie Metcalf). He wants to escape the life.

What works: Hephner and especially Steppenwolf alum Metcalf own the show. They share a great scene when Bobette defends the business to Morgan, saying, “We HELP people. People that the banks don’t think are good enough, they come to us in their hours of need and we help them.” That’s followed by her telling the family not to appear too wealthy.

What doesn’t: There’s not a lot of action in the opener, but there’s a great conflict set up when the Buffkin’s business competitors, the Mamayo brothers, come to town.

Tune in or out? out of 4. The show skirts the line between comedy and drama well, with characters that will keep viewers interested.

Posted at 8:20 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3

Read my review of "Easy Money."

It’s been a few years since Laurie Metcalf has been a regular on a TV show, but the “Roseanne” alum was ready to try it again.

“I love getting back to it,” Metcalf told me during a recent phone interview. “I’ll always love the theater first and foremost ... But this is a wonderful group and I’m really flattered they asked me to be a part of this.”

“This” is the CW dramedy “Easy Money,” which debuts at 8 p.m. Sunday. Metcalf plays Bobette Buffkin, a scrappy, no-nonsense woman who runs a payday loan company.

The dark comedy centers on Bobette’s middle child, Morgan (Jeff Hephner), who has never quite fit into the family despite the fact that he’s obviously Bobette’s favorite. Morgan questions the family business, and he’s searching for why he feels so unsettled

Bobette is Metcalf’s first role on series TV since the sitcom “Roseanne” ended in 1997. The founding member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company has appeared on stage, in films and on TV—most memorably in her four-episode role as Caroline Bigsby on “Desperate Housewives.”

According to Metcalf, Bobette is a “self-made woman who dotes on her family”—and she’s based on a real person named Bobette. The real Bobette is a cousin to the show’s creators, husband-and-wife team Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider. She runs a payday loan company in Las Vegas, Metcalf said, “has red hair and [laughs], she dresses great.”

“She is a great consultant,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf and I talked about her Chicago days at Steppenwolf, working on “Roseanne” and her new series, “Easy Money.” Keep reading below.

Posted at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2

Joshua Jackson, John Noble and Anna Torv star in "Fringe."

Sci fi fans have done it. The new Fox series from J.J. Abrahms, “Fringe,” has earned a full-season order, the network announced today.

“We're having a blast working on this show with this great team of producers and amazing cast,” Fox president Kevin Reilly said in a statement. “The series has really taken off creatively, and it's exciting to see that the audience is responding. We believe this is the first full season of many years to come.”

According to Nielsen ratings, “Fringe” has been winning its 8 p.m. Tuesday time period among adults 18-49. It’s landed in the top 10 of overall viewers a few times as well, consistently earning 9 to 10 million viewers per episode.

The series is off the air for two weeks now because of the baseball playoffs, but it returns Oct. 14 with a new episode in which a man’s developing abilities may have caused an elevator accident and Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) has a run-in with the supposedly dead Agent John Scott (Mark Valley).

Until then, you can rewatch episodes at the Fox and Hulu Web sites.

Read my review of "Fringe" here. And here are interviews with J.J. Abrahms and series star Joshua Jackson.

Posted at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1

Coach Taylor gets a new boss—his wife Tami (Connie Britton, above).

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
8 p.m. Wednesday DirecTV 101 Network

The scoop: Thank you, DirecTV and NBC, for agreeing to allow DirecTV to air (commercial-free!) the 13-episode Season 3 of “FNL” before it goes to NBC in February. That deal saved a stellar series from cancellation.

As the new season begins, Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) has a new boss—his wife, Tami (Connie Britton). The former Dillon High School counselor is facing a financial crunch and the disapproving attitude of the vice principal.

As for the kids, Smash Williams (Gaius Charles, right with Chandler) and Jason Street (Scott Porter) will appear in only a few episodes before they move on with their lives.

Coach is facing a doubters that he can keep the Panthers winning without his star, Smash, who has graduated. He’s also dealing with pressure from the father of a new recruit—a freshman quarterback who transferred to Dillon from Dallas.

As far as the couples go, Bad boy Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) and Bible-thumper Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) are messing around behind closed doors. But Lyla doesn’t want anyone to know; as Tim’s brother tells him, "You're a rebound from Jesus." Matt Saracen (Evanston native Zach Gilford, below left) and Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden, below right), who broke up last season, reignite their romance.

What works: After jumping the shark last season with the soapy story that dropped bad girl Tyra Collette (Adrienne Palicki) and nerdy Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons)—who have broken up, by the way—in a murder investigation, “FNL” goes back to its roots this season. And that means football. Yes, football—and how practically everyone in this small, depressed town of Dillon, Texas, looks forward to Friday nights.

Top-notch acting really makes this show. For example, in one scene late in the premiere, Tami leans over to Coach during a booster party and tells him that she’s decided to take money allocated for football and use it for academics. Chandler, as Coach, doesn’t say a word, but his expression of confusion, then dismay, sets up a central conflict between the two this season—football vs. academics.

What doesn’t: Now that the Panthers and the people of Dillon are front and center, everything is working well.

Tune in or out? The writing is honest and the acting so true (and tremendous) you feel you could be watching a documentary. Hopefully this Hail Mary strategy works, and we’ll be following a fourth year of Dillon football next fall.

Posted at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30

DIRTY SEXY MONEY
9 p.m. Wednesday ABC

The scoop: The wealthy Darling family sinks its fangs even deeper into once-honorable lawyer Nick George (Peter Krause).

What works: Youngest Darling brother Jeremy (Seth Gabel) remains my favorite character. In the opener, he uses his boyish charm to nearly seduce Nick’s wife and then is seduced himself by newcomer Lucy Liu. Jeremy wears a look that says, “I can’t help it; these things just happen to me.”

What doesn’t: Darling daddy Tripp (Donald Sutherland) gives Nick a yacht for his birthday—and for keeping mum about a death involving politician son Patrick (Billy Baldwin). Really? Would Nick walk away from a corpse like that? He used to be such a nice guy.

Tune in or out? out of 4. The show’s writers are embracing the fact that “Dirty Sexy Money” is an overheated soap along the lines of “Dallas” and “Dynasty.” But I don’t have to play along. I found several scenes in the first episode to be mean-spirited, and other just plain boring.

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30

PRIVATE PRACTICE
8 p.m. Wednesday ABC

The scoop: Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) and her doctor buds run the Oceanside Wellness Group in Santa Monica, Calif., where they spend a lot of time flirting—and not practicing medicine.

What works: Finally, the tough Addison we remember from “Grey’s Anatomy” emerges. She argues with her partners, yells at her patients’ parents and puts business before friendship—all in the premiere. To the credit of show creator Shonda Rhimes, she does focus more on the medical issues with several hospital scenes.

What doesn’t: Oceanside is in financial trouble as the season begins; apparently Naomi Bennett (Audra McDonald) is a better doctor than businesswoman. Maybe her ex hubby and business partner, Sam (Taye Diggs), can save the practice. Yawn. That’s just one example of the boring subplots.

Tune in or out? out of 4. Besides Addison, I couldn’t care less about any of these doctors. Addison, move back to Seattle!

Posted at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29

LIFE

9 p.m. Monday and Friday NBC

The scoop: Quirky Det. Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) served 12 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s back on the force, partnered with Det. Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi) and searching for the people in the department who set him up.

What works: “Life” focuses on characters and relationships, and the one between Crews and Reese is wonderful. I love watching as Reese rolls her eyes whenever Crews, always munching on a piece of fruit, goes into one of his Zen-man monologues. Lewis and Shahi have great chemistry together.

And don’t worry about having to follow a “Lost”-like maze with the who-framed-Charlie mystery. It’s important, but serves only as a backdrop to each week’s cases.

What doesn’t: “Life” is paces a little slowly, but I can live with it.

Tune in or out? out of 4. It’s refreshing to watch a cop show that doesn’t rely on “CSI”-style storytelling. Crews and Reese use their brains and intuition to get at the truth. “Life” breathes some life into the played-out cop genre.

Posted at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

Pamela Adlon, Evan Handler, Natascha McElhone, David Duchovny, Madeleine Martin and Madeline Zima of "Californication."

CALIFORNICATION

9 p.m. Sunday Showtime

The scoop: Last season, horndog author Hank Moody (David Duchovny) and his ex, Karen (Natascha McElhone) fled her wedding to another man and ran off together with their daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin), in tow. Can they live happily ever after?

What works: Hank’s trying to be a better man: He gets a vasectomy to prove his love to Karen and turns down several offers to cheat on her. It’s fun to watch Duchovny play those scenes, showing how Hank really wants to be bad, but has to be good.

Bad behavior does eventually land Hank in trouble with Karen, Becca and the law. Duchovny, McElhone and especially Martin make you believe every word they speak, and every action—no matter how outrageous—they take.

What doesn’t: Another excellent performance comes from Evan Handler as Hank’s agent, Charlie. A subplot involving Charlie’s introduction into the porn business doesn’t work as well.

Tune in or out? out of 4. Knowing about Duchovny’s real-life battle with sexual addiction makes me respect his touchy performance all the more. Hank’s self-destructive behavior is his only way to deal with his troubled soul.

Posted at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

DEXTER
8 p.m. Sunday Showtime

The scoop: Despite close call after close call, police blood splatter analyst and vigilante killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) kept his dark secret last season without breaking his dad’s code of killing only murderers.

Season 3 opens by showing a “normal” Dexter, who has evolved from the intimacy-fearing introvert of Season 1 to a man who jokes with his co-workers and sister, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), and enjoys sex with his girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz), and a new friendship.

What works: A botched execution and accidental murder leads Dexter to that unlikely friendship with ADA Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits). Smits was a wise addition this season, making Prado an intense, scary guy who hones in on Dexter right away. Smits and Hall share a creepy face-off in the season premiere that had me convinced Dexter had been found out.

What doesn’t: Season 3 isn’t as sharply plotted as Season 2, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t working. I’m still on the fence about Dexter giving up the code, but it could just be another way of making Dex more human—an evolution that will keep this show from repeating itself.

Tune in or out? “Why is he trying so hard to be my friend,” Dexter asks himself about Prado. That’s the most intriguing question for me so far this season. I wonder if Prado and Dex have more in common than we’re first led to believe. Is Prado also a killer? That would be another great twist in Dexter’s winding tale.

Posted at 3:10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26

Hiro (Masi Oka) has a new nemesis in speed demon Daphne (Brea Grant).

Masi Oka is riding high, but not just because his NBC series, “Heroes,” is back on TV after nine months away.

Oka, a longtime comic book fan, said Friday during a conference call that he’s thrilled to be part of the “Heroes” universe—including the comic books. His time-traveling character, Hiro Nakamura, now has been drawn by famous comic book artists such as Alex Ross, Tim Sale and Mike Turner.

“I got excited when I had a character drawn of me at a bar mitzvah,” Oka said, laughing. “Now to have these amazing, legendary artists draw you. Who would of thought? As a comics book reader, it’s something that you’re very proud of and grateful for.”

Oka said he now has Hiro action figures and Bobbleheads, too, but offered one more Hiro product he’d like to see: “What more can a guy ask for? Maybe Underoos.”

Oka may not get the Underoos, but in Monday’s season premiere, Hiro got a new nemesis: the super speedy—and sassy—Daphne Millbrook, played by Brea Grant.

Daphne swooped in and stole part of a secret formula that Hiro’s father had hidden. The complete formula has world-ending ramifications, so Hiro and Ando (James Kyson Lee) track her to get it back. Daphne will bug Hiro throughout the season, Oka said.

“Daphne is kind of like the quintessential nemesis for Hiro,” he told reporters. “As Batman gets his Joker, Hiro gets Daphne.”

Oka then suggested a more apt description of the pair since nerdy Hiro is involved:

“I see it more like a Wiley E. Coyote and a Road Runner scenario, except she says more than ‘Meep, meep,’” he said. “You will see Hiro fall on his face a lot.”

Oka didn’t offer any spoilers for the season, but discussed the return of Hiro’s former nemesis, Adam Monroe, his love interests, and Mary Poppins. It’s all one click away—after the preview to Monday's episode below.

Posted at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
8 p.m. Sunday ABC

The scoop: Now that the show has jumped five years into the future, Lynette’s (Felicity Huffman) sons are becoming delinquents. Bree (Marcia Cross) is a successful caterer and cookbook author who steals recipes from Katherine (Dana Delaney). Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) moves back to Wiseria Lane with a hubby. Divorced Susan (Teri Hatcher) is having an affair with her house painter (Gale Harold). Gabby (Eva Longoria Parker) has two overweight kids and a blind hubby (Ricardo Chavira).

What works: Neal McDonough gives the new—and I say blander—“Housewives” at least a little mystery as Edie’s scary new husband. The wives still can throw some zingers too.

What doesn’t: The time-jump does simplify the story-telling, as creator Marc Cherry hoped, but the wives’ domestic issues are kind of boring. This act is getting old.

Tune in or out: out of 4. I’m not too desperate to go back to Wisteria Lane.

Posted at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25

BROOKE SMITH FIRED FROM "GREY'S ANATOMY."

GREY'S ANATOMY
8 p.m. Thursday ABC

The scoop: Everyone at Seattle Grace has a fit when the hospital is downgraded to the 12th best teaching hospital, but only Chief Webber (James Pickens Jr.) isn’t too preoccupied with his love life to do something about it. He immediately makes a plan to get tougher on his staff, who care more about their personal lives than professional ones. Yes, the drama trumps the trauma at Seattle Grace: Erica (Brooke Smith) and Callie (Sara Ramirez) are avoiding each other after last season’s make-out session; Lexie (Chyler Leigh) has fallen for George (T.R. Knight); Alex (Justin Chambers) can’t stand it that Izzy (Katherine Heigl) thinks he’s nice; Derek (Patrick Dempsey) has to have the work breakup with nurse Rose (Lauren Stamile).

What works: The trauma—three ball-gown clad women (Bernadette Peters, Kathy Baker and Mariette Hartley) are admitted after a car crash. Sexy Army surgeon Owen Hunter (Kevin McKidd) assists the women on the way to Grace and ends up hanging around the hospital to bewitch Cristina (Sandra Oh). They’re scenes are the best part of the opener.

What doesn’t: out of 4. How completely annoying can Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) become? And Mer-Der? I am so over their on-again off-again, I’m scared, I’m ready, blah, blah, blah. Do yourself a favor, mute the TV during Pompeo’s voiceovers. Cristina says it best tonight: "Shut up, shut up, shut up. I have to listen to you when you get together. I have to listen to you when your break up. You and Derek will not work!"

Tune in or out? This might be the season I turn to “ER” for Angela Bassett over all this melodrama.

Posted at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24

Psychic similarities: "Psych," "The Mentalist" and "Lie to Me."

It never takes long to recycle an idea in Hollywood, does it?

Hot on the heels of the series premiere of CBS’ “The Mentalist,” Fox has announced a series commitment to “Lie to Me,” which is set to premiere at midseason. They can both thank USA’s “Psych” for a bit of inspiration.

In “Psych,” James Roday stars as Shawn Spencer, a super observant guy who, pretending to be psychic, works with the police to solve crimes. His partner in their consulting business, called Psych, is Burton “Gus” Guster, played by Dulé Hill.

“Psych” is a silly, entertaining comedy that in an interview earlier this year Roday called “good, clean summer fun.” His character, Shawn, uses his keen observation to find clues at crimes scenes that others overlook. He and Gus are like a modern Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but funnier.

Enter “The Mentalist,” CBS’ interesting new drama that riffs off of “Psych.” Simon Baker stars as Patrick Jane, another incredibly observant guy who used to make a living pretending to be psychic on TV. Now he helps the California Bureau of Investigation solves crimes.

Patrick Jane uses his skills to read people as opposed to crime scenes (although he notices things at crime scenes too). He has an uncanny ability to notice peoples tells, or ticks, and then get them to open up to him. The CBS notes on the show say he can see into other people’s hearts (metaphorically), but not into his own.

Now we have “Lie to Me,” which takes Patrick Jane’s skills to another level. Tim Roth stars as Dr. Cal Lightman, who can “read clues embedded in the human face, body and voice to expose the truth behind the lies in criminal investigations,” according to Fox.

“When you scratch your chin, wring your hands, wrinkle your nose or swallow too much, Dr. Cal Lightman knows you’re lying. He doesn’t just think so—he knows so,” a Fox release reads.

Like Shawn Spencer, Dr. Cal runs his own company called The Lightman Group, which consults with the FBI, police, law firms, corporations and private individuals to help find the truth.

Hit sounds like he employs a whole team of Shawn Spencers and Patrick Janes, or as Fox says, “experts in the field of behavioral evaluation:

Posted at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23

The CW extended the life of its new series “90210” on Monday, picking it up for a full season of episodes.

The better news for the series and it audience is that veteran “Gilmore Girls” writer Rebecca Kirschner has joined the “90210” as a producer. Entertainment Weekly reports that she will be running the writers room.

Hopefully Kirschner will be able to get some of that “Gilmore Girls” wit into the leaden “90210” dialogue.

“The successful addition of ‘90210’ has taken The CW another step forward in building a cohesive schedule that defines this network as a destination for young women with shows that get our audience talking—and watching,” CW prez Dawn Ostroff said in a press release. “We're very excited about the chance to watch this ensemble of newcomers and familiar faces coalesce and grow together as we move forward.”

As Ostroff’s comment suggests, “90210” is doing well among women ages 18 to 34. The series premiere, which drew a total of 12.7 million viewers in its two airings, was the CW’s highest rated premiere among women ages 18 to 34.

But you’ve got to wonder if viewers will stick around once Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty, vets of the original “Beverly Hills 90210,” go away. Doherty’s commitment has ended already, and Garth has said she has not agreed to stick around past her six-episode commitment.

Maybe it’s time to get Tori Spelling’s agent on the phone?

Read my interview with “90210” star Ryan Eggold.

Posted at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19

CBS renewed its summer cop drama “Flashpoint” for a second season, the network said Friday. It has ordered 13 new episodes for broadcast next year. The pickup comes after a successful summer season, punctuated by Thursday’s series high ratings of 9.66 million viewers, according preliminary Nielsen ratings.

“Flashpoint,” which averaged 7.73 million viewers per episode this summer, starred Enrico Colantoni, High Dillon, Amy Jo Johnson, David Paetkau, Michael Cram, Sergio Di Zio, Ruth Marshall and Mark Taylor. It tells the story of a police Strategic Response Unit inspired by Toronto’s Emergency Task Force.

Last week TBS picked up the sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show” for a third season, ordering 10 more episodes of the show.

Some folks apparently like it, as it averaged about 2.3 million viewers during its summertime run. It stars Engvall as a family counselor and Nancy Travis as his wife. Tim Meadows, Jennifer Lawrence, Graham Patrick Martin and Skyler Gisondo round out the cast.

HBO's gothic vampire romance tale "True Blood" has also been picked up for an additional season.

Posted at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer in "True Blood."

Vampires will be staying out of the coffin for another season on HBO. “True Blood” has been picked up for a second season, the network announced Wednesday.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the critics and our viewers have embraced ‘True Blood,’” Lombardo said in a release. “Alan Ball has done it again—made an addictive series that is unlike any other.”

Ball, who created “Six Feet Under,” adapted “True Blood” from the Sookie Stackhouse novels of Charlaine Harris. HBO said that the season premiere has “attracted 4 million viewers to date,” and the second episode increased on the initial viewing numbers by 24 percent.

I wasn’t absolutely thrilled with the show at first, but it is growing on me. I’ve watched several episodes now, and the upcoming addition of Alexander Skarsgård (right) as the mesmerizing vamp Eric Northman lends the series more mystery.

HBO says Season 2 production will begin in early next year in L.A. and is set to debut next summer.

Posted at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Sept. 16

Dylan McKay is Kelly Taylor's baby daddy.

The big reveal came on Tuesday night's episode of CW's "90210" when Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and Kelly (Jennie Garth) were arguing about Kelly's single mom situation.

Luke Perry, who played Dylan on the original "Beverly Hills 90210," repeatedly has said he won't do the new show, but he may nip into the Zip after all.

“It’s just not something that I’ve thought about to be quite honest,” Perry said on "The Billy Bush Show" in June. “I don’t see it happening.”

Series star Ryan Eggold told me Monday that one of the original male cast members would appear on the series, which doesn't necessarily mean it will be Perry. But Eggold did say he hopes his character, teacher and Kelly crush Ryan Matthews, and the father of Kelly's kid get into a "fist fight on campus."

If you remember in the original series, Dylan dumped Brenda for Kelly. So it was kind of interesting to see the two women talking about a guy with whom they both have long histories. Maybe Perry will come back for an episode, and his Dylan will take off with Brenda this time. Payback's a beotch, Kelly!

The majority of readers who answered the poll question on Monday's blog item got it right. Of the 105 votes cast, 47 percent voted for Dylan. The results can be found here.

Posted at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15

Ryan Eggold plays Ryan Matthews on "90210."
Who do you think Kelly Taylor's baby daddy is? Choose here.

Ryan Eggold loves starring in “90210,” but it’s preventing him from reprising an old role he also loves—as “that naked guy.”

Eggold, who plays cool teacher Ryan Matthews on the CW series, won’t be able to spend Halloween this year in his usual costume—a Speedo.

“I’m so mad because I love it,” Eggold told me Monday during a chat at the W Lakeshore. “It’s great, everyone’s like ‘Who is that naked guy?’ [and] ‘Love your costume, man.’ Thanks. Thank you. It’s really great, just attention all night.”

With the intense attention surrounding the “Beverly Hills 90210” spinoff, Eggold said his Speedo days are over.

“I can’t do it now,” he said. “If someone takes a picture and puts it on the Internet my manager will slap me.”

The new series is only Eggold’s second full-time role on TV, after starring on “Dirt” last season. The 24-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., began acting professionally two years ago and has guest starred on “Entourage” and “Brothers & Sisters,” among other shows.

He said he’s excited to be working on “90210,” even though he was a little nervous at first because of the show’s history.

“It’s very easy to hate a show like this,” he said. “A lot of people kind of expect it to fail. It’s hard to step into a situation like that where people are already being like ‘Puhlease.’ ”

Eggold didn’t watch the original series regularly because he was too young, but he does remember it.

“I was more watching ‘Saved by the Bell,’” he said. “I remember seeing ‘90210’ when I was a kid, but ... I just remember them doing the cool high school stuff and hanging out and drinking or talking about sex. I was just like ‘I have no idea what’s going on.’”

When it came time to prepare for the new series, he didn’t want to see the old episodes because he didn’t want it to change his own performance.

“I didn’t want to accidentally copy anybody’s performance or accidentally pull some Luke Perry moves or some Jason Priestley moves,” he said.

He did, however, watch one episode.

“It was about Luke Perry not wearing a condom and having sex, and Shannen Doherty was all pissed off,” he said. “It was good stuff. It was great, yeah.”

Now he and Doherty, who reprises her role as Brenda Walsh, have shot several scenes together on the new show, and Eggold said it’s been great working with her. She has completed her initial 4-episode deal for the show but may return. Eggold is under the impression she will be back.

“She’s going to take some time off and then come back and so our story is kind of interrupted,” he said. “It’s really fun to work with her because she has a totally different vibe than Jennie. She’s darker and more mysterious.”

Doherty was helpful to the young female cast members, offering them advice about staying out of the tabloids—something Doherty herself has had trouble doing over the years.

Eggold said he didn’t need the advice, mostly because he’s “too boring” to be of interest to tabloid reporters like the one he played on “Dirt”—even though he said interest in the show and its actors has been tremendous.

“It is weird, yeah,” he said of the intense scrutiny the cast is under, adding that he has no interest in being a tabloid celebrity. “It’s so not my scene. I don’t get why some people choose to be a part of it. Because truth be told, if you want to avoid that kind of stuff you can. It’s very easy to avoid it. Just don’t be a jackass. You can gravitate toward the cameras or you can not.”

Many of stars who always show up in tabloids and paparazzi photos want to be there, Eggold said. He said he thinks that “celebrity” has become a priority for them.

“I’m sure they are some people who are victims, quote-unquote, of paparazzi,” he said. “But it’s BS, man. People bring it on themselves.”

Don’t miss what Eggold said about kissing Jennie Garth, not being “creepy teacher dude” and what's in store for his character Ryan (he has secrets).

Posted at 3:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15

Ryan Matthews (Ryan Eggold) romances Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) on "90210." For more from Ryan Eggold, click here.

The question on every “90210” fan’s mind this week is “Who is Kelly Taylor’s baby daddy?”

Series star Ryan Eggold won’t say who it is, but did confirm Monday that one of the male cast members from the original “Beverly Hills 90210” will appear on the CW spinoff.

“Yes. One of the guys is coming back,” Eggold told me during a chat at the W Lakeshore. “I’m hoping there’s a fist fight on campus between me and the dad. That would be fantastic. That’ll be very exciting.”

He claimed not to know who the actor is (which I doubt), adding “I’m excited to work with whoever they end up getting.”

The 24-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., plays young teacher Ryan Matthews on the series. Ryan, the teacher, has been romancing Jennie Garth’s Kelly, a character from the original series. In the new show, Kelly has a 4-year-old son, Sammy (Riley Thomas Stewart), but has not said who the father is.

According to reports, viewers will find out who the father is during Tuesday’s episode.

“We find out something about the dad [Tuesday],” Eggold said.

So who is it?

In an earlier episode, Kelly said that she and the father “had a lot of history together in high school.” That means the dad could be one of two guys Kelly dated in high school—Dylan (Luke Perry) or Steve (Ian Ziering).

Kelly dated Brandon (Jason Priestley) after high school, but a scene from the new series’ premiere might be a clue: Brandon, who now lives in Belize, called Kelly at 3 a.m. Their conversation was interrupted when Sammy walked in.

Sammy (left) and Steve (back in the day).

Still, I'm going with Steve. Although it's not quite a mullet, Sammy has the same blond curly hair Steve had back in the day. Besides, "Dancing with the Stars" hasn't been the career booster for Ziering that it has for Garth. And Brandon would be too obvious, wouldn't he?

What do you think?

Posted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Shirley MacLaine plays Coco Chanel as she launches a comeback.

If “Coco Chanel,” this made-for-TV biopic about the legendary French designer, were a fashion line, it’d be sold at Dress Barn stores.

Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine looks good as the aging fashion force in the Lifetime film, airing at 7 p.m. Saturday, but she’s on screen only to set up the flashbacks. In those scenes, Czech actress Barbora Bobulova (right) portrays Chanel through most of her life—which plays out like a bad romance novel filled with death, love, abandonment and betrayal.

With all these Harlequin high jinks, we barely see the couture queen’s iconic “little black dress” and other designs—even though the film clocks in at a patience-stretching three hours. When we get back to MacLaine, Coco has lost any trace of an accent, but at least she still has sass.

That’s not enough to make this work.

Posted at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5

All the sex in "True Blood" makes it difficult to remember the new drama is a vampire tale.

Or maybe it’s just my problem. I keep seeing Ryan Kwantan’s naked rear instead of any blood-sucker’s fangs—which, by the way, look ridiculous on this new HBO series debuting at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Created by "Six Feet Under" mastermind Alan Ball, "True Blood" begins shortly after vampires have "come out of the coffin" to live with humans after the invention of Tru Blood, a synthetic drink that meets all their nutritional requirements. They don’t have to feed off humans any longer.

But some still crave the real thing—a conflict that unfortunately isn’t explored enough in the early episodes. The series spends too much time with the humans in the Louisiana swamp town of Bon Temps.

There, waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) deals with her own "otherness." Sookie can read minds, but not that of a sexy vamp who walks into the bar where she works. Soon Sookie falls for the mysterious, 173-year-old Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and they strike up a romance, much to the chagrin of Sookie’s horn-dog brother Jason (Kwantan), whose sexual partners keep turning up dead.

Are they "fang-bangers" who have been killed by vamps? Or is it a human hunting them down and setting Jason? These interesting questions are put on the back burner in favor of some very slow scenes involving Sookie and Bill. They hae great potential as the characters driving the series, but at this point they’re not all that interesting as a couple.

One stand-out performer in the show is Rutina Wesley. As Sookie’s brash best friend, Tara Thornton, Wesley is the comic relief. Wesley gives Tara a sassy exterior but also shows the pain carried by a woman who has lived with disappointment—from her alcoholic mother, her drug-dealing cousin and her unrequited love for Jason.

If only she would mix it up with the vamps, "True Blood" might be more consistently enthralling.

As it is, each episode that I’ve seen starts out promising and ends with five tense minutes and a wonderful cliffhanger, but everything in between is a jumble of quirkiness, black humor, romance, a lot of talking, sex and, yes, Kwantan’s backside.

Posted at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3

Ron Perlman (left) and Charlie Hunnam star in "Sons of Anarchy."

Vic Mackey, Tommy Gavin, Christian Troy, meet Jackson “Jax” Teller.

With the lead character in its new “Sons of Anarchy,” FX adds to its roster of fascinating anti-heroes who do good, but create plenty of chaos in the process.

Played with quiet intensity by British actor Charlie Hunnam (left), Jax is the tough vice president of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO for short), a California gang co-founded by his father but now run by his stepfather, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman).

As the series from former “The Sopranos” writer Kurt Sutter begins at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jax has to deal with his junkie ex-wife (Drea De Matteo) who almost overdoses while giving birth to their child.

And that’s the least of his worries. Jax, who although prone to violence himself, is doubting the club’s gun-running and other lawless acts. After he finds a manuscript written by his dead dad called “How the Sons of Anarchy Lost Their Way,” Jax works hard to stay one step ahead of the ruthless Clay when it comes to dealing with the club’s rivals.

In the second episode, as the club plans a murder to cover up another crime, he asks Clay and the other leaders, “What if I could do this without spilling blood?”

Jax comes up with creative, non-violent means to further the club’s reach, but still gets sucked into his stepdad’s dark dealings.

One of the toughest characters on the show, surprisingly, doesn’t even hop on a Harley. Jax’s mom, Gemma Teller-Morrow (a powerhouse Katey Sagal), has no doubts about her husband Clay, the club’s illegal activities. She doesn’t want her son poisoned by her dead first husband’s ideals. She’ll go to great lengths to make sure he stays in line—including a shocking attack on her son’s ex-wife.

Jax thinks the world of his mother and has no idea how cruel she can be, which makes him a sort of modern-day Hamlet in this violent but also darkly funny, entertaining and well-acted series.

After watching Katry Sagal as Gemma Teller-Morrow, no one will remember Peg Bundy.

Posted at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan and FBI agent Seeley Booth have only shared a Christmas kiss under the mistletoe.

But in the show’s fourth season, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the flirty crime-fighting partners finally get into bed together—in fantasy sequences.

“Right off the bat it’s really focusing on their relationship,” series star and producer David Boreanaz, who plays Booth, told reporters Tuesday.

The two-hour premiere finds Booth and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) in London to lecture at Scotland Yard and Oxford University, respectively. They become involved in a murder investigation when an American businessman’s daughter is found dead in the Thames River.

They Yanks team up with a British version of themselves. Dr. Ian Wexler (Andrew Buchan) and Inspector Cate Pritchard (Indira Varma) bicker and flirt as much as Brennan and Booth do.

The teamwork offers more opportunities to let Boreanaz and Deschanel explore the dynamic between their characters and how that affects their work.

But what about those fantasy bedroom scenes?

“The characters will get closer and then farther away,” Boreanaz said, adding that the fantasy episodes series creator Hart Hanson has planned will happen later in the season.

If that sounds like a big tease from the actor, it is.

“Well I think that is the whole point of the show,” Boreanaz said. “It’s the give and take. You want to give back to the audience what they’re asking for, but at the same time you have to do it smart without tipping your hat too much. I think the beauty of it is that we’re allowed to do that.”

Don’t miss what Boreanaz said is in store for Booth, Brennan and fans during Season 4 of “Bones.” Click below.

Ron Perlman (left) and Charlie Hunnam star in "Sons of Anarchy." FX photos

Vic Mackey, Tommy Gavin, Christian Troy, meet Jackson "Jax" Teller.

With the lead character in its new "Sons of Anarchy," FX adds to its roster of fascinating anti-heroes who do good, but create plenty of chaos in the process.

Posted at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1

Nothing says young idealist like long hair and schlumpy clothes.

Just ask the costume designers for TV’s latest been-there, done-that legal drama, "Raising the Bar," which premieres at 9 p.m. Monday on TNT.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays Jerry Kellerman, the shaggy, idealistic public defender who takes every judge’s decision personally and manages to irritate arrogant lawmaker Trudy Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek).

“Get him outta here!” Kaczmarek yells over-dramatically in one scene, a far cry from her quality work on “Malcolm in the Middle.”

It's not just Kaczmarek and Gosselaar who suffer here. Gloria Reuben unfortunately fades into the background as Kellerman's boss.

The show, from producer Steven Bochco, has none of the zip of Bochco’s past hits ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law") or even his misses ("Philly," "Brooklyn South,” “Murder One"). It’s slow, boring and overly self-important.

"Raising the Bar" lowers the bar that TNT has set with its exceptional dramas "The Closer" and "Saving Grace."

Posted at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1

When “Prison Break” returns for its fourth season Monday, the Fox drama jumps possibly its biggest shark ever.

Dr. Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies), who lost her head last season—and I don’t mean she went nuts—is back from the dead and ready to take on the people who tried to kill her.

“I think that we address it as plausibly as possible,” series star Wentworth Miller told reporters recently about Sara’s resurrection. “It helps that the show is kind of fantastic and I feel like we’ve gotten away with worse.”

He’s right about that. Sara’s return is the latest maddeningly implausible move for a show that flaunts its gaps in logic like an Olympian shows off his medals.

Don't miss what else Miller said after the videos below.

Posted at 5:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1

Wait for it.

That’s my advice for fans of FX’s landmark cop drama, “The Shield,” as it returns at 9 p.m. Tuesday for its final season.

After watching the first two episodes, I was worried the series finally had been crushed under the weight of the serpentine machinations of its main character—crooked cop Det. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis).

I was wrong. It takes a little while—about 2 ½ hours—to get warmed up. But when it does, “The Shield” is just as shocking and brilliant as it’s always been. So wait for it.

As we return to the Farmington district in L.A., Mackey and his one-time best bud Det. Shane Vendrel (Walton Goggins) are locked in a tense battle against each other while they grudgingly work together to cover their tracks from past crimes, stop the Armenian mob and keep their own families safe.

The show’s creator, Rockford native Shawn Ryan, and the writers have made the early episodes excessively convoluted. Once all that back story is told, however, the series moves forward at a breakneck pace.

As the end gets closer, Mackey struggles to keep all his plans in play, to keep Shane on his side long enough to eliminate him, and to save his own job and life.

Chiklis is the heavy lifter here as Mackey, who may not be able to Houdini his way out of trouble this time. Chiklis leads a group of actors at the tops of their games: Goggins schemes desperately as Vendrell, CCH Pounder shows weary vulnerability as Capt. Claudette Wyms, and Jay Karnes lightens things up as Det. "Dutch" Wagenbach.

And this season, the often overlooked David Rees Snell, as quiet Strike Team member Det. Ronnie Gardocki, comes off as a ticking time-bomb—could he be the man to finally stop Mackey’s madness? That's the feeling I get.

Still, I don’t know if, when or how Mackey will pay for his sins, but the relentless tension in his continued struggle have me riveted and waiting for that end.

Posted at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29

Who cares that the acting on the CW's “Gossip Girl” isn’t always top-notch? Or that the writing, at times, is laughable? And does it really matter that no high schooler likely lives the way these Upper East Siders do?

I’ve got two reasons for you to tune in at 7 p.m. Monday for Season 2 of this New York-based battlefield drama: Blair and Chuck.

Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick have created two of TV’s most delicious fiends in spoiled rich kids Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. This season, the two square off in a battle of wills. Chuck spurned her over the summer, but now he thinks he wants her back. Her head says she’s over the cad, but her heart flutters at the thought of him. Will they or won’t they?

The two don’t reserve their poisonous plots for one another, either. No, they’re going after all kinds of targets this season. A lot of the story lines will be familiar to fans. Friends become enemies, enemies become allies, allies become lovers—or any other combination thereof. There are a few new twists, including the addition of British royalty and, yes, a hot cougar who digs her claws into one of our prep school heroes.

But I wouldn’t spoil the fun for you. XOXO.

Posted at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18

Laurence Fishburne will joining "CSI" this fall. [AP photo]

“CSI” has a new fan in Laurence Fishburne.

“I am now,” the actor said Monday during a conference call to introduce him as the CBS crime series’ latest hire. “I felt a little stupid and embarrassed that I hadn’t watched the show before.”

Fishburne, famous for playing Morpheus in the “The Matrix” movies, will fill the gap when actor William Petersen leaves “CSI” during the show’s ninth season this fall. He will portray a college professor and former research pathologist who joins the team in an entry-level position—as a CSI-Level 1. The character will be introduced in Episode 9 of the new season, and he and Petersen’s Gil Grissom will work together over two episodes before Grissom leaves the team.

CBS doesn’t have firm air dates for the episodes. In fact, not a lot has been worked out about Fishburne's role.

"We have a lot of stuff to work out," he said. "... I think over the coming weeks we’ll get cracking and discover what the answers to those questions are."

Executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar, also on Monday’s call, said that Fishburne will begin shooting in mid-September. He was their dream choice when they were looking for an actor to join the cast.

“Naren and I spoke to each and every member of our cast and I have rarely seen them as excited,” Mendelsohn said. “They just can’t wait until Mr. Fishburne gets on that set and they get to collaborate and act with him and be in the series with him.”

Fishburne said he is excited to join the show.

“I’m happy to say that the episodes they sent to me were really, really engaging and really wonderful and kind of dark and moody like the kind of work that I’ve been involved in,” he said. “And I thought ‘Wow that’s cool.’ Wow, this will work.’”

Details still need to be worked out for the character, who doesn’t even have a name yet.

I’d like to suggest Curtis, in honor of the last character Fishburne played as a TV series regular—Cowboy Curtis of “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.”

Fishburne and the producers answered more questions, read the selected takes from the interview.

Originally posted at 12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18

Don't miss what Laurence Fishburne had to say Monday.

Laurence Fishburne will join the cast of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” this fall, CBS announced Monday. His character—“a former pathologist who is now working as an itinerant college lecturer, teaching a course in criminalistics"—will debut in the season’s ninth episode, the network said.

“His focus is on understanding criminal behavior, how and why people commit acts of violence—tendencies he disturbingly sees within himself. In the course of a murder investigation, he comes into contact with the CSI team and ultimately joins the Las Vegas Crime Lab as a Level-1 CSI,” a press release says.

"I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of CSI," Fishburne said in the release. "I look forward to a wonderful collaboration with the creative and talented team of such a successful and distinguished show."

I will be part of a conference call with Fishburne and “CSI” executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar later today, so check back for more information.

Posted at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14

Anyone who has seen one of the “High School Musical” films may be surprised by “Skins,” a new high school-set dramedy debuting on BBC America this weekend.

High school, it turns out, is not all song and dance and happy endings—at least not in Bristol, England, where the action is set.

Sure Nicholas Hoult, as the savvy, Ferris Bueller-like Tony, sings in the premiere, which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday. But that’s about the only similarity you’ll find between “Skins” and any Disney Channel shows.

This award-winning series presents a much more real, if slightly romanticized, view of the life of teens. They drink, smoke, have sex and generally disdain adults.

If that sounds like a good time—it is.

“Skins” is satirical, messy, sad and hilarious. The kids here get into the same sorts of trouble most real teens have forever. And unlike most Disney fare, each episode does not end tidily with a lesson learned.

The series follows the exploits of a group of friends led by Tony, the popular kid who in the premiere tries to help his best mate, Sid (Mike Bailey), lose his virginity. Sid is crushing on Tony’s hot girlfriend, Michelle (April Pearson), but instead gets set up with the self-destructive anorexic Cassie (Hannah Murray), who’s out of the hospital, but is “just not allowed to handle knives.”

The group is rounded out with Muslim student Anwar (Dev Patel), class clown Chris (Joseph Dempsie), black music prodigy Jal (Larissa Wilson) and Maxxie (Mitch Hewer), a gay tap dancer.

Each episode focuses on one of the friends, giving the actors who aren’t as famous as Hoult, known in the U.S. for his role in the film “About a Boy,” the chance to show him up. Especially effective are Bailey as the nerdy virgin Sid and Murray as troubled Cassie.

The premiere devotes most of its time to slick Tony while presenting very preposterous incidents. There’s a drug deal gone wrong (the dealer’s name is Mad Twatter), an all-night party that ends in a fist-fight and a “Risky Business”-style car mishap. The writers even use derided Brit singer James Blunt as a derogatory term. (“You take me for a complete James Blunt, don’t you?” Tony’s dad asks him after the boy locks him out of the bathroom.)

It’s probably one of the sillier episodes of the three I’ve seen—but that’s not a criticism. What I liked about it is that Tony and Michelle—the “popular” couple most kids probably want to be like—are narcissistic and unlikable.

If only nerdy, sensitive kids such as Sid and Cassie could recognize their flaws in high school. They might be happy in their own skin.

PHOTO: Nicholas Hoult (from left), April Pearson and Mike Bailey star in "Skins."

Posted at 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, from Nebraska

Starlets Morgan (Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, left) and Marissa (Shenae Grimes) fight papparazi.

Morgan Carter calls Spielberg "Steven," spends thousands on glam clothes and endures rehab.

Oops, she did it again. In Lifetime’s original film, “True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet,” airing at 8 p.m. Saturday, singer Joanna “JoJo” Levesque plays Morgan, a Britney Spears-Lindsay Lohan knockoff who follows every professional triumph with an embarrassing personal scandal.

After her latest drinking disgrace, the 17-year-old starlet is sent to Indiana to live with no-nonsense Aunt Trudy, goes undercover as a transfer student and deals with mean girls and a boy who apparently has never picked up a tabloid or watched TV.

It’s hard to believe almost no one at Morgan's Midwest high school would recognize a LiLo-type star trading barbs with the popular girls, yet I can forgive this frilly film for the error because of everything that works.

JoJo is totally convincing as Morgan. Valerie Bertinelli (right with JoJo), who appears to be working out her own divorce issues onscreen, gives a solid performance as Aunt Trudy.

Screenwriter Elisa Bell smartly spares us any sappiness in her adaptation of Lola Douglas' novel, while Tim Matheson's direction keeps the sermonizing against life in the fast lane to a minimum. The movie jabs humorously at Hollywood without making it out as an evil empire.

The movie eventually lets us down with its predictable ending, but up until then, "True Confessions" is frilly, surface-only fun.

Posted at 11 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6 from Nebraska

NBC’s fall spy series may be getting help from a veteran of the genre.

“Alias” veteran John Eisendrath, who's currently a co-executive producer on “My Own Worst Enemy,” is in talks to take over the day-to-day running of the show from creator Jason Smilovic, The Hollywood Reporter says.

Smilovic will remain as executive producer of the show and will work with the new showrunner to shape his creation, according to The Reporter.

Eisendrath sounds like a perfect fit for the drama, which combines elements of “Alias” and the “Bourne” movies. It stars Christian Slater as a suburban dad leading a double life as a spy—apparently without realizing it. That twist escaped me until I watched a new clip NBC released from the first episode, which is wrapping production according to trade papers.

In the clip, you see Slater as regular guy Henry Spivey, who is talking with a therapist about the strange dreams he’s having. But they’re not dreams. Henry is remembering bits of what he has done as super spy Edward Albright.

The show is set to premiere at 8 p.m. Oct. 13 on NBC.

Posted at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 6, from Nebraska

And she can act too!

Grammy-winner Joss Stone will star in the third season of “The Tudors” as Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Showtime has announced.

Stone will appear in three episodes when the series returns in 2009. The third season currently is shooting in Dublin, Ireland.

It’s not the singer’s first acting gig. She had small roles in the 2006 film “Eragon” and on an episode of The CW’s “Gossip Girl.”

The not so historically accurate “The Tudors” follows sexy King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) as he “weds, beds and beheads women and wives in 16th Century England.”

The new season will pick up after Anne Boleyn’s beheading, detailing Henry’s doomed marriages to Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves. Sorry, I guess that’s a bit of a spoiler—if you haven’t read any English history.

PHOTO: Joss Stone will appear in “The Tudors.” [Showtime photo by David Goldman]

Posted at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, from Nebraska

After losing executive producer David E. Kelley, ditching the original pilot and purging the entire cast save series lead Jason O’Mara (left), ABC issued a release Tuesday saying production finally has started on its fall drama “Life on Mars.”

The show, a new version of the excellent British drama about a modern cop who is transported to 1973, is set to debut at 9 p.m. Oct. 9.

The show’s latest exec producers—Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Scott Rosenberg, had better get to work. They have a lot of catching up to do to meet that deadline—and from the sounds of it, the show’s new direction is problematic.

The main plot of “Life on Mars” has O’Mara playing NYPD Det. Sam Tyler, who wakes up in 1973 after being hit by a car in 2008. Harvey Keitel plays his head-bashing boss, Lt. Gene Hunt, and Michael Imperioli stars as Det. Ray Carling. Gretchen Mol is Annie Norris, a member of the Police Women’s Bureau.

That all sounds similar to the British version, but the ABC release then offer this side story that’s a bit concerning: “In his 2008 life, Sam was in love with Maya Daniels (Lisa Bonet) and, although Maya and Annie will never meet, Annie’s workplace battles have paved the way for Maya to become a full-fledged cop. A fascinating, unique love triangle evolves between Sam’s ‘real’ in-the-moment friendship with Annie, his longing to get back to Maya and the fantasy of what could be.”

Gag. It sounds like the new producers, the team that brought the canceled soap “October Road” to TV, are injecting some heavy melodrama into this already tested premise. And sadly, I’m not looking forward to "Life on Mars" nearly as much.

Tribune critic Maureen Ryan thinks the new direction for “Life on Mars” sounds similar to another failed show, “Journeyman.” Read her wonderfully scathing The Watcher.

Posted at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, from Nebraska

Time travel, space anomalies, predatory creatures—sounds like another episode of "Doctor Who" or "Torchwood," doesn’t it? But "Primeval," BBC America’s latest great escape, offers something those entertaining shows doesn’t: a touch of reality.

"Primeval," debuting at 8 p.m. Saturday, follows the adventures of evolutionary zoologist Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) and his team of young, sexy assistants as they investigate the strange time portals that are allowing dinosaurs to jump into modern-day London.

Well, so much for reality. You’ll see the team track down and be chased by predatory Gorgonopsids, alligator-like Mosasaurs and flying Pteranodons. They also encounter more friendly Scutosauruses, Dodos and Rex, a cute flying lizard (left with Abby). The amazing computer effects make the well-researched, mostly accurate prehistoric creatures appear completely real.

As long as you can accept the improbability of the time portals, you’ll be transfixed by the show’s well-written dramatic plots. Why has Cutter’s scientist wife suddenly reappeared with the dinos after going missing eight years ago? What nefarious plans does the government have for the team? Will dopey student paleontologist Connor Temple (Andrew Lee Potts) get a date with zoologist Abby Maitland (Hannah Spearritt), or will she fall for research assistant Stephen Hart (James Murray)?

"Primeval" is much more than "Jurassic Park: The Series," but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Temple and his friends outside the team bring a lot of the show’s cheeky humor.

"That’s the saddest thing I’ve seen since ‘Matrix: Revolutions,'" says one disbelieving college chum when Temple tells him about the dinos.

That's one of many funny lines that circle Temple and lighten up the drama. After all, how serious can a show with dinosaurs, giant bugs and dumb Dodos be?

Team "Primeval" (left to right): Abby (Hannah Spearritt), Connor (Andrew Lee Potts), Cutter (Douglas Henshall), Claudia (Lucy Brown), Stephen (James Murray) and Captain Tom (Mark Wakeling).

Posted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1

Stephanie Honore, Aimee Fortier, Ashley Benson, Jessica Heap and Ashlynn Ross are the “Fab Five.”

“Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal,” is a lot like the movie “Means Girls,” but without Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, Amy Poehler or any of the laughs.

Sure, this Lifetime original movie, airing at 8 p.m. Saturday, isn’t supposed to be a comedy. Still, I found myself laughing at its melodrama.

The Fab Five cheerleaders of this based-on-truth story make the “Mean Girls” seem like candy stripers. In fact, they are so evil I can’t imagine someone—kids, teachers, parents or the crabby lady down the street—wouldn’t have put them in their places already.

Have adults in Texas ever heard disciplining their brats—or are they hypnotized by the cheerleaders’ moves that “Fab Five” shows in slo-mo, pervy dance sequences?

Cheerleader captain Brooke Tippit (Ashley Benson, above right) and her four beastly besties—Ashley, Lisa, Jeri and Tabitha—get away with anything at their Texas high school, where Brooke’s mom Lorene Tippit (Tatum O’Neal, above left) is principal.

The squad’s newest coach—they’ve driven several away—is optimistic new teacher Emma Carr (Jenna Dawson, left), who is shocked at the Fab Five’s shenanigans, but more appalled by the school administration’s and district’s inability to discipline the troublemakers.

When she tries to teach the girls a lesson, they go after her and the squad members who rally around her. I won’t spoil anything for the former cheerleaders who plan to watch.

Just know this: You’re better off watching “Mean Girls” or even “Bring It On” for the tenth time than watch “Fab Five” again.

Posted at 3:15 p.m. Friday, July 25, Cali time

NBC offers another Thursday panel from Comic-Con, for the new show "Kings." The series is a contemporary retelling of the David and Goliath story.

More from Comic-Con 2008.

Posted at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24

Like its chief protagonist, Don Draper, “Mad Men” doesn’t give up its secrets easily.

AMC’s critically acclaimed hit about ad men in 1960s Manhattan plays coy as in its second season premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday, leaving many Season 1 cliffhangers unresolved: Where’s Peggy’s son with married sleaze Pete? Has Don ended his flings with Midge and Rachel? Has office bombshell Joan really broken things off with big boss Roger? Is Betty still seeing her therapist, who reports back to Don?

Patience, people. “Mad Men” is not a series for viewers who seek obvious answers. You have to listen and watch closely. It’s layered and subtle, but a whole lot happens.

Season 2 picks up 15 months after last season’s Thanksgiving Day conclusion, and now it’s Valentine’s Day, 1962. Don (Jon Hamm) is treating wife Betty (January Jones) to a night at the ritzy Savoy Hotel, but the romantic gesture does little to ease Betty’s loneliness. They are as distant as ever—a point creator Matthew Weiner proves in his typically masterful way.

The seemingly boring Betty comes up with a solution to fill the emptiness she feels inside, and watching her hatch that plan later in the episode is shocking. Betty, much like “Mad Men,” is a subversive surprise.

Posted at 1:39 p.m. Saturday, July 19

Summer will end in about a month for most of us, but the college students of “Greek” will just be wrapping up their Spring Break.

ABC Family has set 8 p.m. Aug. 26 as the return date for “Greek.” That’s a new day, Tuesday, and time for the show. The next 10 episodes pick up after Spring Break, with the gang returning to campus for the conclusion of their school year.

Here’s what to expect, according to ABC Family: “The upperclassmen explore new relationships that turn love triangles into quadrangles, and academic aspirations take fascinating turns as the upcoming senior year looms. As initiation approaches, the freshman pledges’ devotion is put to the test to determine whether they’re accepted into the fraternities and sororities.”

You can catch up on campus antics during a nine-hour “Greek” marathon starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 26.

“Lincoln Heights” returns for its third season at 7 p.m. Sept. 16. The 10 new episodes will continue following the lives of the Sutton family.

This season, according to ABC Family, “Cassie and Charles take their relationship to new heights and Tay and Lizzie also delve further into their passions. Tay starts creating his own music, and Lizzie gets recruited to attend a prestigious private school.

“Eddie and Jenn meet a powerful new family who promise better things for the community, but despite early signs of renewal in the neighborhood, their changes may not be what’s best for the Heights.”

Chicago native Erica Hubbard stars in “Lincoln Heights” as high school student Cassie Sutton. In “Greek,” Chicago’s Jacob Zachar plays nerdy frat guy Rusty Cartwright while Winfield, Ill., native Scott M. Foster plays his frat brother Cappie.

Posted at 12:42 p.m. Saturday, July 19

Dustin Milligan (left to right), AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Walter, Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, Lori Loughlin, Ryan Eggold, Jessica Stroup and Michael Steger are regulars on "90210."

The CW made it official on Saturday: Shannen Doherty will return to the world’s most famous zip code.

The most controversial original cast member of “Beverly Hills 90210” will guest star in multiple episodes of The CW’s spin-off, “90210,” beginning in the two-hour premiere Sept. 2, the network announced Saturday at the annual Television Critics’ Association summer press tour.

Doherty (right) will reprise her role as Brenda Walsh, who was last seen—years ago—headed to London to study acting.

According to a CW press release, ”Brenda became a successful theater actress, splitting her time between London and New York. The character soon transitioned into directing for theater and had equal success in that career. West Beverly Hills High School has approached Walsh to return to her alma mater as a guest director for the school’s musical production.”

OK, so that’s not too believable, but who cares? Shannen’s baaack.

Look out former co-stars Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling, who already are set to reprise their roles as Kelly Taylor, now a West Beverly guidance counselor, Donna Martin, now owner of an upscale boutique. Joe E. Tata also returns as Nat, owner of The Peach Pit.

When news first broke that this might happen, I asked readers how long they thought it would take for Doherty to quit or get fired. Don't miss the poll results.

Posted at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15

Tristan Wilds and Shenae Grimes of The CW’s high school drama “90210” recently chatted about their characters on the show. Wilds plays Dixon Wilson and Grimes stars as Annie Wilson. I’ll let them do the talking:

Tristan Wilds

Shenae Grimes

Posted at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 15

Who needs and angel named Earl when you can have Christina Ricci?

The “Speed Racer” star (left) has landed a three-episode stint on TNT’s “Saving Grace,” The Hollywood Reporter says. She’ll play a young detective who partners up with Holly Hunter’s Grace Hanadarko while Det. Ham Dewey (Kenneth Johnson) takes a leave of absence.

There’s no word on what kind of trouble the two might get into, but knowing Grace, there’s sure to be some hard partying involved.

More than 7.8 million viewers tuned into the second season premiere of “Saving Grace” on Monday, making it the No. 2-rated premiere of the year on ad supported cable. The fourth season premiere of TNT’s “The Closer” earned the No. 1 ranking with 7.8 million viewers tuning in.

“Saving Grace” airs at 9 p.m. Mondays and “The Closer” airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on TNT.

Posted at midnight Tuesday, July 15

Benjamin Bratt stars in A&E's "The Cleaner." Photo below, left to right: Esteban Powell, Grace Park, Bratt and Kevin Michael Richardson.

William Banks is on a mission from God, but I sure wish He would tell Banks to shut up.

In A&E’s “The Cleaner,” debuting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Benjamin Bratt plays Banks, a former drug addict who made a promise to God that he’d clean up his act and now helps others do the same.

But not before Banks consults with, or complains to, his BFF God:

Posted at 11:15 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Det. Grace Hanadarko drives drunk, curses like a sailor, smokes like a chimney and talks to an angel named Earl.

But you’ll never hear Holly Hunter, who plays her on TNT’s “Saving Grace,” pass judgment—even on Grace’s crazed sex life.

“I think it’s an area where she has a lot of fun myself,” Hunter joked to journalists recently. “Her desire for exploring her own life and expressing herself as a woman is not conventional by society’s standards or by a particular kind of ethical code. She doesn’t live by those constraints. She’s living according to her own.

“And that’s one of the things that makes her kind of the volatile, unpredictable creature that I perceive her to be.”

Volatile? Unpredictable? Those are understatements when it comes to Grace, who when Season 2 begins at 9 p.m. Monday steps over, or at least awfully close to, ethical and legal lines when she confronts the priest who molested her as a girl.

That confrontation takes Monday’s premiere to a very dark place that must have been troubling to play.

“Actually, I had a lot of fun,” Hunter said of filming the episode. “It’s dark and it’s kind of thrilling. It’s an exciting ride being Grace. Her life is kind of fantastical in many ways and I think that’s one of the reasons why so many people want to watch, because it’s a bit of a thrill ride.”

Hunter chatted about the demands of playing Grace, what’s up with Earl and how Amy Madigan made her snap to when she guest starred on the show. Read on after the photo. Read my review of "Saving Grace."

Holly Hunter and Kenny Johnson play police partners and lovers in "Saving Grace." [TNT photos]

Posted at 10 p.m. Sunday, July 13

Brenda (left) comes face-to-face with arsonist/murderer Bill Croelick (Jason O'Mara), a criminal who got away in the past. [TNT photos]

Like the character she plays on TNT’s “The Closer,” Kyra Sedgwick loves chocolate.

But unlike sugar-addicted Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, Sedgwick has no plans to give up the sweet stuff.

“I’ve always loved chocolate. I will always love chocolate,” Sedgwick told reporters during a recent conference call. “That would just be a heartbreaking moment if I actually stopped. I feel so happy when I eat it.”

Sedgwick’s career sure has been sweet since “The Closer” began in 2005. She is now a Golden Globe-winner for playing Johnson, the quirky detective who excels at her job but can’t manage the most mundane tasks in her personal life.

“The Closer” is a hit—TNT’s and basic cable TV’s most successful original series ever, according to ratings numbers. Some pundits say it inspired other series with strong female lead characters, including “Saving Grace,” “Damages” and “In Plain Sight.”

“The Closer” returns at 8 p.m. Monday with Brenda just as messed up at home as ever, frustrating her fiancé, FBI agent Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney), with her inability to commit to anything: buying a house, getting married, having kids.

“She’s a really tough woman to be involved with, that’s for sure,” Sedgwick said. “Her relationship is not her first priority and she doesn’t lie about that.”

Forcing confessions out of criminals and solving heinous crimes is her top priority, and in Monday’s opener she suspects an old nemesis of burning a woman to death. She’s also saddled with an untrustworthy reporter who could compromise her investigation.

But as important as the cases are to the show, Sedgwick feels that the characters—especially Brenda—are the reasons viewers tune in.

“She’s flawed, deeply flawed, and she’s struggling to keep her life on an even course. I think that’s something that we can all relate to...,” Sedgwick said. “I think it’s her conflicts that people are the most interested in.”

Conflicts and all, Sedgwick said she loves playing the role. “She’s dear to me and I adore her.”

Sedgwick talked more about Brenda’s bad habits and what viewers can expect on the new season of “The Closer.” Read my review of "The Closer."

Posted at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 12

America hasn’t had much of an appetite for productions about the Iraq War, which makes me fear too many viewers will choose to ignore HBO’s brilliantly done “Generation Kill.”

The 7-part mini-series about an elite Marine unit that led the first invasion into Iraq launches at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Based on the book by journalist Evan Wright and brought to TV by “The Wire” creative team of David Simon and Ed Burns, “Kill” is not clouded with their opinions (unlike “The Wire”) but tells the unadorned and straightforward story of soldiers in the First Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

The filmmakers use no cheap tricks—like overdramatic music or camera tricks—to stir viewers’ emotions. It lets the soldiers tell their own stories.

After the premiere, in which the soldiers are just a muddle of helmets and camouflage gear, the main characters emerge.

Cpl. Ray Person (James Ransone) is a chatty, hilariously un-P.C. driver who offers a wonderful, wry running commentary about the bad hand the soldiers are dealt, including failing equipment and idiot commanders. At one point he jokes about contradicting orders, “You know what happens when you get out of the Marine Corps? You get your brains back.”

His team leader, the cool-headed Sgt. Brad Colbert, often scolds Person for those types of comments—and for singing country music—but he turns his head to laugh almost each time. Colbert is the smartest and sanest of all the soldiers, offering his honest opinions to his superior, 1st Lt. Nate Fick (Stark Sands, left at right), who gets himself into trouble when he tries to correct his own superiors.

The mini-series follows the recon teams as they travel north into Iraq, and if the war wasn’t part of the equation, “Kill” could be a male-bonding road-trip tale.

“Why can’t we ever invade a cool country with women in bikinis?” Person asks in the premiere. He changes his tune during the second episode when he spies some young Iraqi women. “I didn't know Hajis could be hotties. I thought they were all camel-faced hags.”

But the war is going on, and as much as the soldiers profanely discuss J. Lo’s butt and use homophobic slurs, they also face the horrors of war. In Episode 3, Lance Cpl. Jim Trombley happily shoots an Iraqi shepherd who turns out to not be an innocent boy.

“You've got to see these people are just like you,” Colbert, his superior, tells Trombley after taking the heat for the soldier. “We're not here to destroy their way of life.”

After having spent some time in the Armed Forces myself, I know that the profanity of “Kill” is accurate, but I’m not completely convinced so many soldiers would be so profound.

But I’m more than willing to go with it, and continue on this gripping, powerful road trip.

Alexander Skarsgard (left) and James Ransone give standout performances in HBO's Iraq War mini-series "Generation Kill." TOP PHOTO: Stark Sands (left) and Alexander Skarsgard. [HBO photos]

Posted at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 9

Scott Porter (left) and Gaius Charles have been bumped to recurring roles on "Friday Night Lights" when it returns in the fall.

“Friday Night Lights” will return in the fall, thanks to DirectTV’s deal with NBC, but two of its stars have been benched as regulars. Gaius Charles and Scott Porter will appear in just a few episodes in Season 3.

There goes my fantasy TV football roster. Charles plays star running back Smash Williams and Porter is Jason Street, the Panthers’ now paralyzed former QB. “FNL” returns Oct. 1, on DirecTV.

Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello reported Tuesday that the show’s budget was partly responsible for the move, according to executive producer Jason Katims. Both players’ stories will get a proper conclusion, Ausiello reports.

EW quoted a statement from Katims: “Pete Berg, myself and our fellow producers have enormous respect for Scott and Gaius both as actors and individuals. In short, we love them. However, both of their characters have now graduated and in the creative spirit of the show, we have decided to give them powerful four episode arcs that will observe their characters as they launch themselves into the next phase of their lives. We certainly will keep the door open for both actors to return in the future, depending on the actors’ availabilities. We know both Scott and Gaius will go on to have enormous success and we wish the best for both of them.”

It’s going to be a bummer to see these two actors and their characters depart, but I guess it makes sense. In the “FNL” world, Smash would be graduating and Street’s storylines have kind of played out. He’s not working with the Panthers anymore, so his scenes have been kind of irrelevant.

And looking on the bright side, maybe QB Matt Saracen (Evanston’s Zach Gilford, far right) and Tim Riggins (the looker Taylor Kitsch, right) can get more screen time. What do you think? Comments below please!

Posted at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 9

Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Alan Ball on the "True Blood" set. [Photos courtesy of HBO]

Some readers have asked me for news about HBO’s fall vampire series “True Blood,” which, like Fox’s “Fringe,” has been leaked online in the past few months.

I now can tell you about the show, since I’ve seen the first two episodes. HBO sent screeners last week and I immediately popped them into my DVD, poured a big glass of red wine and watched.

I won’t give you a full-fledged review, since the show—from “Six Feet Under” creator Alan Ball—doesn’t debut until Sept. 7. But I will tell you that “True Blood” wasn’t what I expected.

It’s good—for a vampire tale with very little bite. Ball has said he wanted to ignore all the vampire clichés, and he has. The series is more Southern gothic tale than vampires attack thriller.

Ball uses the vampire tale as a metaphor to hang a love story about prejudice and bigotry—and some viewers aren’t going to like that.

Adapted from the Sookie Stackhouse novels of Charlaine Harris, “True Blood” begins just a few months after the world’s vampires decide to come out, if you will, of their coffins. Japanese researchers have developed a synthetic blood called Tru Blood that can be mass-produced and is sold in six-packs like beer.

Because of Tru Blood, vampires no longer need to stay hidden because they no longer need to attack humans for blood. But, as usual, not all people are accepting of those who are different.

All the action in “True Blood” takes place in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, where Sookie (Anna Paquin) works as a waitress—and tries not to read the minds of her co-workers and friends.

Sookie is a telepath, which causes her a lot of pain when she can “hear” all the nasty, sexual things men are thinking about her as she waits on them. Her head’s just loaded with noise from everyone’s thoughts.

That’s partly why she’s drawn to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a 173-year-old vampire who sits at one of her tables: She can’t hear in his head.

Paquin pulls off her part as the innocent but independent-minded Sookie, but Moyer seems a little too sedated as the vamp she’s hot for. The supporting characters add layers to the story.

Sam Trammell (above left) plays Sookie’s boss, who’s sweet on her. Rutina Wesley (above left and right) is Sookie’s friend Tara, who doesn’t keep anything she thinks quiet. Lois Smith (left) plays Sookie's Gran, who seems to have some vampire secrets of her own. And Ryan Kwanten (left) brings the hotness and conflict as Sookie's lothario brother, Jason, who’s alternately turned on and repulsed by sex with a vampire.

Thanks to Kwanten’s scenes, the first episode swings from drama to mystery to, well, soft-core porn—not that I’m complaining.

It’s not until the end of the second episode, when Sookie meets some more sinister vamps in Bill’s house (One says "She smells freeesh,"), that I felt “True Blood” was moving more toward a good, bloody vampire tale.

It kept my interest, but it wasn’t the bite in the neck most viewers will be expecting after seeing the viral marketing campaign HBO unleashed earlier this year.

For more on that campaign, click below.

Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) finally meets his new "boss," Carla (Tricia Helfer). USA photos

If you want to know anything about the mysterious new character Carla on USA's "Burn Notice," don't ask the actress playing her.

Tricia Helfer doesn't know much.

"I'm definitely looking forward to finding out more of what Carla's doing and who she is," Helfer told me recently. "Just like she's mysterious to Michael and the audience she kind of is to me at this point."

Posted at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5

Debra Messing, Judy Davis and Chris Diamantopoulos star in "The Starter Wife."

Debra Messing’s successful mini-series “The Starter Wife” will return to USA Network in October—but it’ll have a lot of new characters.

In the mini, Messing’s character Molly Kagan was dumped by her Hollywood executive hubby, Kenny. Now the 10-episode first season of the series will focus on Molly’s post-divorce “adventures,” as USA calls them.

Besides Messing, three cast members from the mini return: Emmy winner Judy Davis is Joan McAllister and Chris Diamantopoulos is Rodney, Molly's two best friends. Joe Mantegna will reprise his role in a guest appearance as Lou Manahan, a former studio head and former boyfriend of Molly.

The production has wrapped up hiring a slew of new stars:

Updated at noon Tuesday, July 15

Reader Jeff from Utah pointed out to me today that I am mistaken in calling the Henricksons of "Big Love" a Mormon family. The Mormon, or LDS Church, abandoned polygamy a long time ago, Jeff writes. That's correct, and my apologies. The Henricksons are part of a polygamist faction that broke with the LDS Church.

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 4

Jeanne Tripplehorn, Bill Paxton, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin play an unusual family in "Bog Love."

A reader asked if I knew when HBO’s polygamy drama ”Big Love” would be back with new episodes.

It’s a long way off. HBO set the return date for Jan. 11, 2009, and that still could change.

But if you can’t wait that long, and you don’t mind repeat watching, HBO2 plans to air Seasons 1 and 2 in order beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. HBO2 will show all 24 episodes—one each Saturday for 24 weeks.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, “Big Love” tells the story of Bill Henrickson, a small business owner and polygamist with three wives in three houses on the same suburban block.

The strong cast—including Bill Paxton as Henrickson and Chloe Sevigny, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Ginnifer Goodwin as his wives—make the show worth watching.

But if you’re expecting some kind of I’ve-got-three-wives-woo-HOO! Craziness, you’ll be disappointed. It’s basically a family drama about a different kind of family.

As a result of last winter’s TV and movie writers strike, production on “Big Love” and HBO’s “Entourage” and “Flight of the Conchords” were delayed. “Entourage” likely will return in September, but “Flight of the Conchords,” like “Big Love,” won’t be back until January.

An HBO contact told me this week that Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (right) currently are writing and production on Season 2 will begin this fall. By the way, did you see that the show is a semifinalist for a Best Comedy Emmy?

Luke Perry stars as Matt Austin in "A Gunfighter's Pledge." (Hallmark photo)

Fireworks, hot dogs and beer aside, nothing says Fourth of July weekend like an old-style Western.

So if you are over served on Friday, pop some aspirin Saturday, sit back on the couch and watch "A Gunfighter's Pledge" at 8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel.

Luke Perry--yes, Dylan of "Beverly Hills 90210"--does a respectable job in the Clint Eastwood-style role of a former sheriff named Matt Austin who is seeking vengeance from Tate, the outlaw who killed his wife and child.

For a good piece of the yarn, Austin slowly tumbles like a, well, tumbleweed through the West as he searches far and wide for the killer. Unfortunately that's when "Pledge" jumps jarringly to the story of a landowner of Mexican descent who is fighting to save his farm from an evil businessman played amusingly by C. Thomas Howell.

It's not until Austin stops for whiskey in saloon that he crosses paths with the no-account outlaw who shot up his family. Once they spy each other, all hell breaks loose as they shoot up the saloon. Austin misses his target, instead shooting the innocent land owner. Austin pledges to return the dying man's body to his sister at the family farm.

Once Austin gets the farm, he's drawn into the dispute between the dead guy's sister and the businessman, who now happens to employ Tate as his muscle. Finally, we're treated to the inevitable shootout.

Yippee-kay-yay.

SHARON GLESS TALKS 'BURN NOTICE.'

Sharon Gless

"Oh that's great. I wish I were there," she told me over the phone from Miami, where "Burn Notice" films. "Chicago is where 'Queer As Folk' was sneaked to me under a table. I was doing a play at the Victory Gardens Theater for one of your playwrights, Claudia Allen.

"I flew out of Chicago one day, went and saw the ['Queer As Folk'] producers, came back and it was mine.

"Chicago has a very large piece of my heart."

Posted at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 25

James Roday and Maggie Lawson are trading in the comedy of “Psych” for something spookier.

On the latest episode of NBC’s “Fear Itself,” called “In Sickness and Health,” the “Psych” co-stars play a couple whose wedding day doesn’t go quite as planned. Just before they walk the aisle, Samantha (Lawson, left) gets a note saying that Carlos (Roday, above) is a serial killer.

“I’m sort of doing like a poor man’s Jack Nicholson from ‘The Shining,’” Roday said Thursday during a conference call with reporters.

The actor, best known lately for playing fake psychic/practical joker Shawn Spencer opposite Lawson’s cop Juliet O’Hara on the USA Network show, said “Fear Itself” was “a fun little gag” because John Landis directed it. The “An American Werewolf in London” director has worked on “Psych” in the past, Roday said.

Airing at 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC, the “Fear Itself” episode follows what happens to Samantha and Carlos on their wedding day—including a bit of psychological terror.

“Obviously that’s about as far from Shawn and Jules as you can go,” Roday said. “It was fun for both of us to pal around and do different stuff.”

Posted at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 18

If ever a show needed more shirtless bods and bitchiness, it’s SoapNet’s “MVP.”

Debuting at 10 p.m. Thursday, “MVP” follows the off-ice antics of the fictional Canadian Mustangs hockey team.

The import from Canada, where it was subtitled “The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives,” plays like a sub-par rip-off of BBC’s “Footballers Wives,” which had plenty of locker room shots of naked soccer players and was loaded with the catty attacks by their wives. “MVP” has many of the same elements—a ruthless owner, a clueless rookie, jealous wives and sex, sex, sex.

It’s just that I didn’t feel like smoking a cigarette after watching the premiere. It’s not quite the guilty pleasure “Footballers Wives” was.

But things begin to look up in the second episode, when rookie Trevor Lemonde (Dillon Casey) strips for the team and star Damon Trebuchet (Peter Miller) is accused of sexual assault. “I have proof I’m innocent,” he tells his boss and lawyer. He filmed the tryst—along with 300 other sexual encounters.

Now there’s some scandalous action I can feel guilty for loving.

WHO’S THAT GUY?

“My friends see that and they rip on me pretty hard for it. You know what, it’s not like I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I’m OK with it. It’s part of the show, it’s part of the character.”

Dillon Casey, who as rookie pro hockey player Trevor Lemonde poses in his underwear in the second episode SoapNet’s “MVP,” told Entertainment Weekly about the promo posters (right) that has been plastered all over every major city.

Posted at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 16

“Weeds” is one of those rare TV series that has me, every time an episode ends, wishing another 30 minutes would play after the commercial.

I can’t wait for next week, and I can’t help myself. I’m just that addicted.

TV’s best dark comedy, about pot-dealing suburban mom Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), shakes things up when its fourth season begins at 9 p.m. Monday on Showtime.

When last we saw Nancy, she had torched her house in Agrestic, packed up the family—lazy brother-in-law Andy (Justin Kirk), rebellious teen son Silas (Hunter Parrish) and precocious grade schooler son Shane (Alexander Gould)—and moved south to the Mexican border town of Ren Mar, Calif.

Soon to join the gang is Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins), who is serving time after being fingered by just about everyone in Agrestic for being the marijuana mom, as well as Nancy’s hilarious stoner accountant Doug (Kevin Nealon). (I am sad to see Nancy's partner-almost lover Conrad [Romany Malco] and pot supplier Heylia [Tonye Patano] disappear.)

In the season opener, Nancy’s clan moves in with Andy’s bitter failure of a father Lenny (Albert Brooks) and Lenny’s own terminally ill mother. In a show that was already filled with scathing wit, Brooks turns it downright caustic.

Outside her depressing new home, Nancy’s got a new gig lined up with her old supplier Guillermo (Guillermo Diaz) as a drug runner. Her job, he says, is to be the pretty lady who doesn’t attract attention when crossing the border.

She’s OK with that, she says, with one catch: She won’t move heroin.

Nancy has moral principles despite the fact she seems to step over her own ethical line at times—especially now that she’s moving up in the drug-dealing business.

Parker’s performance lends credibility to Nancy’s outrageous set of convictions. Here’s a woman who was proud that Silas, her own son, mastered the ins and outs of marijuana distribution so quickly. Yet she gets giddy as a schoolgirl when she learns she could possibly make enough money in two year to quit the drug trade.

Parker manages to make Nancy sympathetic and endearing but also a cold, calculating crime boss.

She’s genius, and so is “Weeds.” Gimme more.

FOR THE BOYS: Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) originally got into pot-dealing to support her kids, Silas (Hunter Parrish, left) and Shane (Alexander Gould). [Showtime photo]

Posted at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 15

Tsk, tsk if you must, but “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” doesn’t deserve a bashing for its subject manner.

Sure, it’s the sexy tale of London prostitute, based on the book “The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl,” written anonymously by a working girl called Belle Du Jour.

But never mind all the titillation, “Secret Diary” doesn’t glorify prostitution. Rather it illustrates, fact by fascinating fact, how sweet, smart Londoner Hannah Baxter transforms herself into Belle and how she handles the wild, exotic world opened up to her.

She’s not being forced into this “career,” she tells viewers matter-of-factly as she looks right into the camera: I was not abused; I do not have children; I’m not an addict.

Hannah/Belle simply loves sex—and money. She’s a businesswoman whose office is the bedroom. Moving on …

The charming Billie Piper, best known in the U.S. for her work on Sci Fi’s “Doctor Who,” does a sensational job performing Hannah’s juggling act.

As Belle, Hannah is sexy and confident. She describes her work routine in great detail—from hygiene tips to proper etiquette while in a threesome.

Off the clock, Hannah fears that her family and friends might learn her secret. No matter Hannah might say, she does suffer some fallout from her job. And if there is a lesson to be learned from “Secret Diary”—aside from the prostitution tips—it's how the secrets we keep do eventually eat away at us.

Piper subtly reveals the cracks in Hannah’s armor when she lies to her family and her bestie/ex-boyfriend Ben (Iddo Goldberg). In an upcoming episode about S&M, Hannah nearly breaks down before getting angry when he accuses her of shutting him out.

Hannah/Belle is posing as a dominatrix for a client. While he’s off cleaning her bathroom—with a toothbrush and his tongue—Hannah is on the phone with Ben, arguing. Hannah hangs up the phone, grabs one of the whips and takes her anger out on the client until he has to say his “safe” word to make her stop.

The scene illustrates how this show can flip from ironic humor to drama to both simultaneously at the drop of a pair of trousers.

Hannah’s life isn’t as perfect as she leads us to believe. But oh well, this dryly witty series tells viewers, that’s life.

Posted at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 11

Looks like Maid Marian has lost her patience with turncoat Allan-A-Dale, who’s deserted Robin Hood and the gang for the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne.

Don’t mess with Marian, Allan. She will cut you.

Here’s a video preview of the next episode of “Robin Hood,” titled “Show Me the Money,” airing at 8 p.m. Saturday on BBC America. After the video you’ll find BBC America’s description of the episode.

Posted at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 10

If you’re a “Lost” fan like me, you’re still trying to sort out everything that happened on the ABC drama this past season.

Apparently the “Lost” character are confused as well. Here’s a funny fan video that has been around awhile, but I had to share with you.

Seriously though, if you are wondering what has been happening on “Lost,” the video below helps us at least figure out when all those flash forwards actually took place.

“Lost” fan Dan Berry created this 8-minute, 42-second video that puts all the flash forwards in what he believes is proper chronological order (although I thought Sun already had had her baby when she visited her father?).

Anyway, he posted the video at /Film Web site, but you can watch it here:

Posted at 12:45 p.m. Monday, June 9

FX is canceling “Dirt.”

TV Guide got the dirt on “Dirt” straight from star/producer Courteney Cox Arquette on Sunday during a benefit for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

“It just got canceled,” Cox told TV Guide’s Matt Mitovich. Cox said she and hubby/producing partner David Arquette are developing "all kinds of stuff."

Photo: Courteney Cox Arquette and Will McCormack played siblings Lucy and Leo Spiller in "Dirt." Leo was one of cable TV's gay characters.

Posted at 11:55 a.m. Sunday, June 7

TNT wants to catch you up on its big summer dramas “The Closer” and “Saving Grace.” The shows star two amazing actresses, Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter, at the top of their games.

“The Closer,” starring Sedgwick as CIA-trained Deputy L.A. Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, returns at 8 p.m. July 14. It’s one of my favorite shows on TV, thanks to Sedgwick’s portrayal of Brenda, who is great at her job but doesn’t seem to do much right in her personal life.

TNT will air an marathon of Season 3 on July 14 prior to the Season 4 premiere. But here’s a rapid recap of last season.

“Saving Grace” returns for its second season at 9 p.m. July 14. Hunter stars as Grace Hanadarko, an Oklahoma City police detective who, like Brenda, is in charge at work, but not in her personal life. Unlike Brenda, Grace hasn’t settled down; she drinks hard and has a lot of sex with a lot of men.

Because of her extracurricular activities, Grace is visited by an angel named Earl (Leon Rippy) who likes to drink and curse just as much as Grace, but also wants to save her.

Here’s a rapid recap of Season1 of “Saving Grace.”

Posted at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7

Showtime's enthralling dramedy "Weeds" ended last season with pot-dealing mom Nancy Botwin (the excellent Mary-Louise Parker) torching her home in Agrestic, taking her family and hitting the road.

“Weeds” returns in a week, at 9 p.m. June 16, with Nancy and the gang setting up shop near the Mexican border. She's getting deeper into the drug trade, and Showtime says this season she'll really face morality issues. How far will she go to keep her family afloat?

Showtime has provided this preview video with interviews of several cast members talking about Season 4. Take a look.

Posted at 6 p.m. Friday, June 6

Three very different types of made-for-TV movies debut this weekend. Here’s my takes on “Sybil,” “Backwoods” and “The Circuit.”

Jessica Lange and Tammy Blanchard take the roles famously acted by Joanne Woodward and Sally Field in CBS' remake of "Sybil."

SYBIL
7 p.m. Saturday CBS
I’d watch Jessica Lange read the phone book. Thankfully she gets to do more in this made-for-TV movie, starring as a psychiatrist who helps a client, Sybil (Tammy Blanchard), deal with her 16 separate personalities. Unfortunately this update of the superior 1976 TV movie skips too much story, which lessens the impact of the shocking atrocities that caused Sybil’s psyche to split. It also plants doubt the story is true, suggesting the two women, who died in the 1990s, made the whole thing up.

BACKWOODS
8 p.m. Sunday Spike TV
Eight colleagues go off into the woods for a company retreat but end up being hunted by members of a cult right out of “Deliverance.” I’m talking crossed eyes and twangy gee-tars here. The actors—including Haylie Duff (right), Danny Nucci and Ryan Merriman—do a good job, um, screaming and running. The second-rate script gets too misogynistic, but go figure—we’re watching Spike. Despite that, it was fun to see an arrow pierce a guy’s neck and other “Rambo”-like ambushes.

Michelle Trachtenberg, Drew Fuller and Billy Campbell race cars in "The Circuit."

THE CIRCUIT
7 p.m. Sunday ABC Family
Fresh from playing bad girl Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl,” Michelle Trachtenberg replaces the bitchy with brassy as a budding NASCAR driver. She’s no Speed Racer, no matter how fast she go-go-goes, because she won’t follow directions. She also doesn’t get along with her estranged father, a NASCAR legend (Billy Campbell), and is sleeping with her biggest competition (Drew Fuller). This made-for-TV flick has bedroom antics, family melodrama, you-go-girl spunk and a predictably cheesy ending. And lap after lap, it drew me in.

Posted at 7:10 p.m. Thursday, June 5

Starz Entertainment’s first original drama series, “Crash,” has landed its first marquee star. Film icon Dennis Hopper will play Ben, a maverick music producer looking for his last big score, Starz announced Thursday.

The 13-episode drama about race relations is based on the Oscar-winning movie “Crash.” It will air beginning in October, Starz says.

The series “Crash” is a co-production of Starz and Lionsgate. Don Cheadle, who was a producer and starred in the film version,m is also a producer for the series. It is currently filming in Albuquerque, N.M., and will also shoot in L.A.

Previously announced cast members include:

Posted at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 5

I have to laugh at the controversy swirling around CBS’ new series, “Swingtown.”

Earlier this week the Parents Television Council issued a warning about the drama, which depicts couples in 1970s suburban Chicago partaking in sex, drugs and, um, easy listening. The group said the show “drives a stake through the institution of marriage and family, and that children should not be allowed to watch the show.”

And as you can see from the news report in the video above, the complaints haven’t stopped.

Honestly people, “Swingtown” is not that bawdy. I have more vivid visions of sex in the seconds after my alarm goes off in the morning than the series opener—at 9 p.m. Thursday—shows in its entire hour. There’s more sex and drugs on ABC Family shows, for that matter.

All the squawking almost makes me want to root for “Swingtown,” which I didn’t really enjoy because it’s such a tease. (What it needs is more sex, not less—and more humor. Don't miss my review.)

But CBS couldn’t ask for better free publicity. With everyone complaining that “Swingtown” is too sexy for network TV, everyone’s bound to tune in—until they see it ain’t all that.

Posted at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, June 5

Don't miss the "Swingtown" photo gallery.

Learn more about Chicago’s modern swingers scene.

CBS’ new drama “Swingtown” has been getting a lot of press for its alleged depiction of suburban Chicago adults using drugs, partying and having swinging orgies in the 1970s.

Don’t expect “That 70s Sex Show.” Chicago-area raised writer Mike Kelley is going for drama, saying that the show is meant to capture a “unique moment in American history when feminism, political liberalism and sexual experimentation began to trickle down to the Middle American suburbs, resulting in shifting mores that changed our society forever.”

Blah blah blah. Where’s the sex? Where’s the campiness?

The show is set in the 1970s, for the sake of disco; it should be more fun!

Instead “Swingtown” is a big tease. It’s simply another family drama—yes, we’ll see the kids’ coming-of-age stories as well.

Bruce (Jack Davenport) and Susan Miller (Molly Parker) say goodbye to conservative neighbors Janet (Miriam Shor) and Roger Thompson (Josh Hopkins) and move into Winnetka, where they get ogled by sex-happy swinging couple Tom (Grant Show) and Trina Decker (Lana Parrilla).

In one of the early scenes you can see just how sex crazy the Deckers are. They practically lick their chops while watching the Millers across the street.

It’s not long after that the four shuffle off to a quiet room during a party at the Deckers. And apparently, they swing. But we won’t see that.

The show somehow manages to ignore all the campy possibilities that take the Millers from Point A to Point B. It ignores the humor in Tom’s Burt Reynolds mustache, in Sno Balls, the Captain & Tennille and Tupperware too.

That’s too bad. If “Swingtown” were as light and loose as the Deckers, maybe it would be more fun to watch.

Posted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31

The promos for USA Network’s new cop series, “In Plain Sight,” use the borrowed tag line “There’s something about Mary.”

I’d argue it should be changed to “There’s something about Mary and Marshall.”

When U.S. marshals Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann are onscreen together, this invigorating series really zings. The sexy pair, who relocate and protect federal witnesses, makes an instant classic cop team.

Mary, played with charisma by Mary McCormack, kicks butt on the job but she has problems in her personal life that make her edgy and irritated. She’s the typical lead character in a been-there, seen-that genre: the hard-edged babe with a badge. (Don’t miss the TV Tough Gals photo gallery for examples.)

It seems the only person who can handle her crankiness is her partner, Marshall (yes, a marshal named Marshall). Fred Weller gives the closet intellectual Marshall a dry, sardonic sense of humor.

Despite many genre clichés and too-clever dialogue in the premiere airing at 9 p.m. Sunday, McCormack and Weller make the show eminently watchable.

But when they are not onscreen, the show focuses too heavily on unbelievable cases—would a judge really turn a child in the witness protection program over to his possibly murderous dad?

And unfortunately, the show spends too much time on Mary’s dysfunctional home life. She has leaches for a mom (Leslie Ann Warren) and sister (Nichole Hiltz) and a confusing relationship with a pretty boy played by Cristian de la Feunte.

None of this will keep me from tuning in, however. The series, like USA’s now-bright “Burn Notice” and “Psych” did, starts out slow but shows real promise.

By Episode 4—called “Trojan Horst” and guest starring a funny Dave Foley—the series seems to figure out how to balance the action, the comedy and the amazing play between Mary and Marshall.

Posted at 10 a.m. Friday, May 30

WARNING IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE SEASON 4 FINALE: CONTAINS SPOILERS!

So John Locke’s in the casket on “Lost,” but everyone is calling him Jeremy Bentham.

Whaaa?

That’s par for the course when it comes to ABC’s “Lost.” The writers answer one question, but leave viewers with other mysteries.

As for the mystery of Locke's new name, a real Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was an English philosopher and political radical. I found this tidbit at the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy that might give a hint about why the writer's have changed Locke's name to Jeremy Bentham:

“Bentham is primarily known today for his moral philosophy, especially his principle of utilitarianism which evaluates actions based upon their consequences, in particular the overall happiness created for everyone affected by the action.”

Obviously Jack’s actions have created anything but happiness, right?

Right? I love this show for all its mysteries!

I also loved Thursday night’s season finale. Among its offerings:

Posted at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, May 24

Kevin Spacey (top left) and Denis Leary play Gore campaign operatives.

It doesn’t matter that we all know what happened in the 2000 presidential race; “Recount,” HBO’s dramatization of the events surrounding Florida’s election fiasco, still is riveting.

In the opening minutes of screenwriter Danny Strong’s sharply written tale, Vice President Al Gore walks down a long tunnel on the way to give a nationally televised concession speech.

A campaign aide runs after him, shouting desperately to get Gore's attention. When he finally throws himself between Gore and the end the Veep’s bid to, he says: “There's a problem with the numbers in Florida.”

I knew that would happen, yet I found myself on the edge of my seat quiet-yelling “Stop him!”

That’s how the funny, detailed film works. It reminds us of the voting irregularities in Florida, the hanging chad (singular and plural form of the word, we learn in a funny bit) and the battles in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts. Yet the film remains a tense, nail-biting thriller.

Just don’t consider it completely accurate. It is a dramatization of the 36-day fight to decide would become our 43rd president —Gore or George W. Bush.

Although Strong interviewed scores of the real people involved, and used several books written on the subject as source material, he admits to creating conversations and scenes that are completely fictional.

That’s fine as far as I’m concerned. “Recount” is meant as entertainment.

And entertaining it is, from the rapid-fire dialogue to the excellent cast at the top of their games. Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Ed Begley Jr.—and especially Laura Dern—are spot on in their roles.

Strong has claimed his witty script is even-handed. It may seem that way, considering that Dern’s then-Florida Sec. of State Katherine Harris—a Republican—is portrayed as a nutty limelight seeker, while Gore loyalist and former U.S. Sec. of State Warren Christopher (Hurt) is shown as weak-willed and delusional.

But count “Recount” firmly on the Democrats’ side. Most of the Gore team—especially Spacey’s Ron Klain—are portrayed as hero underdogs fighting a cut-throat and well-oiled Republican machine led by Wilkinson’s former U.S. Sec. of State James Baker III.

Despite the clear bias, it’s been reported that real-life Republicans depicted in the film approve of the story telling. Not all the Democrats do.

Maybe that’s because the ending—a victory for George W. Bush—hasn’t been changed.

Tom Wilkinson (clockwise from left) stars as James Baker III, Laura Dern is Katherine Harris and John Hurt portrays Warren Christopher.

Posted at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, May 22

Sunny Mabrey (left) and Dean Cain try to outwit Anthony Michael Hall (right) in "Final Approach."

Daryl Hannah, Dean Cain, John Schneider, Anthony Michael Hall, Lea Thompson—no, this isn’t the line-up for the next season of “Dancing with the Stars.” But after their latest disastrous projects air this weekend, these actors may beg for the positive exposure.

These stars are helping Hallmark Channel make Memorial Day Weekend an adventure-filled holiday.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, “Final Approach” flies into living rooms, and if any movie ever had a cast of one-time all-stars, it’s this. Cain channels Jack Bauer as former FBI agent Jack Bender, who ends up on a flight hijacked by Hall and his terrorist band. Thompson plays his wife, an FAA official who wears very short skirts. Even Tracey Gold from “Growing Pains” shows up as a TV journalist who is secretly filming the hijackers.

The movie has its good points—naming all the has-beens, for example—but is far too long and scattershot. If it had focused just on the action on the hijacked airplane, it might have worked.

Speaking of has-beens, in “Shark Swarm,” airing at 7 p.m. Sunday, Hannah and Schneider (left) play a happy couple whose idyllic, ocean-front town is threatened by a dishonest developer—and a mutant shark swarm! The “Jaws” rip-off part of this film actually has some teeth (heyo!), but it gets lost in the convoluted crime tale and eco-friendly preachiness.

Again, a tighter focus would do wonders to keep the relevant action moving.

As hard as “Swarm” tries to muffle the suspense, one genuinely “Jaws”-like moment will make you jump. And no, it’s not when Hannah’s swimming in the ocean and you get a peek at her Spanx.

Posted at 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 19

Here's a video sneak peek at "90210," The CW's upcoming fall spin-off of "Beverly Hills 90210." It's kind of cheesy. Maybe RedEye's Tracy Swartz was right: It might be a 90210no. Read what she has to say at Word on the Street.

Posted at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15

Rebecca and Justin's kiss might have caused "Brothers & Sisters" to jump the shark, but I think the season-ending plot twist did.

Did “Brothers & Sisters” jump the shark in its Season 2 finale?

I’m not talking about the kiss between Justin Walker (Dave Annable) and Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) who, up until recently, were thought to be brother and sister.

The cliffhanger is what did me in. The show seems to be repeating the same plot twist that ushered Rebecca into the Walker family in the first place. In the drama’s first season, viewers learned that Walker patriarch William had a decades-long affair with Rebecca’s mother, and we were led to believe, as the Walkers have been, that Rebecca was his child from that affair.

The Walker clan accepted Rebecca as a sibling, but a DNA test recently revealed that she is not biologically related to them.

In the finale, the Walker brothers and sisters decided that the baby photo they thought was Rebecca is actually a boy, Ryan, the son of another woman they now suspect had an affair with their father. So now they think they have a half-brother somewhere.

See how the show may be hopping over that shark?

I’m not saying this will prevent me from tuning in next fall. Maybe it’s nothing. But it does annoy me the writers would use the same plot device—and the same photo—for another storyline. How many women was William Walker wooing?

Oh, and if you think “Brothers & Sisters” jumped the shark with the Rebecca-Justin kiss, I have bad news. Their coupling will be further explored this fall, the show’s exec producers have said.

Posted at 10:22 p.m. Sunday, May 11

REDEYE'S "BEST CHARACTER ON TV" TOURNAMENT - CAST YOUR VOTES!

Lisa Edelstein ditches the tight skirts worn by her character, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, for a schoolgirl uniform—and a stripper pole—on Monday’s episode of “House.”

When the two-part season finale of the Fox drama begins at 8 p.m., Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) suffers a brain injury in a bus accident that causes him to hallucinate about the people around him.

“When Cuddy enters into that fantasy, he decides he might as well have her strip. So we’ll see what happens,” Edelstein told reporters during a conference call on Friday.

It doesn’t sound like the stripper scene phased Edelstein all that much. The actress, who says she isn’t like the buttoned-up and serious Dr. Cuddy, simply got help from a pro.

“I called Sheila Kelley, who has a company called S-Factor,” Edelstein said of the national chain of gyms that teaches stripper and pole-dancing workouts. “I went to her and she helped me choreograph this routine. It was a very interesting experience.”

Because of his injury, House can’t remember certain details before the accident, besides that someone on the bus was exhibiting signs of a deadly illness. He uses unorthodox techniques to access his memories, including the fantasies.

“It is very interesting … in terms of learning about how House sees people and kind of getting the world from his point of view directly,” Edelstein said.

Although he’s taking dangerous steps, Cuddy and his other co-workers have to go along with him because only he can piece everything together.

“For a long time, nobody really knows to what extend he's risking his own life,” she said. “But even when it becomes apparent, it still goes on.”

The big teaser Edelstein left reporters with had nothing to do with the stripper pole. In Part 2 of the finale, something happens between friends Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) and House.

“I think [viewers] main question will be, ‘What will become of House and Wilson’s friendship,’” Edelstein said.

Edelstein talked more about the finale, the relationship between Cuddy and House, a possible actors’ strike and what to expect in Season 5, which already is filming.

Posted at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 9

VOTE FOR "LOST'S" BEN LINUS IN REDEYE'S "BEST CHARACTER ON TV" ONLINE TOURNAMENT

“Lost” fans won’t be shortchanged after all. ABC said it will shoot 17 episodes each for the final two seasons instead of the 16 episodes planned when the show’s creators and ABC made a deal last fall to end the series after three more seasons.

Two episodes were lost to the writers’ strike this season, so they will be added back in 2009 and 2010, according to ABC.

Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse said last month we’d get to see 17 episodes each season.

Meanwhile, Matthew Fox (right), who plays Jack on the show, told the L.A. Time that the decision to set an end date for the series has given it new momentum. He’s also pleased with this season’s post-island flash-forwarding, which he told the Time has been “a genius move.” It has deepened Jack’s hero-complex.

“Jack’s one thing in life has been to get off the island, and he’s accomplished that and found himself in a pit of despair,” Fox told the paper. “So I’m looking forward to that crawl out of the pit and finding some redemption in him.”

Fox wouldn’t talk much about the upcoming finale, only saying, “It’s got a really, really cool ending.”

Lindelof and Cuse consider the remaining the episodes this season a three-part season finale. The first airs Thursday, and the two-hour conclusion airs May 29.

Posted at 11:25 a.m. Friday, May 9

If you like Bryan Cranston’s "Breaking Bad" character, Walter White (above), go to RedEye’s Best TV Character tourney today to vote.

AMC ordered a 13-episode second season of its darkly funny original series, “Breaking Bad.”

That's great news. This is an excellent show that I hope more people will see next season. In the drama, Bryan Cranston plays New Mexico chemistry teacher Walter White, and meek family man who gets fed up with his life and becomes a drug manufacturer and seller.

“‘Breaking Bad’ is a powerful, intelligent and thought-provoking series that clearly resonated with viewers and critics alike,” AMC’s Charlie Collier said in a press release. “We’re excited for a second season of ‘Breaking Bad’ with new and provocative storylines that will delve deeper into the next chapter in the life of Walter White.”

The seven-episode first season premiered in January. The network did not say when Season 2 would begin.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6

Ellen Page (left) and Catherine Keener fascinate in the disturbing based-on-fact film "An American Crime."

As much as you laughed at Ellen Page's travails in “Juno,” you’ll cringe at what happens to her in “An American Crime."

Based on transcripts from a 1966 murder trial, "Crime," airing at 8 p.m. Saturday on Showtime, takes an unflinching look at the gruesome torture and murder of an Indiana teen in 1965. It presents a grisly example of how cruel humans can be that, disturbingly, you may not be able to turn off.

Sylvia Likens and her sister Jennie are left by their parents in the temporary custody of harried Gertrude Baniszewski, a single mom who can barely take care of her own five children.

Almost immediately, Gertie takes her stress out on poor Sylvia by “punishing” her for lying and other made-up charges.

As Gertrude’s punishments get more severe, Gertie’s children join in and they, in turn, introduce friends to the sadistic rituals against Sylvia, who is locked in the basement of Gertie’s house. Soon the whole neighborhood is in on the dehumanization of Sylvia, either because they take part or—and possibly worse—they do nothing to stop what they see or hear.

This viewer, too, felt complicit in the horrible events. I have to admire the great performances—Page as stoic Sylvia and especially a chilling Catherine Keener as Gertie. But at the same time, I was repulsed by the disgusting events shown.

Still, I couldn’t turn away. Does that make me just as monstrous?

Posted at 1:30 a.m. Monday, May 5

TV is having one big coming out party this week. Or something like that.

On Sunday's "Brothers & Sisters," gay boy Kevin Walker's Uncle Saul (right) finally came out, but seemed awfully sad about it.

It's about damn time, as far as I'm concerned. Viewers have known he's gay for quite awhile. Now the writers better make sure he holds his head up high and is happy to be out. I mean, Kevin and his cutie Scottie are having a commitment ceremony in next Sunday's season finale. That should show Saul that the family is cool about the gays.

But back to the OMGHG moment of the week: The most heavily touted outing comes Monday night when one of the “Gossip Girl” guys declares his homo-fabulousness. And according to all the "GG" commercials, it’s a shocker.

The blogosphere has been abuzz about the blessed gay event since TV Guide reported that one of the male characters is, in fact, gay. So which guy is it? Take the poll and keep reading.

I’m pretty sure I know who will come out—as anyone who’s heard actress Kelly Rutherford's spoiler interview also does. (Girl spilled. I wonder if she got in trouble.) But let’s pretend we haven't read anything, shall we, and examine the leading candidates.

I found several photos that suggest all the Upper East Side boys are flip-flopping all over the place. But here's what my gaydar is picking up on each of them:

DAN HUMPHREY
Played by Penn Badgley
In the “Gossip Girl” books, Dan bats for both teams. I’m not talking baseball here either, folks. Dan’s bisexual in the books, but he’s also not a nice guy like he is in the CW series. I'm sure the "GG" creators want to keep Dan very Seth Cohen-like—nerdy, sweet and hetero. My guess is Dan will not be tossing Serena van der Woodsen to the side to kiss any boys.

NATE ARCHIBALD
Played by Chace Crawford
I find this guy extremely attractive, which means he definitely is not gay. I’m never attracted to the gay guys—but that’s my problem and another story. Even though Nate’s way too pretty to be straight, nothing has hinted that he’s a Friend of Dorothy—not even his bromance with Chuck Bass.

Nate and Dan touch, um, coats.

Dan and Chuck get close enough to ...; Nate and Chuck share a laugh.

CHUCK BASS
Played by Ed Westwick
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck—the spitting image of a stereotypical bitchy queen. That orange trench coat he wore in last week’s episode absolutely screamed HOMO! And the way he looks at bestie Nate? Hmm, seems like Chuck wants more than a bromance to me. In the past he's even appeared to be throwing down with the Queen B herself, Blair Waldorf, for face time with Nate. (Although that may have been my own fantasy.) Lately, however, his overly hyper sex drive—which made me think he was trying too hard to be hetero—has cooled down. So he’s off the list for the time being. But I’ve got my eye on you Chuck.

ERIC VAN DER WOODSEN
Played by Connor Paolo
Serena’s twinky little bro rocks those blond highlights, don’tcha think? He’s shy, polite, and sensitive—I think they called it “light in the loafers” when I was growing up. There’s also that unexplained suicide attempt last fall: Everyone knows all gay people are unstable, right? (That’s sarcasm, letter writers.) Since his mom got engaged to Chuck’s dad, Eric’s been all smiles about having a new “daddy” and “big brother” Chuck (above). And besides, making Eric gay finally will make him interesting.

So my money is on young Eric. I sincerely hope the writers don’t make his coming-out story a tragedy. The whole process can be rocky, sure, but hopefully the writers handle the story in a responsible manner.

If you want to hear the scuttlebutt on the “shocking” part of this news, go to the jump. But please, please understand that although the info is unconfirmed, it could be a spoiler. So don't jump if you don't want to know the gossip.

Posted at 11 p.m. Monday, April 28

“Law & Order: SVU” celebrates its 200th episode at 9 p.m. Tuesday with a special gift to viewers: a Robin Williams guest spot.

Thank CBS for that, because without Williams this episode would be unwatchable. The writers pile up so many improbable situations my head was spinning.

Thankfully Williams hides his spastic comic self. The episode’s non sequitors create enough unintentional humor.

Williams, on the other hand, plays nerdy Merritt Rook, a creepy guy who is busted for pulling perverted pranks but turns out to be responsible for much worse behavior.

Claiming to be a police detective, Rook punks a fast-food restaurant manager (Scott Adsit of “30 Rock”)—over the phone—into tying up and strip-searching a female employee because she has stolen from the restaurant.

I can’t imagine anyone who is smart enough to be a manager would be dumb enough to fall for that con. But it turns out Rook had been punking fast-food restaurants all over New York City.

The episode gets even sillier after that, but not because Williams is doing anything funny. He’s actually quite good as the brilliant villain—making him a polite, twitchy nerd whose demeanor can turn on a dime. When he starts talking about people’s conformity and the abuse of power, he turns into a confident, authoritative leader.

Rook defends himself in court—another unbelievable scene—and wins by charming the jury into believing he’s some sort of saintly fighter for their individuality.

The writers give us tons of back story about Rook that includes the death of his wife, his hatred of authority figures and some 1960s psychology experiments involving electric shock.

I found myself saying, “OK, enough! I just want to see Williams act.”

Despite all the muck the writers sling, Williams does make this episode entertaining.

In "Fated to Pretend," the first new episode of the CBS show since February, Mick finally is human after taking a "cure" for his vampirism. Mick has never been happy to be a blood sucker, even though he's an awfully helpful one to humans.

Posted at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24

BBC America this week gave me yet another reason to consider it my favorite cable outfit. The network announced that it has acquired the rights to air another season of the fantastic spy drama “MI-5.”

If you haven’t seen the show but you love the old “24,” the latest James Bond film or the Jason Bourne movies, check out “MI-5.” Called “Spooks” in Britain, it follows the spies from MI-5, the organization responsible for Britain’s national security.

BBC America is showing Season 3 at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Season 4 begins May 21 with a two-episode storyline.

Despite having seen many Season 3 and 4 episodes when they aired—sporadically—on A&E, I’ve been watching religiously on BBC America. “MI-5” is that good, telling current, believable—well, believable fiction—and gripping stories that aren’t easy to figure out.

A BBC America rep told me this week that the network had yet to acquire any other seasons of the show. (Currently there are six seasons completed while Season 7 is in production.) I’m hoping this latest news means BBC America will air the rest of the series too.

PHOTO: Rupert Penry-Jones, most familiar to American audiences from roles in "Persuasion" and "Match Point," plays "MI-5" spy Adam Carter.

Posted at 10 p.m. Thursday, April 17

Daniel Radcliffe is breaking from his “Harry Potter” image in more ways than dropping trou’ in the play “Equus,” which is coming to Broadway soon.

In the film “My Boy Jack,” the young Brit is hauntingly effective as Jack, a scrawny, bespectacled youngster eager to prove he’s a man to his war-mongering father, author Rudyard Kipling (a brilliant David Haig). The movie, part of PBS’ “Masterpiece” series, airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on WTTW.

In pre-WWI Britain, Kipling pulls strings to get Jack into the British army even though his only son can’t see two feet beyond his nose without his glasses. The boy desperately wants to get out from under the hold of his overbearing father, and takes the help—begrudgingly—to do so.

One of the film’s best scenes comes when Jack, dressed in his Army uniform before shipping off to war, walks with his father to a waiting car. During the stroll, Radcliffe falls in line with Haig’s stride, and the two look as if they really are proud father and son.

Things go badly once Jack heads to France. His men are outnumbered and getting sick. He can’t see through the muck on his glasses. All Radcliffe’s war scenes are intercut with images back home in serene England, where Jack’s mother (Kim Cattrall) tends her garden with Kipling spends time in the war office deciding if officials should lie to the public about the number of casualties.

When Jack goes missing in France, Kipling, Jack’s mother and sister (Carey Mulligan) work tirelessly to find him. Haig commands the screen in the scenes showing Kipling grapple with his guilt over sending his son off to war. And Cattrall is wonderfully restrained as a mom who wants to punish her husband.

Without being preachy, “My Boy Jack” delivers a powerful message about war. It also shows that Radcliffe will have a post-“Potter” career.

PHOTO: Daniel Radcliffe, Kim Cattrall and Daniel Haig star in "My Boy Jack."

Posted at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16

Out gay actor Luke Macfarlane plays Scotty on “Brothers & Sisters.”

Luke Macfarlane not only plays gay on ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters,” he really is gay.

The actor, who is great as Scotty Wandell on the show, came out Tuesday in Canada’s Globe and Mail, saying he was worried about revealing his sexual orientation because he feared for his career.

“I don’t know what will happen professionally,” the 28-year-old told the newspaper. “That is the fear, but I guess I can’t really be concerned about what will happen, because it’s my truth. There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what’s been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself—so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way.”

Macfarlane also dropped a big spoiler about the May 11 season finale of “Brothers & Sisters,” which returns with a new episode on Sunday. And it is too god for me not to repeat. Scotty will marry on-again, off-again beau Kevin Walker, who is played by straight British actor Matthew Rhys (in photo).

My first reaction is ... No way! My second? Nice. And maybe ABC will show them kissing.

“How exciting that we’re saying, ‘This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,’ because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week,” he told the paper. “It’s telling of the beginning of more waves and I’m very proud of that.”

“Most importantly, in portraying gay people, the more we realize it’s just like portraying anybody else,” he said. “Gay marriage, it’s not about two people being gay, it’s about two people who love each other and who have decided to commit to each other for the exact same reasons any other couple would get married.”

That’s right Luke, and congratulations.

Posted at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10

The 1970s haven’t been good to British police detective Sam Tyler.

He has no cell phone, no computer databases and no “CSI”-style forensics technology to help in his police work.

He suffers debilitating headaches, hears voices in his head and can’t seem to find his way home—to 2007.

Confusing? You don’t know the half of it.

The second and final season of BBC America’s excellent series “Life on Mars” opens at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a bit of a review for fans, and a catch-up for newbies. Viewers see present-day cop Tyler lying on the ground after he’s been hit by a car. When he wakes up, he’s in Manchester, England—in 1973.

"Am I mad? In a coma? Or back in time?" Sam—the deft John Simm—asks in the introduction.

Veteran viewers know the answer, and new ones find out fast enough: Sam is in a coma in the present.

Don’t fire off any angry e-mails just yet; I’ve not spoiled anything for you. More twists than this make “Life on Mars” required viewing.

"Life on Mars" ramps up its time-travel plot with a “Lost”-like spin. Throughout the series, Sam gets phone calls from a mysterious caller who tells him he “can’t come back” just yet. He hears voices in his head—possibly people in his present day hospital room.

Sam has to unravel these clues in order to get home. In the meantime, he has a job to do.

In 1973, Sam’s working for the same old-school police squad that employs him in the present. He still is schooling his colleagues in proper, legal police ways. His hard-headed boss Gene Hunt, played to blustery perfection by Philip Glenister, would rather beat a confession out of a suspect than do proper leg work on a case.

In Tuesday’s two-hour premiere, Sam’s lessons are making an impression on the force. His colleagues still think he’s a troublemaker and do-gooder, but when his ideas actually work, they adopt the modern-day techniques. Thus, Sam ends up “inventing” police tools that he’ll take for granted in the future.

Season 2 also has Sam butting heads with a criminal who will be his nemesis in the future, as well as training a rookie cop who will one day be his mentor.

Yes, it’s trippy stuff. It’s also confusing, frustrating—and thrilling.

Time capsule
This summer, AMC’s excellent series “Mad Men” expertly captured life in the 1960s. “Life on Mars” does the same with the ’70s. Bellbottoms, muscle cars, smoking, drinking on the job, harassment of female and minority employees. It’s the perfect time capsule. There’s also the music. The show shares its title with the David Bowie song, but also included in the first two episodes are songs from Atomic Rooster and Mott the Hoople.

PHOTO: Philip Glenister (left) stars as Det. Gene Hunt and John Simm is Det. Sam Tyler.

Posted at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3.

The Fox hype machine is revving up for its new drama "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

The drama stars Lena Headey of "300" fame as Sarah Connor, the mother of 15-year-old future world savior John Connor. Thomas Dekker, who starred in the first season of "Heroes," plays John. The pair are fugitives from the law and from a cyborg sent back through time to kill John. Summer Glau, who fanboys will remember from TV's "Firefly" and its film sequel "Serenity," plays John's cyborg protector Cameron.

I”ve seen the original pilot, and it has awesome fight scenes and special effects. This is one show viewers can look forward to seeing.

Fox is promoting the Jan. 13-14 launch of the series with a contest in which the winner could win a trip for two to L.A.

All you have to do is create a poster that promotes the series like the ones shown here. You can get all you need to make your poster at fox.com/terminator, where you'll find graphics, fonts and titles. Fox says five finalists will be chosen based upon originality, creativity and use of provided images.

The top five posters will be posted at the Web site, and from Dec. 18-21 surfers can vote for their favorite. The winning poster will be revealed at the show's premiere party Jan. 9 in L.A.

You better hurry though; you only have until Dec. 14 to submit your poster. For complete information, visit the Web site.

I've posted a video from Fox that goes behind the scenes with the stars during a photo shoot for the series. Come back for more information and video clips.

Posted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2

Everyone knows that holidays can stir up the worst in families, but bringing a murder suspect home for Christmas goes beyond any normal family dysfunction.

Well happy holidays, y’all.

TNT’s handing viewers an early Christmas present at 7 p.m. Monday filled with humor, tragedy and a lot of family tension. In a two-hour “The Closer” movie called “Next of Kin,” Kyra Sedgwick’s LAPD Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson makes some hard decisions that cause tension between her and her parents at Christmas.

After a suspect in an armored car heist that resulted in two deaths flees L.A. for Atlanta, Brenda and her FBI-agent fiance Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney) travel to her hometown under the pretense of spending Christmas with her parents.

It’s not long before Brenda nabs her man, and brings him to her parents’ overdecorated home. She tries to snow her dad into believing she just happened upon the suspect at the mall and had to arrest him. But he knows the truth.

“I was hoping this visit you wanted to be here,” says a disappointed Clay (Barry Corbin) not long after telling the suspect, who’s handcuffed in a recliner, “Young man, try not to murder me in my sleep.”

Brenda’s Plan B, which would keep her in Atlanta over the holiday and thus in her parents’ good graces, backfires. Before you can recite “The Night Before Christmas,” Brenda, Fritz, Brenda’s parents, Lt.’s Provenza and Flynn and the suspect are traveling to L.A. in her parents’ RV.

The resulting trip provides viewers with a lot of laughs, some gut-wrenching sadness and the show’s trademark scenes of Brenda doing nearly whatever it takes to squeeze information from her suspect.

Once again “The Closer” writers have created the perfect mix of family dysfunction, dashed holiday expectations, police drama and humor.

The cast, as usual, is sterling. Sedgwick shows how steely Brenda must be, then in the same breath how wildly neurotic she can become. The great supporting cast—especially G.W. Bailey and Anthony John Denison here—provide both humor and depth.

As Brenda’s parents, Corbin and Frances Sternhagen go beyond the demands of their parts. It’s through her parents’ eyes that viewers learn how troubling Brenda’s actions can be, and how her job takes a toll on everything in their daughter’s life.

“You have to make some tough decisions,” Clay tells her. “But I can think of no one else I’d rather have making them than my little girl.”

These skillful characterizations smooth over any far-fetched plot devices or over-sympathetic moments in the film, and will leave viewers pining for visits from “The Closer” over the New Year’s holiday, on Valentines Day and throughout the year.

Posted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2

TNT brings back another summer show highlighting the exploits of a lady cop.

“Saving Grace,” airing at 9 p.m. Monday after "The Closer," is an odd cross between “Policewoman” and “Touched by an Angel.” It stars Holly Hunter as self-destructive Oklahoma City detective Grace Hanadarko. She has an ongoing conversation about her soul with an angel named Earl (Leon Rippy) who only she can see.

I’m not convinced the show needs the angel aspect; at times it gets downright annoying. The cop stories stand on their own for the most part, as would Grace’s battles with her inner demons.

That quibble aside, what the show has going for it is its cast, beginning with Hunter. Her gritty performance makes Grace more than just a combative, chain-smoking, alcoholic, promiscuous police detective (as if that’s not enough). She’s also got heart, of course, and a keen sense of justice.

The supporting actors doing excellent work include Kenny Johnson and Bailey Chase as Grace’s fellow detectives (and lovers) and Laura San Giacomo coroner Rhetta Rodriguez, who is always Grace’s best friend.

In the first of four new episodes, which begin at 9 p.m. Monday, Grace investigates the potential negligent homicides via bus of school children. She’s pressing the bus company owner and his staff when tornadoes devastate the area and she must help save the chief suspect.

Of the four episodes this month, the first is the weakest. Your best bets are the final two episodes, airing Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

If you’re a fan of the always watchable Hunter, you’ll get something out of all of them.

Posted at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30.

Not even the Hollywood writers’ strike can kill off NBC’s “Heroes.”

Recent news reports have said that because of the ongoing writers’ strike, “Heroes” creator Tim Kring retooled Monday’s episode to serve as the Season 2 finale instead of the normal midseason finale.

That’s not the case, David Gardner, a senior press manager at NBC told me. Gardner said Kring did make some changes to the episode, but not to turn it into a season finale.

“Tim Kring wants everyone to know that he has every intention of coming back,” in the new year, Gardner told me Friday.

As for whether two heroes will die in the episode, as the teasers say, Gardner would only say they are in “mortal peril.”

He declined to name names. But guessing is fun, isn’t it? In Monday’s episode, called “Powerless,” Peter is duped by Adam into a showdown with Nathan, Hiro and Parkman at Primatech Paper. Also, Micah asks his mom, Niki, to help him rescue Monica from the street gang. Maya decides Sylar’s a bad guy. Too bad she didn’t see clearly before Sylar killed her brother, Alejandro, last week.

In other NBC news from Friday, the network announced its new midseason lineup of reality shows.

“American Gladiators” will begin at 8 p.m. Jan. 6, according to an NBC release, and then move to its regular day/timeslot at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. Don’t worry all you “Chuck” fans, your nerdy hero will be back (strike permitting). The network recently picked up the show for the full season.

A new season of “The Biggest Loser” will premiere at 7 p.m. New Year’s Day, while “1 vs. 100” returns beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 4.

Donald Trump will be back beginning at 8 p.m. Jan.3 with the premiere of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

More reality TV. I can’t wait—NOT.

Posted at 10:34 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24

The spoiled rotten Darlings: Patrick (from left), Karen, Brian and the twins, Jeremy and Juliet.

One of the big mysteries on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" will be revealed during the upcoming 9 p.m. Wednesday episode when Nick George (Peter Krause) learns which one of the wealthy Darling children is his half sibling.

Peter Strauss turns up in flashback scenes as Nick's father, Dutch, who was the Darling family lawyer for years. He was also Tripp Darling's (Donald Sutherland) confidante--and the lover of Tripp's wife Letitia (Jill Clayburgh). So that explains how Nick has a Darling half sibling.

No spoilers here, but I can say that knowing the answer doesn't seem to make any of those involved any happier. That's not the only action in the episode. Watch for some fun scenes involving Darling kids Karen, Jeremy and Patrick as well.

Here's your last chance to vote for who you think is Nick's half sib.

Posted at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23

Two tough women are at the center of "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" (from left to right): Officer Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen) and Adm. Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes).

“Battlestar Galactica” fans are getting a love letter from the show’s creators with “Battlestar Galactica: Razor,” which debuts at 8 p.m. Nov. 24 on Sci Fi.

The 2-hour movie ties up some loose ends left from past seasons while teasing us with clues as to where the show will go in its fourth and final season beginning next spring. And, of course, we’re treated to some frakking amazing fight scenes.

The producers may have meant to attract new viewers to this finely crafted series by using flashbacks in “Razor,” but still it’s too densely plotted for newbies to understand everything. I’ve never missed an episode and I’ve viewed “Razor” twice, but I still plan on watching again because I know I’ve missed important details.

Let me catch the uninitiated up a bit, because I feel this show definitely is one worth discovering. If you like this movie, rent the first three seasons before next spring.

The series follows the war between the 12 human colonies and the human-created Cylon robots, who launched a nuclear attack that destroyed most of humanity. The survivors live aboard Battlestar Galactica and a rag-tag group of non-military ships that are racing to stay one step ahead of the Cylons as they search for the mythical 13th colony—Earth. They have learned that the Cylons have now evolved, and that there are 12 versions of a Cylon-human hybrid that appear to be human among them.

In Season 2, Galactica encountered a second battlestar, Pegasus, which was commanded by take-no-prisoners Adm. Helena Cain.

With all its time-hopping, “Razor” tells of events aboard Battlestar Pegasus from the original Cylon attack on the colonies to its first mission with its last commander, Galactica pilot Lee “Apollo” Adama. The story is told through the eyes of officer Kendra Shaw, who reports for duty aboard Pegasus on the day of the Cylon attack.

The “Razor” in the title refers to the type of soldier who is transformed into a human weapon by war, someone who is devoid of fear and compassion. Cain immediately begins honing Shaw into a tough likeness of herself—a razor. It’s through their storyline that “Razor” delivers the thoughtful, disturbing observations about war and how people deal with its extraordinary pressures for which “Battlestar Galactica” is well known.

“Sometimes we have to do things that we never thought we were capable of if only to show the enemy our will,” Cain tells Shaw in rationalizing some of the unforgivable actions they are forced to take. “This war is forcing us all to become razors, because if we don’t, we don’t survive.”

“Razor” gives the formidable Michelle Forbes a chance to show that her Cain is more than a ruthless dictator by giving her an intriguing back story. For example, you’ll be surprised to learn why she was so angry about the Cylon spy Gina being aboard Pegasus.

Newcomer Stephanie Jacobsen delivers a standout performance as Shaw as well, giving her all the complexity of Galactica’s best characters. Shaw plays an equally important role on Pegasus after Adama (Jamie Bamber) takes over as commander, thus she holds the past and the present together in “Razor.”

After Adama makes Shaw his second in command, she and pilot Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff, left) butt heads over just about everything, but learn to appreciate each other during a dangerous mission that only one of them survives.

During the mission, Shaw encounters the missing link in Cylon evolution that a young Adm. William Adama (Nico Cortez) first saw in the seven mini-sodes seen on Sci Fi and at scifi.com.

This meeting leads to the best part of the film for fans. Don’t worry, no spoilers here, except to say that Shaw is given a warning about Starbuck that will leave fans begging for spring to come quickly.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12

"Heroes" showed how good it could be in Monday night's episode called "Four Months Ago."

Too bad the Hollywood writers' strike might cut the season short by several months.

That's right. "Heroes" creator Tim Kring told "Entertainment Weekly" that the Dec. 3 episode has been reworked and could become the Season 2 finale if the strike continues.

It's too bad because in the "EW" interview Kring copped to the fact that he and the writers miscalculated this season. He told the magazine that he's listened to complaints and is responding to them.

During much of the first season, "Heroes" was super-charged with exciting adventures, strange mysteries and wild cliffhangers. Despite the large cast of heroes, almost every new plot twist pushed the characters together and viewers were rewarded with payoffs nearly every week.

Although I haven't hated this season, it has moved much more slowly. The newer characters haven't all fit--Monica, Maya and Alejandro in particular. And only recently has a plot point--the virus--been introduced that, like last season's nuclear apocalypse, brings many of the heroes together for a common cause.

Kring and his writers seemed to be righting the ship with last week's and Monday's episodes. I loved seeing Noah Bennet go to the dark side. Matt Parkman's battle with his father, and his realization that he can kick some butt, has been fun to watch. Last week's revelation that Adam is in the present (as opposed to the failed feudal Japan storyline with Hiro) and possibly the guy who's been killing the older heroes was a cliffhanger worthy of Season 1.

In Monday's episode we saw more of Adam (played by the always interesting "Alias" vet David Anders), who was locked up with Peter four months ago after Peter exploded. We also got more backstory on the weirdly wonderful electric gal Elle (Kristin Bell), who appears to hold a torch for our handsome Peter (who we got to see more of as well).

The beauty of the episode was that it answered several questions (how D.L. died, what brought Niki to the Company, how Peter lost his memory), but it left us with new mysteries to solve. Is the Haitian working with Bennet and against the Company, or vice versa? Is Adam a good guy or a bad guy? Is Bob a good or bad guy? Will the heroes come together to figure out how to stop the virus?

It looks like "Heroes" has three episodes to give us those answers before the show goes on winter break, or the second season ends.

Let's hope that strike is resolved sooner rather than later so we can get more exciting "Heroes."

Posted at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5

< Michael (Wentworth Miller, right) gets some bad news about Sara from Lincoln (Dominic Purcell).

I'm giving Fox's "Prison Break" one last chance.

It had better impress me with the two-hour event tonight, or I'm giving it up. For good.

I've stayed with "Prison Break" through a lot of ridiculous, unbelievable developments in its first two seasons. (T-Bag replaces his chopped off hand—himself? Loved it.) It was all good, though, because the characters were so much fun and the show ran on such an adrenalin rush. Each episode gave viewers a payoff with some kind of revelation—outlandish or not—while adding another cliffhanger.

The set-up of this season also was hard to fathom. It was inconceivable to me that Michael, T-Bag, Mahone and Bellick would end up in the same Panamanian prison. Yet I was able to suspend my disbelief. After all, I watch another series in which a man brings dead people back to life with his touch, and another with characters who can fly or heal themselves or read minds. By comparison, "Prison Break's" stretches of the imagination aren't that out there.

Another big reason to stick around was Wentworth Miller. He is, after all, TV's Ultimate Hottie—at least according to the recent Entertainment Weekly poll.

Boredom, however, is an issue I can't overlook. The story has been plodding along so slowly this season. Characters seem to do the same thing each week: there's evil at the prison; Michael's got to solve some problem at the prison; more people want in on the escape out of the prison; Lincoln still sweats like a pig--and he's not even in prison. Blah blah blah.

I canceled my Season Pass.

My interest was piqued again a few weeks ago when news broke that Dr. Sara Tancredi's head ended up in a box. A "Seven" rip-off, but interesting, I thought.

Fans are up-in-arms over her decapitation. Complaints are flying in the blogosphere. Sara was the one sympathetic character on the show, some say. Others say they've been watching because they want to see Sara and Michael finally be together.

I, on the other hand, was impressed. Finally, something shocking! I remember when Veronica Donovan was killed off. It was an unbelievably bold move by the writers. It floored me, and thrilled me too.

Hearing about Sara's death did the same, so I watched the following week's episode—and was disappointed again!

The last episode—two weeks ago—was completely baffling. Again, nothing happened and no information that made sense was provided. It seemed to be written to ruminate on Sara's death.

I will tune in tonight, possibly for the last time. Michael is supposed to learn about Sara's death. (Lincoln has been keeping it from him.) Apparently it will motivate him to seek revenge—and maybe do something interesting.

I'm not holding my breath, but I'll give "Prison Break" one last shot to impress me. If it doesn't, I'm done. For the last time. I swear.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

Let me know how you feel about Sara's death, and how the show's been this season.

Posted at 1:41 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30

There's more than one mystery floating around on ABC's Wednesday night drama "Dirty Sexy Money."

And I'm more interested in the smaller one.

The big mystery of the plot, of course, is the murder of Nick's father, who was rich guy Tripp Darling's lawyer for years. He was also the lover of Tripp's wife Letitia (Jill Clayburgh).

Nick (Peter Krause) is trying to figure out if Tripp or someone else sabotaged the plane that crashed while carrying his father.

The new mystery, and the one that has my brain working, is which of the Darling clan is Nick's sibling? Recently we learned that Tripp (Donald Sutherland) is not the father of one (or two) of the five Darling children. Nick's dad is.

Politician Patrick (William Baldwin)? Serial bride/divorcee Karen (Natalie Zea)? Most unholy minister Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald)? Or the ditzy twins, Juliet (Samaire Armstrong) and Jeremy (Seth Gabel)?

Letitia begged Tripp not to treat him or her or them any differently. I'd love the revelation to some soon, just to see how Nick will handle having a spoiled rotten, rich sibling.

And what if it's Karen, who Nick had a fling with years ago? Scandal people, scandal.

Posted at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29

SEASON 5 GALLERY CLICK HERE
“Nip/Tuck” had a little work done over the summer, and it’s looking good.

After two seasons of over-the-top serial killers and silly/stupid subplots, FX’s plastic surgery drama was sagging so badly that it seemed to begging for the facelift.

“What don’t you like about your show,” Drs. Sean McNamara and Christian Troy might have asked series creator Ryan Murphy.

Answer: I don’t like anything! So Murphy has plucked the doctors, played by Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon, out of Miami and dropped them into the plastic surgery capital of the country: Los Angeles.

OUTRAGEOUS GALLERY CLICK HERE
The change of scenery has recharged the show, which premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Tummy tucks, breast enlargements and facelifts are fun again. Like the city where it’s now based, the series revels in its devotion to beauty and shallowness.

It doesn’t take long for Sean and Christian to go Hollwood—and humorous. The latest Drs. 90210 are hired as consultants for “Hearts ’n’ Scalpels,” an overheated medical show about a himbo plastic surgeon named Aiden Stone. (Who’s that remind you of?)

It’s a masterful bit of self-satire from series creator Ryan Murphy.

When Sean and Christian play extras on “Hearts,” Sean earns fans, a recurring role and a line of new patients for their real practice. Alpha male Christian, not used to existing in Sean’s shadow, can’t take it. His jealousy leads to some fiery one-upsmanship by both doctors, including dueling surgeries on rival Marilyn Monroe impersonators in Episode 2. This type of silly-yet-serious commentary made the show so fun in earlier seasons.

The riotous “Hearts ’n’ Scalpel” scenes are the best part of the premiere, however, thanks to the work of Bradley Cooper and Oliver Platt. Cooper preening, prima donna Aiden Stone bullies everyone on the “Hearts” set, including Platt’s overwhelmed producer Freddy Prune.

Cooper and Platt are just two in a long list of on-target guest stars. “Nip/Tuck” is now the “Love Boat” on Botox, there are so many guest spots.

The always hilarious Jennifer Coolidge adds laughs in her few scenes as a ditzy “Hearts” actress. Lauren Hutton—still untouched by a scalpel and beautiful at 63—takes charge as a no-nonsense publicist. Daphne Zuniga is perfectly cast as an aging actress who resists surgery. Craig Bierko’s a powerful movie exec who likes to surrender power to Mistress Dark Pain, a dominatrix played by Tia Carrera. Finally, Paula Marshall romances Sean as an actress whose crash dieting leads to problems. That list is just from the premiere.

Tough publicists. Aging actresses. Throw in Hollywood’s “gay mafia” too. You can be sure “Nip/Tuck” will be offering up every Hollywood stereotype this season.

As long as they’re this fun, I’ll watch. I’m sure Hollywood can handle it.

Posted at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5

I was far too cynical a kid in high school to enjoy pep rallies. But I think that's exactly what's needed to save "Friday Night Lights."

So here's my pep rally speech.

Despite dismal ratings, NBC heroically has brought back its best drama, possibly TV's best drama, for a second season this year. And you are going to watch.

Got it?

Honestly, I don't understand why only 5.9 million people, on average, watched last season. "Friday Night Lights" offers incredible acting, lively football, risky story lines and the most honest depiction of small town life you'll find anywhere. I know this; I'm from a small town.

It's an incredibly written and well-acted show. Every line and plot are honest. Every action and reaction ring true.

Just to catch you up, "FNL" is the story of Dillon, Texas, where everyone in town lives for high school football. They've got little else to look forward to. The show has its share of troubled teens and adults, but its much more intelligent than a prime-time soap. Who sleeps together is not the issue here; it’s how the characters survive their troubled situations.

As season two begins at 8 p.m. Friday (when you will tune it), former Panther Coach Eric Taylor and his pregnant wife are living apart after he took a college coaching job. Their daughter Julie is blowing off her boyfriend Matt while flirting with an older guy. Matt's also dealing with trouble at practice, where the new coach is building the team around cocky running back Smash Williams. Former cheerleader Lyla Garrity has found God while her ex, Jason Street, tries to find his way as a coach. And in what could become a controversial story for fans, the budding romance between fast girl Tyra and mathlete Landry will be tested.

To go into much more detail would be unfair to you guys. But trust me, you don't want to miss the show.

Folks who've never watched "FNL" should trust me to. Tune in. It's your best TV bet, I promise. Here are 10 reasons why you should watch.

Go "Friday Night Lights"!

10. Great date show

I'm stereotyping here, but there's enough drama/romance to keep a girlfriend enthralled and enough football to keep a boyfriend cheering. So make a weekly Friday dinner date with your mate, watch the show and make out when its over. Er..., go out when it's over.

9. Best story lines on TV

The plots are more real than any reality show like "The Hills." "FNL" presents the drama that real people deal with every day: deciding whether to take a job, arguing with a friend or family member, deciding whether to forgive someone, breaking up, accepting disappointment or finding success.

8. You know these people

The real issues are dealt with by real people on the show. You'll recognize your friends, family members—even yourself—in the characters. You know all these people.

7. Taylor Kitsch (right)

In no way do I mean to diminish his acting ability, but Taylor Kitsch is hot. Seriously. Smoking. Hot. Big bonus: Within the first three episodes, Kitsch's bad boy Tim Riggins gets his own McSteamy-like scene. Call him McSleepy.

6. Best cast on TV

Kitsch, along with practically everyone else on this show, turned in TV's best performances last season--and continue to in the three new episodes I've seen. Besides Kitsch, pay close attention to Jesse Plemons as Landry; Adrianne Palicki as Tyra; Brad Leland as team booster Buddy Garrity and Scott Porter as Street.

5. Support our guy

Evanston native and Northwestern University grad Zach Gilford (left) plays Saracen. I've never met Gilford, but he plays Saracen's shy awkwardness so well, I can't imagine he's not the same way. He's another of the show's amazing young actors.

4. BFFs