EARLY HEADS UP FOR TWO BIG TV HIGHLIGHTS NEXT WEEK: RESCUE ME returns Tuesday night at 10pm, followed by the premiere of LOUIE, starring Louis C.K. at 11pm on FX. I’m giving RESCUE ME another chance even though last season was way below average. I’m fervently hoping Denis Leary allows the other guys to have stories this season instead of continuing to wallow in Tommy’s addiction problems. Peter Gallagher guests this season as Tommy’s therapist and I’m hoping that’s a good sign.
DO NOT MISS LOUIE! This is the show Louis C.K. was supposed to do. Forget about his short-lived HBO sitcom. Just watch this and see what Louis C.K. is really about. It’s an honest, wry, sometimes crude but very good show.
BOSTON MED: This is another fantastic medical documentary from ABC News producer Terrence Wrong; he also produced HOPKINS 24/7. Wrong manages to make these documentaries far more moving than an episode of GREY’S. They’re the real life equivalent of a great episode of ER. There will be eight episodes and I highly recommend the show. It’s simple, straightforward and very moving. Best of all, you don’t feel like anyone is manipulating your feelings, you just watch events unfold. BOSTON MED airs new episodes Thursday nights at 10pm on ABC.
The show premiered last night and the first episode is online if you missed it:
http://abc.go.com/watch/boston-med/SH5570013/VD5573174/episode-1
LEVERAGE: The new season is off to a great start as the crew is back together and still helping people who have been taken by the rich and powerful. This ensemble of actors has hit their stride and the result is a lot of easy charm and humor. Every episode is a fun caper and because all the actors are so good, the hour flies by.
AFI SALUTES MIKE NICHOLS: The diverse array of talent who have worked with Nichols over the years turn up at the AFI salute; look for Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Cher, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Dustin Hoffman, Elaine May, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams among others. Tune in Saturday night at 9pm on TV Land.
SPEAKING OF TV LAND: Are you watching HOT IN CLEVELAND? If so, what do you think of it? And are any of you familiar with Betty White from her role as SueAnne Nivens on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW?
ENTOURAGE: The season premiere is very good because it’s actually about something! Huge round of applause to the cast and writers for finally giving us a reason to care one way or the other about Vincent Chase. Nick Cassavetes guests in the premiere as himself – he’s directing the film Vinnie is starring in – and he’s really good and funny. William Fichtner is also in the premiere episode as the producer Johnny Drama wants to work with. There’s lots of good stuff for all the guys in the season opener and I hope this continues throughout the season.
HUNG: I have not seen the season premiere yet and I have to confess that after the lackluster first season, I can’t muster up a lot of enthusiasm for the show. I will tune in to see if the writers have found some kind of vision/direction for the show because Tom Jane is watchable. Last season, all they managed to do was show a guy who didn’t really seem to enjoy the large gift G-d gave him. Which makes little to no sense. I’m really hoping the show improves this season because it hasn’t fulfilled its potential.
ALSO SUNDAY NIGHT: Conan O’Brien’s writers have a TBS special hosted by Andy Richter. It’s probably a hodgepodge of funny sketches and stuff so I plan on tuning in. Sunday night at 10pm on TBS.
I’ll be catching up on this week’s ROYAL PAINS tonight as I had one glass of wine last night and fell asleep early. Yes, I’m a lightweight.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: Nick Lowe’s “Without Love”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvwwxZFrIsw
Time for your weekend rundown: Note: World Cup soccer matches continue as does Wimbledon tennis.
Tonight – Friday 6/25/10
ABC: 8:00 p.m. Wife Swap 9:00 p.m. 20/20 (2-hours, Michael Jackson themed)
CBS: 8:00 p.m. Medium (R) 9:00 p.m. Flashpoint 10:00 p.m. Miami Medical
NBC: 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Nights 9:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours)
FOX: 8:00 p.m. Bones (R) 9:00 p.m. House (R)
THE CW: 8:00 p.m. Smallville (R) 9:00 p.m. Supernatural (R)
E: 10PM: THE SOUP is on a roll these days so I hope you’re watching. It’s funnier than ever!
STARZ: 10pm: PARTY DOWN season finale with special guest star Jane Lynch returning to the show for just this episode.
SATURDAY 6/26
ABC: 8:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (R) 9:00 p.m. Castle (R) 10:00 p.m. Rookie Blue (R)
CBS: 8:00 p.m. Three Rivers 9:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery (R) 10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery
NBC: 8:00 p.m. America’s Got Talent (R, two hours) 10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R)
FOX: 8:00 p.m. Major League Baseball
Syfy: 9pm: Dinocroc vs. Supergator
TV Land: 9pm: TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Mike Nichols
SUNDAY 6/27
ABC: 7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (R) 8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (R) 9:00 p.m. Scoundrels 10:00 p.m. The Gates
CBS: 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. I Get That a Lot (R) 9:00 p.m. The 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
NBC: 7:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent 10:00 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent
FOX: 7:00 p.m. Sons of Tucson (new time) 7:30 p.m. American Dad (R) 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 8:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show (R) 9:00 p.m. Family Guy (R) 9:30 p.m. American Dad (R)
BET: 8pm: BET Awards ’10
HBO: 10PM: Entourage season premiere, 1030PM: Hung season premiere
TBS: 9pm: Ellen’s Somewhat Special Special (variety show hosted by Ellen Degeneres), 10pm: Team Coco Presents: Conan’s Writers Live Hosted by Andy Richter
That’s a wrap for this week.
