Jan 25 2009
TV to Watch this Week
With fall shows returning, midseason TV starting up, and special movies running, there’s a lot to watch on television this week. Can’t decide what to tune in for? Here are TV News and Reviews’ primetime suggestions for the week of January 25, 2009:
Sunday
Cold Case, CBS, 8/7c. Tune in early for this thoughtful, heartstring-tugging cop procedural that typically runs an hour earlier on Sundays. This week’s case involves the murder of a 1967 brush salesman.
The Last Templar, Part I, NBC, 9/8c. I’m not familiar with the novel by Raymond Khoury, but this two-part mini-series about an archaeologist and FBI agent exploring the long-hidden secrets of the Knights Templar looks like it might be a fun National Treasure-ish style adventure. With an exciting line-up of Mira Sorvino (who reportedly broke 5 teeth during a boating action scene accident), Scott Foley, Victor Garber and Omar Shariff, I’m looking forward to checking this one out.
Monday
The Last Templar, Part II, NBC, 9/8c. The conclusion to Sunday night’s mini-series adventure.
The Closer, TNT, 9/8c. Set your DVR or stay up late if you want to catch both The Last Templar and the first new episode of the year for The Closer. Following last fall’s cliffhanger, viewers are anxious to see what happens with Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and Fritz’ (Jon Tenney) wedding plans and the fate of wounded team member Detective Sanchez. Catch the encore at midnight Eastern/11pm Central to avoid recording. As Brenda would say: “Thank you so much.”
Tuesday
Scrubs (2 episodes), ABC, 8/7c. The Mentalist is still doing reruns on CBS, so now’s your chance to take a peek at the last season of this clever ensemble comedy, with tonight’s guest star Elmo.
Wednesday
Lost, ABC, 9/8c. Be prepared to bend your brain with the third episode of the new season with our castaways. The season opener managed to clear up a few questions while opening up a whole new can of worms to consider. It wouldn’t be Lost if you weren’t lost, so just go along for the ride and see where it takes you.
Life on Mars, ABC, 10/9c. I loved this quirky American remake of a British show, starring Jason O’Mara (The Closer, Men in Trees) as police detective Sam Tyler, who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. The mystery of the show lies in all the possible explanations for Tyler’s predicament–is he in a coma, hallucinating, on drugs, or dead? Or is it really time travel or some sort of dimension shifting? The beauty of Life on Mars is that it’s a great nostalgia piece and gritty cop show, with little bits of the mystery of Tyler’s past and future woven in. Paired up with fellow mind-bender Lost, here’s hoping Life on Mars finds the ratings it deserves. Heavy-hitters Harvey Keitel, Gretchen Mol, and Michael Imperioli also star.
Thursday
Burn Notice, USA, 10/9c. This witty spy action drama is a heck of a lot of fun to watch. With Jeffrey Donovan’s smooth spy moves and deadpan voiceovers, Gabrielle Anwar’s gleeful attachment to solving everything with violence, and blustery Bruce Campbell conning everyone in sight, the show delivers good old-fashioned entertainment in a slick, sexy, fun package. USA is treating us with a few midseason episodes before Burn Notice returns for its regular season in the summer.
Friday
Friday’s a deadzone this week, with not much going on and no new episodes. Even TLCs What Not to Wear is a recap episode, highlighting women from past episodes who had gone through impressive weight loss but hadn’t figured out how to dress their new figures. Though made up of old clips, we should be treated to some new banter from hosts/stylists Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, so tune in to TLC at 9/8c.
Saturday
Crusoe, NBC, 8/7c. This is it, folks, the season finale of this exciting romp with pirates, cannibals, and MacGyver-esque treehouses full of gadgets. And don’t forget the gorgeous Philip Winchester and Tongai Chirisa running around shirtless as they trade boyish banter.
