As the DVR-jamming glut of midseason TV continues, I’m still playing catch up; I have this week’s SUBURGATORY, HAPPY ENDINGS and VAMPIRE DIARIES waiting on my DVR. I meant to record WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE last night because Andy Cohen had a pajama party with Ralph Fiennes, Holly Hunter and Amy Sedaris but I forgot to record. I don’t know if Bravo repeats WWHL episodes.
PARKS AND RECREATION: The show that never fails to bring a smile was even better with the addition of Paul Rudd as Bobby Newport, Leslie Knope’s competition for Pawnee City Council. Vulture.com’s Joe Adalian reports Rudd will return in two future episodes of the show. Rudd is so likable and it’s wonderful how he plays Bobby as a sweet, unbeguiling, spoiled rich kid. Rudd plays dumb so well and I mean that as a compliment. The scene when Leslie and Ben introduced themselves as his competition in the election and he asked what they did thirty seconds later was priceless. I loved when Ben referred to Bobby as “a bonehead.” What I love most is that PARKS AND REC stays true to its spirit in that Leslie will not be mean to Bobby, she won’t “go negative” and she wants to win the election on her own merits. Her fierce competitive nature doesn’t include bashing her competitor, it inspires her to prove her own worth even more. I continue to love Leslie and Ben together and watching how they affect each other as they go through the campaign together. Also fantastic in this episode: putting Ron Swanson and Chris Traeger together. I howled when Ron said, “he asked me to lunch, I declined, the next thing I know, here we are. Did he drug me?” Also a standout: Ron’s obvious joy at being Chris’ designated dream killer when he had to veto numerous Pawnee projects. Finally, the best reaction show: when Andy recited all the doctors he and April had gone to since they discovered they had medical insurance and Andy said, “One guy touched my weiner” and April chimed in, “And that guy wasn’t even a doctor.” Cut to Andy’s wide-eyed reaction. PARKS AND RECREATION remains one of the happiest shows on TV right now. I think it should be prescribed by doctors because it’s good for whatever ails you.
REVENGE: Check out the cover of this week’s ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY for a terrific photo of Emily VanCamp and her onscreen fiance Josh Bowman. Today’s news about this relentlessly delicious and soapy drama: James Purefoy (ROME) will guest as Victoria Grayson’s suitor. Now THAT’S a hot couple.
MODERN FAMILY: While a lot of attention was paid to the “Lily says a bad word” story, I thought the story about Stella the dog jumping in the pool was funnier. I love that Jay is nuts about the dog, to Gloria’s chagrin, to the point that Jay thinks Stella might be trying to off herself by repeatedly jumping in the pool. Claire running for office is paying off in a big way; the family coaching Claire for the debate was very funny (especially about her bad side, which seems to be both sides of her face) and the confidence coaching by daughter Alex, forcing Claire to ask her how she got so smart, with Alex answering, “I’ve always assumed adoption or baby switch.”
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: The late, great Etta James, may she rest in peace. Here’s her beautiful cover of “Sunday Kind of Love” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAoCWpCJsuc
And an especially good Etta James cover of “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Christina Aguilera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3-YY7o8wOc&feature=related
Friday, January 20 – SHARK TANK returns, CHUCK moves toward the show’s finale, new FRINGE
ABC 8:00 p.m. Shark Tank (season premiere) 9:00 p.m. Primetime: What Would You Do? (season premiere) 10:00 p.m. 20/20
Mark Cuban is the reason to watch SHARK TANK. The man never flinches and the alacrity with which he makes decisions astounds me whenever I watch. Who knows if he’s actually right or wrong about potential investments? It’s just fascinating to watch as he jumps on investments he’s interested in and how he has zero interest in getting into bidding wars with the other sharks.
CBS 8:00 p.m. A Gifted Man 9:00 p.m. CSI: NY (R) 10:00 p.m. Blue Bloods (R)
NBC 8:00 p.m. Chuck 9:00 p.m. Grimm 10:00 p.m. Dateline
Fox 8:00 p.m. Kitchen Nightmares 9:00 p.m. Fringe
CW 8:00 p.m. Remodeled (R) 9:00 p.m. Supernatural
Comedy Central: 9pm: The J.B. Smoove Stand-Up Playlist
Smoove plays Leon on CURB and he’s an all-around funny guy. This special features performances by his favorite stand-ups including Donald Glover, Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias and DeRay Davis.
HBO: 7pm: HBO Documentary PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY 9pm: The Life and Times of Tim, 10pm: Real Time with Bill Maher
PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY is playing during January on HBO. It’s the third documentary about the West Memphis 3, three young men wrongly accused of murdering three young boys 18 years ago. Incredibly compelling storytelling and as you watch the story unfold and hear the accused men tell their stories, it’s enough to make your jaw drop many times over. I had seen PARADISE LOST part 1 but not part 2 and it didn’t really matter. This is a terrific documentary that will stay with you for days after you watch.
Saturday, January 21
ABC 8:00 p.m. Movie: Over the Hedge (R) 10:00 p.m. Castle (R)
CBS 8:00 p.m. NCIS (R) 9:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery 10:00 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery
NBC 8:00 p.m. Harry’s Law (R) 9:00 p.m. The Firm (R) 10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R)
11:30pm: Saturday Night Live is a repeat of the Emma Stone / Coldplay show.
Fox 8:00 p.m. Cops 8:30 p.m. Cops 9:00 p.m. Terra Nova (R)
Sunday, January 22
ABC 7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos 8:00 p.m. Once Upon a Time 9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives 10:00 p.m. Pan Am
CBS 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. Undercover Boss 9:00 p.m. The Good Wife (R) 10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami (R)
NBC 7:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) 9:00 p.m. Prime Suspect 10:00 p.m. Prime Suspect (series finale)
Fox 7:00 p.m. NFC Championship: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers 10:00 p.m. American Idol – NEW episode
PBS: 9pm: Downton Abbey continues
Showtime: 9pm: Shameless 10pm: House of Lies 1030pm: Californication
Bravo: Real Housewives of Atlanta
Discovery: Gold Rush, Flying Wild Alaska
HBO: 10pm: Angry Boys
OWN: Oprah Presents: Master Class: Morgan Freeman
That’s a wrap for this week.
