We Like to Watch: Nov. 8th-14th, 2010
Conan returns from the dead, and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader tryouts enrich our lives.
Monday, Nov 8th
11:00 p.m. Conan (TBS)
Conan O’Brien finally makes his triumphant return to television this week after the Tonight Show debacle. Hopefully all those kerfuffle commentators who weighed in online and threw their support toward the ousted everyman host will tune in to watch his new show on a new network. As if it needed to be said, he’ll be the hippest dude in the early late-night slot, and kicks things off with Seth Rogen, Glee‘s Lea Michele and musical guest Jack White (also one of the musical guests on Conan’s final Late Night broadcast). Work your magic, Coco!
Tuesday, Nov. 9th
9:00 p.m. Raising Hope (Fox)
Creator Greg Garcia imports a lot of elements from his previous show My Name Is Earl, but tosses in even more wacky characters, making Hope feel like a classic Fox sitcom. The premise is that a kid in his early 20s hooked up with a serial killer who was put to death after giving birth to their child, so he’s raising her at home, where he lives with his parents and great grandma (played to a nutty hilt by Cloris Leachman). The family shares a sharp sense of humor and even some heart that boosts Raising Hope from your average “Hey, look at these weirdos” half-hour.
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. Track Me If You Can (Discovery)
In his new Discovery special, sustainable living expert Aton Edwards (above) informs viewers how to erase their digital presence and live off the grid. You kind of have to question the logic of creating a mainstream television show for off-the-grid crackpots living in lean-tos in the forest, but maybe this will spawn a whole new generation of bearded wild men who exist solely to warn campers of maniacal slashers in horror movies.
Friday, Nov. 12th
9:00 p.m. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team (CMT)
Making the Team was almost this week’s Silver Lining, but let’s be honest, shows that are focused on NFL cheerleader tryouts should never be relegated to B Squad. Just make sure you TiVo it and watch it while your lady is at Pilates class. If she walks in and you’re cold busted, we recommend the “I just can’t get enough Cowboys” excuse and hope she doesn’t remember you hate the Cowboys.
Friday night, Nov. 12th / Saturday morning
12:35 p.m. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
Before his HBO Black and Blue special premieres on Saturday at 10 p.m., Tracy Morgan stops by fellow SNL alum Jimmy Fallon’s show to act crazy and not really answer questions. Fallon will also have talk show host extraordinaire Dick Cavet and Kings of Leon on the episode. We’d be cool with Fallon actually sitting this one out and arranging for Cavet to interview Morgan. That would make for some very subversive television.
THE SILVER LINING
Thursday, Nov. 11th
8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
We’re already huge BBT fans, but this season has been seriously lacking in Penny appearances thanks to Kaley Cuoco’s leg injury (stupid horseback riding accident…). Things look brighter this week; while the geeks wait in line for a movie, Penny and Bernadette (played by the über-hot Melissa Rauch) plan a sleepover for Sheldon’s not-a-girlfriend, Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). We’re hoping for scantily clad pillow fights.
NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A REALITY SHOW
Sunday, Nov. 14th
10:30 p.m. Married to Rock (E!)
Not to put too fine a point on it, but no one cares about people married to famous people unless they themselves are also famous. So, with that in mind, we’re pretty sure that a show focused on the wives and girlfriends of Duff McKagan, Perry Farrell, The Cult’s Billy Duffy and Steve Stevens (a “hair of the gods” guy who’s played guitar for Billy Idol, Vince Neil and Michael Jackson) won’t be interesting. Well, at least they’re hot, which, we’re sure had absolutely nothing to do with why their respective rockers hooking up and marrying them. We’re taking bets on who breaks up during the season.