The TV Addict 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, CityTV in Canada)
Print media continues to take a beating when a Marc and Betty’s YETI assignment reveals a shocking look at Mode’s financial history.

AMERICAN IDOL (8PM FOX, CTV in Canada)
After last night’s train-wreck of an episode would anyone really object if Ryan sent all twelve contestants packing?

30 ROCK (9:30PM NBC, CityTV in Canada)
In yet another installment that will have Gizmodo asking “So What’s Up With the iPhone Love on 30 ROCK?” Liz sends Kenneth into the crazed metropolis to retrieve her lost cell phone.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
HELL’S KITCHEN (9PM FOX)
The 13 remaining chefs must serve breakfast to 50 young football players and cheerleaders. But on the plus side, how much do cheerleaders eat, really?

THE BLACK LIST: VOLUME TWO (8PM HBO)
Just before we bid adieu to Black History Month, HBO presents a second compilation of interviews with influential black Americans, including film maker Melvin Van Peebles, environmental activist Majora Carter, artist Kara Walker and country-music star Charley Pride.

ER (10PM NBC, CTV in Canada)
If you ask us, Banfield is missing out on a fairly lucrative opportunity when she and her husband look into adoption after in vitro fertilization proves frustrating. Just ask Octomom.

BEING ERICA (10PM SOAPnet)
Or as we’re calling it, BEING ARIEL. Which will all make sense after you listen to tomorrow’s new TV Addict Podcast that we’ll probably get around to posting on Saturday.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, CityTV in Canada)
Daniel’s got a new lady. Wilhelmina’s got a new guy. But both are going to face big problems tonight. Meanwhile, Betty’s attempt to put together a fitting tribute for Claire’s 60th birthday party might wind up putting someone else in the spotlight!

GREY’S ANATOMY (9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or busy kevetching about that woman who had eight babies and is now asking people to send her money so she can support them!), there’s a big crossover event tonight revolving around Addison’s brother, Archer (played by guest star Grant Show). We suspect the best part of this will be the chance to watch Meredith bristle as McDreamy works closely with his trampy ex-wife.

GREY’S ANATOMY/PRIVATE PRACTICE (9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or busy kevetching about that woman who had eight babies and is now asking people to send her money so she can support them!), there’s a big crossover event tonight revolving around Addison’s brother, Archer (played by guest star Grant Show). We suspect the best part of this will be the chance to watch Meredith bristle as McDreamy works closely with his trampy ex-wife.

THE OFFICE (9PM NBC)
Michael’s road trip continues. But since he’s become so wildly annoying as to be unfunny, let’s focus on what else is going on. Apparently, Angela’s new cat causes a bit of an uproar, while Dwight and Jim’s attempt at party planning is… well, do we need to even finish that sentence?

30 ROCK (9:30PM NBC, CityTV in Canada)
Oh, Liz Lemon. Will you never learn? The poor girl has decided her first date with Drew (aka Jon Hamm of MAD MEN) should be on Valentine’s Day! Yeah, no pressure there!

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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, CityTV in Canada)
Daniel’s got something to hide, and Betty is caught up in family matters. In other words, just another day in her world. On the plus side, that cute neighbor of Betty’s seems to be taking a renewed interested in her, so maybe things are looking up.

THE OFFICE (9PM NBC, Global in Canada)
Ugh. Michael goes on yet another road trip. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Pam is along for the ride this time instead of Dwight. But I’m not 100% convinced even she can make Michael more palatable at this point.

SUPERNATURAL (9PM CW)
A sexy siren (is there any other kind?) lures three men to their doom. And when the Winchester boys investigate, it’s brother-vs-brother thanks to the evil temptress!

GREY’S ANATOMY (9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
Having apparently not learned a thing from every other doctor or intern at Seattle Grace, Lexie demands that she and Mark make their relationship public. Meanwhile, having not learned a thing from his girlfriend’s nearly psychotic narcissistic whining, Derek tries figuring out just the right way to propose. (Dude, trust us: No matter what you do, she’ll kevetch about it later.)

30 ROCK (9:30PM NBC, CityTV in Canada)
Can the unlucky-in-love Liz Lemon finally get her act together and impress her sexy new neighbor (special guest Jon Hamm)? Yeah, wouldn’t bet on it.

PRIVATE PRACTICE (10PM NBC, “A” in Canada)
Crossover alert! When Addison’s brother has a seizure, she calls in ex-hubby Derek (of GREY’S ANATOMY) for a consult. Translation: This show is in trouble, and they need to lure in viewers any way they can. Ha! You can’t fool us, sly ABC executives!

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Mad about Jon Hamm? You’re not the only one. On February 5th everybody’s favorite “Mad Man” drops by 30 ROCK to play Dr. Drew Baird, a new neighbor and object of Liz Lemon’s affection.

Unfortunately for Lemon, Hamm promises that, “There are various attempts to strike up chemistry, all of which seem to go comically and horribly wrong.” Fortunately for us 30 ROCK addicts, Hamm had us at “comically and horribly wrong!”

Class Act of the Week: Elisabeth Hasselbeck
While the cynic in us is still pondering the significance of Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s all black ensemble post election day on THE VIEW. This TV Addict will give her credit for as Defamer so eloquently put it, delivering one helluva concession speech (Not to mention summing up the energy for a fist bump with frequent verbal sparring partner Joy Behar.)

Opportunity Wasted of the Week: CNN’s Election night hologram
Not only was CNN’s reported 40 HD cameras at an estimated cost of $300 – $400,000 completely unnecessary on what turned out to be one of America’s most memorable elections ever. Correspondent Jessica Yellin completely botched her ‘lines’ by forgetting the one phrase every viewer was waiting with baited breath to hear, “Help Me Wolf Blitzer… you’re my only hope.”

Poor Scheduling Decision of the Week: CW Tuesday
How many of you found time to catch last week’s installments of 90210 and PRIVILEGED during Tuesday’s historic election?

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THE GOOD: Following a funny, albeit somewhat predictable cameo by Oprah, the never-ending hilarity that was the Tracey versus Jenna Freaky-Friday feud and the overall brilliance (or lack-there-of) of Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy (Love how his own over-medicated in-flight hallucination was responsible for confusing his assistant Jonathan with M. Night Shyamalan!), this TV Addict is ready to call it. 30 ROCK, thanks to its penchant for cramming a ridiculous amount of jokes into twenty-two minutes with a special shout out to Tina Fey’s Princess Leah impersonation to escape jury duty and Tracey Jordan’s Claw Hand (Trust me, you have to see the episode!) — is officially ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT’s heir apparent.

MORE GOOD: While this TV Addict could focus on the brilliant manner in which the writers of THE OFFICE have managed to keep Jim and Pam’s relationship afloat while at the same time giving Pam an opportunity to spread her wings in New York City. I’d like to award the fake Gold Medal concocted by 30 ROCK’s Jack Donaghy (Once again, if you missed that reference, you have to watch last night’s episode of 30 ROCK) to Mindy Kaling. Who continues to be the only woman outside of Sarah Silverman who can illicit huge laughs from a highly inappropriate yet perfectly timed rape joke.

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Good News: This TV Addict just devoured Entertainment Weekly’s Jeff Jensen scathingly accurate look at the disappointment that is HEROES season three. Bad News: Leaving me once again questioning as to why exactly I renewed my subscription to the magazine that most likely won’t arrive in my mailbox until Monday (if I’m lucky!) [see article]

Good News: The seemingly never-ending US election is this close to reaching its exciting conclusion. Bad News: Coinciding with the end of the election to end all elections will be the daily can’t miss blowups between the women of THE VIEW [click for today's Elizabeth smack-down]

Good News: Next week’s season premiere of 30 ROCK is now streaming for free online on over on hulu.com, myspace.com and nbc.com. Bad News: None of which are available to fans outside of the United States of America.

Good News: Dan Byrd, star of last season’s most under-watched comedic gem ALIENS IN AMERICA has just been cast as a possible apprentice to Sylar on HEROES. Bad News: Possibly putting an end to this TV Addict’s short-lived boycott of the show come January 2009. Stay tuned…. [source]

Is anyone else still scratching their head over NBC’s decision to offer up a FREE iTunes download of 30 ROCK’s season premiere a week early when you purchase the October 27th issue of TV Guide Magazine? I mean don’t get me wrong, this TV Addict is all for free iTunes downloads, after-all, who doesn’t love free stuff [see today's previous post.] I’m just not so sure that TV Guide was the right strategic partner considering that the once mighty guide now finds itself in such dire financial straits that it was recently sold for $1 [no really, one dollar!] That and, I’d hazard to guess that the people who still use TV Guide as a “Guide to What’s On” include some of the few remaining folks who are old enough to remember when 30 Rockefeller Center was built. Not exactly NBC’s desired demographic. Paging Entertainment Weekly… anyone?

With the one caveat being Michael wanting a “Golden Shower” of his very own, was I the only TV Addict who found last night’s episode of THE OFFICE quite possibly the least funny of the entire series?

Now that 90210 has dropped Jessica Walter as a series regular and with her, the impetus for the Mills family move to West Beverly — this TV Addict can’t help but wonder how long until showrunners Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah and newcomer Rebecca Kirshner decide to take the next logical step, send the rest of the Mills family back to Kansas and refocus the show on the only family anybody cares about — The Taylors [Jackie, Kelly and Silver].

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Should the country that chooses NBC’s abhorrent KNIGHT RIDER [7.6 million viewers] over ABC’s whimsically original [albeit slightly confusing] PUSHING DAISIES [6.3 million viewers] seriously be trusted to vote the next President the United States?

Does FOX’s full season pick-up of FRINGE officially get them off the hook for the early cancellations of such TV Addict favorites like KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, UNDECLARED, DRIVE, FIREFLY and REUNION.

Who are you — as Frank would put it — gayer for? 30 ROCK’s Jamie [Val Emmich], UGLY BETTY’s Jesse [also played by Val Emmich] or LIPSTICK JUNGLE’s Kirby [see our interview].

Which Mitch Pileggi character-of-the week would you like by your side in a bar fight? Grandpa Winchester on SUPERNATURAL, SONS OF ANARCHY’s White Supremacist Leader Ernest Darby, or Kevin’s BROTHERS & SISTERS boss Browne Carter.

Is ‘free’ still too high of a price to pay for the new MTV Series Paris Hilton’s MY NEW BFF on iTunes?

In celebration of NBC Universal finally deciding to get their head out of their collective arse come to their senses and return to the iTunes ecosystem, Apple and the Massive Dynamics-esque corporation known as General Electric have made the savvy decision to release some of our favorite shows in both Standard and High Definition for FREE. [Limited time and US iTunes Customers Only]

To download of some of your favorites shows like HEROES, THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, LIFE, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, MONK, LIPSTICK JUNGLE, EUREKA and PSYCH, simply click here and incidently, kiss your free hard drive space goodbye. The HD files are huge!