The TV Addict 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
90210 (9PM CW, 8PM GlobalTV in Canada)
Kelly shares a secret with Brenda. Trust me, that’s the only thing that will be interesting in this episode unless you care about all those too-thin, self-absorbed teens running around town. Wake me up when more original cast members come on board.

SCRUBS (9PM ABC)
Courtney Cox does a guest gig as Kelso’s replacement, and in a twist right out of GREY’S ANATOMMY, JD finds himself saddled with a group of wildly incompetent interns. Hey, now that the two medical shows are on the same network, maybe a crossover would bring a whole bunch of new eyes to Sacred Heart hospital!

SCRUBS (9:30PM ABC)
We spend so much of the year lamenting the lack of new episodes put out by the shows that we love that it seems somehow wrong to waste two in a single night! But hey, it’s SCRUBS, so we won’t be doing all that much complaining. In this one, Dr. Maddox (aka Courtney Cox) reveals her true nature. Wonder if she’s a neat freak?

PRIVILEGED (9PM CW, CityTV in Canada)
Megan finally confronts her mom about those abandonment issues. Seeing as her mom is played by Sharon Lawrence — whom we would watch in absolutely anything, let alone a show as entertaining as this one — we are so gonna be tuning in. Plus, Lily lands in jail, and we don’t much care for her!

NIP/TUCK (10PM FX)
Those wacky doctors are back as Sean deals with the aftermath of his having been attacked and Matt considers medical school. Those weird-ass promose FX has been airing have done nothing but freak me out, and I may never forget that whole Build-A-Bear storyline from last season, but I still wouldn’t miss this for the world.

NEW & NOTABLE:
NCIS (8PM CBS, Global TV in Canada)
As the team is investigating the murder of a guard in a women’s prison, a riot breaks out. But the bigger question is: How is this series constantly among the top-rated shows on television? Nothing against it, but do you know anybody who watches? Or has even seen it? I’m just sayin’.

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By: Aleks Chan

2009 was predetermined to be the year of change: Jay Leno will take over five hours of NBC programming this fall, PUSHING DAISIES will airs its final episode, and SCRUBS, the long-running medical comedy moves from its home of seven years at NBC to ABC. (Though at its core, SCRUBS was always an ABC show, seeing how the alphabet net’s ABC Studios produced it.) It was also announced last year that this eighth season would be Zac Braff’s final year, if there even is one after this.

Creator Bill Lawrence acknowledges this looming fate by helming a pseudo-creative renaissance for SCRUBS, which returns with two back-to-back episodes that manage to encapsulate the series’ breadth for juxtaposing irreverent humor with affecting emotional moments. It’s like a nostalgic retread for the auteur, one that’s completely aware of its age and doggedness: inner-monologuing and star doc J.D. (Braff) sports a ragged beard, lines growing thick and deep under his eyes. In a quieter moment with his longtime mentor/hero Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley), he airs how he’s weary of his work: “I’m just tired of it all.” Dr. Cox, with no contest, concedes the remark.

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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
GOSSIP GIRL (8PM CW)
Blair attempts to join a prestigious ladies club, which you just know ain’t gonna go well. Meanwhile, Jenny returns to school and prepares to take on some of the snobbier girls. Let the games begin!

NEW & NOTABLE:
SUPERSTARS OF DANCE (8PM NBC)
On the off chance that DANCING WITH THE STARS, AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE weren’t enough to quench your dance thirst.

THE BACHELOR (8PM ABC)
We’re completely and totally appalled by the way ABC is using Jason Mesnick’s kid as a “heartwarming” twist to this increasingly unromantic series. Here’s hoping Jason’s son isn’t dragged into this mess, because the only thing more disturbing than a man using this series to find “true love” is the notion of him using his son as a prop.

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER (8PM ABC Family)
Divorce ain’t cheap, which explains why when Annie asks for one, George moves into the garage to save a little money. While out there, he might wanna look for crap to sell on eBay. Trust us, people will buy anything!

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By Miles Baker
Special Correspondent for theTVaddict.com and self-proclaimed Browncoat.

A note from the author: I’ve tried to make this review as spoiler-free as possible. However, there are minor spoilers for DOLLHOUSE’s pilot episode. Also note, this review is written by a Whedon fanboy.

I think it’s fair to say that Joss Whedon fans are worried about his new series DOLLHOUSE. There have been rumors, production stoppages, a couple of pilots, delays and a few eye brow-raising interviews. But fear not, viewers, DOLLHOUSE’s first episode is mostly good and it’s something to be excited about.

I’m not going to lie, it’s not perfect. There are a few missteps — and some even glaring mistakes — made in the first episode, but there is a lot of potential in the concept, in the characters and in the story.

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Over the course of the next two days, the TV Addict has once again been given the incredible opportunity to take part in a FOX Press Junket. So if you’ve got any questions for any of the following FOX stars, please post away in the comments below and I’ll endeavor to get them answered.

24’s Keifer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub. BONES’ David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. DOLLHOUSE’s Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikiett and Joss Whedon. FRINGE’s John Noble. GLEE’s Cory Monteith. HELL’S KITCHEN’s Gordon Ramsay. HOUSE’s Lisa Edelstein and Olivia Wilde. THE OSBOURNES’ Sharon, Ozzy, Kelly and Jack. TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES’ Brian Austin Green and Garret Dillahunt. And finally, LIE TO ME’s Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines and Ria Torres.

Written by the TV Addict and drawn by the uber-talented Andrew Mok, this week’s edition of The Backlot was inspired by a slew of recent headlines that can be found here, here and here.

For previous editions of The Backlot, click here.

If remarkable performances by the manipulative and brilliant Patty Hewes (Emmy shoe-in Glenn Close) and her deceptively demure legal protégée Ellen Parsons (Australian newcomer Rose Byrne) weren’t reason enough to get you tune in to DAMAGES second season premiere this Wednesday at 10PM on FX. How’s this for a reason; you’re footing the bill!

We present to you Exhibit ‘A’. Upon closer inspection of the DAMAGES ad ripped scanned from the pages of Entertainment Weekly’s recent year-end double issue, we at theTVaddict.com couldn’t help but notice that this week’s second season premiere is presented to you by none other than Cadillac, a member of the GM family of auto makers. A family of auto makers that just so happened to be on the receiving end of a recent government bailout valued in the BILLIONS!

So keep that in mind as you revel in the fierceness that is Patty Hewes and Associates. The commercial free premiere you’re enjoying is actually brought to you by your hard-earned tax dollars. Cadillac, not so much.

On the TV Addict:
We revealed our Top 10 TV Shows of 2008 (plus a second and third opinion), posted 10 Bad Ideas that you just know execs are considering and offered up a printable January 2009 schedule so that you don’t miss a minute of your favorite new and returning shows.

On the REEL Addict:
We asked if you have ever seen a movie that was better than its trailer made it seem, reviewed BEDTIME STORIES and THE SPIRIT (so you don’t have to).

Good News: NY Times reporter Mike Hale claims that NBC Universal is the number one purveyor of webisodes among the major networks. Bad News: So in conclusion, NBC does a really fine job of creating five minute shows for the web. But full-length comedies and dramas, umm… not so much. [Source]

Good News: Alan Sepinwall calls BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s final season opener both “Brilliant and Devastating” Bad News: Not only is it BSG’s final FINAL SEASON OPENER, we’re still waiting for our advanced copy *cough*couch*hint*cough! [Source]

Good News: Viacom and Time Warner Cable have reached an eleventh hour deal ensuring viewers won’t lose access to the likes of Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon. Bad News: Brody Jenner’s BROMANCE lives! [Source]

Good News: Rosie quits her blog. Bad News: Now where will we look to feel good about our spelling and grammar? [Source]

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
LIPSTICK JUNGLE (8PM NBC)
A tip for all current and future showrunners: A sure sign that your network bosses no longer care about your show is when they dump air brand new episode during New Year’s Week. (For further evidence supporting our theory, see Tuesday’s barely watched new episode of ELI STONE)

NEW & NOTABLE:
SUGAR BOWL (8:15PM FOX)
“Go Team!” It’s what we’d be saying if we cared about football.

OCEAN’S 12 (8PM Oxygen)
Clooney, Pitt and Co. rob viewers of two hours of their life as they laugh all the way to the bank. Yup, still bitter!