MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE: The pilot episode had a few good moments though it was very downbeat. The show held its strong lead-in from THE CLOSER for the most part scoring about 5 million viewers (THE CLOSER had 6 million). Ray Romano is the quiet surprise in the show as he has far more range than you’d ever expect from EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. Andre Braugher is solid even as his character suffers the worst humiliations. Scott Bakula gets to show off his athletic bod in the show and I gotta say, he’s in fantastic shape and I find it hard to believe he’s in his mid-fifties. I’m very curious to see if the same amount of viewers will tune in next week after the depressing material in the pilot; I hear the next couple of episodes aren’t as sad. I’ll be watching because I think the show has potential and I’m curious to see where they’ll take the story.
BETTER OFF TED: It was good to return to the Veridian Dynamics workplace where the powers that be decided to pair up single employees according to who was most genetically compatible. The show was chock full of its usual smart jokes, delivered so perfectly by the sharp ensemble. As much as I love ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, I think Portia de Rossi is far funnier in BETTER OFF TED. Now if only more people would tune in and watch. Sigh. I join the chorus of comedy fans who think ABC should move TED to the ABC Wednesday night comedy lineup so the show would have a far stronger lead-in than the tepid-at-best SCRUBS.
MODERN FAMILY HOLIDAY EPISODE: Tonight is the Christmas episode. Look for Fred Willard as Phil’s dad (how perfect is THAT?!) and prepare to find out Cam’s history as a caroler (gee I hope it’s half as good as Fizbo). Also, Manny teaches Jay some of his holiday traditions and Phil plays the bad guy.
GLEE: Today’s big GLEE news: Idina Menzel (who OWNED the role of Elpheba in WICKED) has signed on for nine episodes as the director of the “Vocal Adrenaline” group. Tonight is GLEE’s fall finale and Will starts to think seriously as Emma and Ken’s wedding approaches. Quinn’s secret starts to fall apart. Eve returns in tonight’s episode as the leader of a competing vocal team. Savor the GLEE; tonight is the last new episode of the show until April 2010.
TOP CHEF: It’s the Voltaggio brothers and Kevin in the final battle. Who are you rooting for? If one of the Voltaggio brothers wins, I fear there will be blood. I know I keep saying that but the two brothers are so deadly serious, there’s a certain vicious vibe I get from Michael. Am I imagining that?
SPECTACLE WITH ELVIS COSTELLO: If you’re a music freak like me, I hope you watched this show last season because it always has a great mix of performance and Elvis chatting with his musical guests about their influences and the music they love. The new cycle of episodes begins tonight with Elvis welcoming Bono and The Edge. Tune in at 10pm on Sundance Channel.
NOSTRADAMUS EFFECT: My friend Jethro Nededog is a producer on tonight’s episode “Armageddon Battle Plan” and when he told me he was working on this show, I told him I can’t watch the scary, end of the world prophecy stuff. I was relieved to find out that’s not really what his episode is about; here’s the 411 directly from him: “In 1947, ancient scrolls were discovered in desert caves near the Dead Sea. One of the texts, now called the War Scroll, spells out in chilling detail a future apocalyptic war that will end the world. In fear of imminent death, the Qumran settlers hid the War Scroll along with other records of the Hebrew Bible. Soon afterward, they disappeared into the dust of history. Visit the Dead Sea ruins–where it all began–to examine the cultural and spiritual conflicts in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were born. Experts point to an amazing coincidence of events that occurred then and that are happening now. Could ancient horrors herald a warning of terror today that could lead to our annihilation?” NOSTRADAMUS EFFECT airs at 9pm on History Channel.
THE LEAGUE: FX ordered a second season of the increasingly funny comedy. I haven’t missed an episode because the guys on the show are a strong ensemble and the writing has been stronger and funnier with each successive episode. And I’ll say it again, it’s not a show exclusively about sports so if you’ve stayed away for that reason, dive in and watch. New episodes of THE LEAGUE air Thursday night’s at 10pm after IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and you can watch episodes online on Hulu.com.
TAKING A PAGE FROM REAL LIFE AND/OR JUST LAZY?: This week’s GOSSIP GIRL had a Chappaquiddick-inspired car accident scene but thankfully, the girl didn’t expire in this fictional version as Serena and her Congressman object of affection Trip got into a car wreck.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love. Be sure to look for her annual appearance on LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN; Dave has Love on every holiday season because he loves this song too. Here’s one of the LATE SHOW clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7iyRJrFg8&feature=fvw
Tonight’s rundown:
ABC: Shrek the Halls (repeat, special) The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Barbara Walters Special (special)
CBS: New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY
NBC: Mercy, Law & Order: SVU (John Larroquette guests), Jay Leno Show
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance, Glee (fall finale)
CW: Gossip Girl (repeat), Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (repeat, special)
A&E: Dog the Bounty Hunter, Steven Segal: Lawman
BBCA: Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (special)
BRAVO: 10pm: Top Chef: Las Vegas (season finale, part 2), Launch My Line (special time period)
CNBC: American Greed (season premiere)
DirecTV The101: 9pm: Friday Night Lights
Discovery Channel: Mythbusters, Is It True? (special)
Fine Living Network: Martha Stewart’s Christmas Special (special)
Food: Dinner: Impossible (season finale)
Fuse: Hip Hop Shop
FX: 10pm: Nip/Tuck
History: 9pm: Nostradamus Effect, MysteryQuest (season finale)
MTV: Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins (season finale)
Planet Green: Living With Ed
Spike: Ultimate Fighter, MANswers (time period premiere)
Sundance Channel: 10pm: Elvis Costello With…: Bono and The Edge (season premiere)
Syfy: Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Academy
Travel: Man vs. Food
Versus: Sports Jobs with Junior Seau
