The TV Addict 

NEW & NOTABLE:
90210 (8PM CW)
What’s a Sweet 16 party without a healthy serving of sour grapes? In this repeat, Naomi’s jealousy pushes her to behave like a rhymes-with-witch at Annie’s party. Something tells us that ain’t exactly gonna bring Ethan running back to her side.

PAULA’S SOUTHERN CHRISTMAS (8PM The Food Network)
If Paula Dean’s making your Christmas meal, there are two things you can count on there being a lot of: Butter and butter. In other words, we are so there.

LAW & ORDER: SVU (9PM NBC, 10PM CTV in Canada)
Someone at NBC thinks the best way to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve is by watching the harrowing, kinda depressing episode in which Mariska Hargitay Detective Benson uses herself as Emmy bad-guy bait by going undercover in prison.

PRIVILEGED (9PM CW)
Guest star alert! Guest star alert! When the girls have a photo shoot, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL judge and, as Tyra would say, “noted fashion photographer” Nigel Barker picks up his camera. Frankly, this repeat would be even more fun if Mr. Jay had shown up. We woulda paid big bucks to see Laurel slap him around.

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Things this TV addict will never get over: STYLISTA? Seriously? Okay, kids, you know the song by heard: “For this they cancelled JACK AND BOBBY, EVERWOOD and VERONICA MARS?”

Best scene stealer: THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Jim Parsons somehow turns every single movement alter ego Sheldon makes into comedy gold. Here’s hoping he takes home some Emmy gold for his efforts.

Person most responsible for a show losing their credibility: The fact that Cloris Leachman managed to remain on DANCING WITH THE STARS as long as she did proved that the show is anything but a talent contest.

Man we love to hate: Not since Larry Hagman’s JR Ewing gave the entire city of DALLAS reason to wanna shoot him have we had so hiss-worthy a bad boy as GOSSIP GIRL’s Chuck Bass, played to slimy perfection by Ed Westwick.

Most unfortunately-accurate title: Wonder if perhaps PUSHING UP DAISIES would have lived longer if it had been given a different name?

Sexiest geek: Sara Rue melted our hard drive as THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Dr. Stephanie Barnett.

Least believable geek: Call us crazy, but we have a feeling that Zachary Levi being named one of People Magazine’s sexiest men alive kinda hurts Chuck Bartowski’s geek cred. Then again, it gives millions of techno heads out there someone to look up to.

Best move: In making the move to New York City, UGLY BETTY remembered to pack the funny… and wisely left Henry behind.

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Favorite supporting character: Forget frienemies Blair and Serena. GOSSIP GIRL’s best duo is, without doubt, Blair and her maid, Dorota.

Most successful homeless guy: Okay, we know Alton Brown – host of The Food Network’s IRON CHEF AMERICA as well as numerous other programs – isn’t actually homeless, but geez… could someone buy the guy a mirror? And a comb?

Most reliable laffer: There’s nothing better — or harder to pull off — than a good farce, which is why WORST WEEK amazes us with its ability to do so each and every week.

Biggest cop-out: We were disappointed when DIRTY SEXY MONEY, obviously uncomfortable with transgender character Carmelita (given surprising depth by real-life transsexual Candis Cayne), took the easy way out by having Patrick’s mistress gunned down.

Best example of a hair don’t: Already one of the most annoying – not to mention classless — personas on SURVIVOR: GABON, Randy didn’t do himself any favor with that Mohawk.

Most rushed episode: In the span of about 10 minutes, the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA crew found out in the fourth season’s fall finale that four of their pals were cylons, processed the info, jumped to Earth and found out it was a barren wasteland.

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NEW & NOTABLE:
GOSSIP GIRL (8PM CW)
One of the most clever aspects of this show probably goes unnoticed by most fans: the episode titles. Tonight’s repeat finds the gang going to Yale in an outing titled “New Haven Can Wait.”

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (8PM Bravo)
Just when we thought this network showed nothing but reality shows centered on obnoxious housewives they go and show one of the most charming, romantic, feel-good films of all time. It’s as if we asked them to give us a Christmas present and they, in true Westley style, replied, “As you wish.”

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (8:30PM ABC)
Who doesn’t love this classic flick? I mean, you’ve got Gene Wilder and… I’m sorry, what? It’s the Johnny Depp version? Oh. Um, never mind.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE (9PM SOAPnet)
There will be showdowns galore tonight! Starr takes the stand at her dad’s trial, and given the fact that she now knows he was ready to steal her baby, we’re thinking Todd’s in deep trouble. Meanwhile, it’s Tess vs. Bess for control of Jess. Let the good times roll!

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NEW & NOTABLE:
THE SIMPSONS (8PM FOX, Global in Canada)
This year’s Treehouse Of Terror episode was a mixed bag, but the closing parody of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” is a classic in its own right.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (8:30PM CARTOON Network)
Whip up some Who-pudding and settle in for this true holiday classic. And if you’re sick of the season and feel like siding with the grouchy green guy, just turn it off before the final five minutes. Everybody wins.

FAMILY GUY (9PM FOX, Global in Canada)
Peter decides that Brian isn’t quite his peppy self, so he brings another dog — the aptly named New Brian — into the house. Think of this as THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD BRIAN.

THE UNIT (10PM CBS)
In this new episode… wait, they’re still making new episodes of this dud? Um, okay. Well, tonight, the team tricks an arrogant government official into getting an up-close and personal view of war.

THE SCIENCE OF OBESITY (10PM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)
Want to know why people get fat? Well order that pizza-n-wings combo, settle in and watch as scientists look into the genetics of weight gain.

NEW & NOTABLE:
CRUSOE (8PM NBC)
Friday and Crusoe relive tribal challenges from the island native’s youth. Why does this sound like an episode of SURVIVOR? In any case, it’s the only new episode being offered by any of the major networks in this time slot, so maybe it’s time to give this show a chance.

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS (8PM SOAPnet)
In a repeat of Tuesday’s episode, Michael Gross — yes, the dad from FAMILY TIES — gives a stunning performance opposite the equally mesmerizing Christian Leblanc. Story wise, Leblanc’s Michael realizes that his dad, River (played by Gross) has done some pretty awful things. Anybody who thinks soap actors are second-rate hacks need look no further then these Emmy-worthy scenes to have that notion wiped right out of their heads.

CHEFOGRAPHY (9PM FOOD)
Everything you ever wanted to know about Rachael Ray. Assuming you ever wanted to know anything about her.

ROME (8PM HBO2)
Catch the first episode of this stunning series, which chronicles the fall of the Roman empire and the resulting rise of an empire. Beautifully filmed, gorgeously written and brought to life by some of the best actors in the biz, including GREYS ANATOMY’s Kevin McKidd and Polly Walker, whose Atia steals every scene she’s in… and some she’s not.

WWE TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS (9PM NBC)
Pro wrestlers head to Iraq — along with several performers — to entertain the troops. Yes, obviously, anybody doing something for our men and women in uniform is a good thing. But there’s something just downright weird about sending people who make big bucks faking fights to entertain people paid peanuts to put their lives on the line. I’m just sayin’.

On the TV Addict:
We poked fun at NBC’s latest cost cutting measures, gave FOX and the CW their mid-season report cards and dissected DEXTER’s third season, highlighting both the positive and negative.

On the REEL Addict:
We reviewed HAMLET 2 on DVD and revealed our favorite Christmas movie.

NEW & NOTABLE:
MAMMA’S BOYS (8PM NBC)
If you missed the premiere of this Ryan Seacrest-produced dating show… um, do yourself a favor, and miss this rerun of it, too.

GOOD EATS (8PM FOOD)
Ever wonder the difference between a country ham and a city ham? Okay, come on, you know you have! Well, tonight’s episode, aptly titled “Ham I Am” has the answer. (Clue: It involves salt.)

ALL MY CHILDREN (8PM SOAPnet)
There’s not a lot this show does right these days, but we’ve gotta give AMC props for this episode, in which Pine Valley gathers to remember and mourn Myrtle, played for over three decades by Eileen Herlie. The much-loved actress passed away on October 8 of this year.

NUMB3RS (10PM CBS)
Charlie is forced to work with his nemesis. Having never seen this show, that’s about all we can tell you, but there are two good reasons to catch this episode. First, you can always be assured that wacky chaos will ensue when a good guy is forced to work with his nemesis. And second… well, it ain’t like there’s a whole lot of new shows on tonight!

DEXTER (10PM Showtime)
Did the debate between thetvaddict (”hated it!”) and CT (”loved it!”) leave you wishing you’d watched this killer drama’s season finale? Well, here’s your chance to catch the episode — titled “Do You Take Dexter Morgan?” — and weigh in with your thoughts!

DAYS OF OUR LIVES (11PM SOAPnet)
What do you do when your beau wants to cuddle… but you’re terrified he’ll pat your pregnancy pad and realize that — whoops! — you aren’t actually carrying his child? Tune in and find out how Nicole handles the age old dilemma!

For Jenny’s comprehensive TVGuide, Read the rest of this entry »

In our continued effort to fulfill our fantasy of becoming the next Patrick Roy, Michael Ausiello, Tim Goodman Scott Adams, this TV Addict is thrilled to introduce Andrew Mok, an incredibly talented artist who has been kind enough to come on board and raise the bar of what we hope will become weekly editions of “The Backlot”.

This week’s installment was inspired by Deadline Hollywood Daily’s recent post outlining some of the measures NBC/Universal Overlord Jeff Zucker has implemented to curb spending in these dour economic times.

With yesterday’s Legen… wait for it… dary news that Neil Patrick Harris will be hosting SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’s inaugural episode of 2009 on January 10th. This TV Addict can’t help but wonder; will Neil Patrick Harris’ monologue include:

(a) A song.
(b) A magic trick.
(c) A Britney Spears cameo.
(d) All of the above.

Post away with your prediction.

Thanks to PopCandy for the Tip!