SATURDAY, JULY 7
Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis The producers of the 2005 Live 8 event are at it again, this time staging simultaneous rock concerts in nine cities on the seven continents to call attention to the hottest issue of the day, global warming. The concerts will take place during a 24-hour period in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro and Istanbul, and they will include Madonna, The Police, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, John Mayer, Melissa Etheridge, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Shakira, Black Eyed Peas, Fall Out Boy, Enrique Iglesias, Duran Duran and many more -- and we're certain not one of these talented artists will travel by private plane, limo or SUV to any of the concert destinations! The networks of NBC will offer all kinds of coverage. Here's the rundown: NBC will run a three-hour highlights special including live moments from the U.S. concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Ann Curry and Carson Daly are the hosts. Bravo will present 18 hours of live concert coverage and highlights starting at 8 a.m. ET. Sundance Channel and Universal HD will show live concert coverage and highlights for 22 hours beginning at 4 a.m. ET. CNBC will telecast seven hours in primetime starting at 7 p.m. ET. MSNBC will offer coverage throughout the day with live reports from New York and London. Mun2 and Telemundo will run specials featuring performances by Latin artists in today's event at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Avenging Angel (Hallmark Channel, 9 p.m. ET) Premiere. Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) plays a pastor, husband and father in 1875 Texas who suffers an unspeakable tragedy and later roams the hill country as a nameless vigilante, devoid of emotion and determined to bring justice to those who have wronged others. Cynthia Watros (the much-missed Libby on Lost) co-stars as a former prostitute trying to make a new life for herself and her young daughter.
Green Me Up (DIY, 9 p.m. ET) Premiere. DIY tonight will offer a two-hour block of programming dedicated to environmental concerns, beginning at 9 p.m. with Green Me Up, in which two families compete to cut their energy consumption and reduce their utility bills. At 10 p.m. the network will repeat the special Your Best Built Home. It is filled with information on how to make a home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
SUNDAY, JULY 8
Roots: The Next Generations (TV One, 8 p.m. ET) TV One's telecast last spring of Roots, which marked the 30th anniversary of that classic television miniseries, set record ratings for the network, so it is likely that this presentation of the 1979 follow-up miniseries Roots: The Next Generations will enjoy similar success. Next Generations continues the saga of Alex Haley's family from the post-Civil War era up to and including his search for his roots in the Sixties, which led him to Africa. The fourteen-hour event will begin tonight from 8-10 p.m. ET and run thru Friday, July 13 in that time period. (Each two-hour installment will be repeated at 10 p.m. on those nights.) Those twelve hours will be repeated next Saturday, July 14 from noon-midnight and the two hour finale will be seen Sunday, July 15 at 8 p.m. Each episode will be hosted by cast members from this massive production, including Irene Cara, Telma Hopkins, Lynne Moody, Debbi Morgan and Kristoff St. John, all reflecting on the experience of being a part of this television milestone. Other actors featured in Next Generations include Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland, Marlon Brando, Paul Winfield, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Howard E. Rollins Jr. and James Earl Jones as Alex Haley. Viewers can visit www.tvoneonline.com to learn how they can trace their African roots.
Cory in the House (Disney Channel, 8:30 p.m. ET) Raven-Symone reprises her role as Cory's big sister Raven Baxter from That's So Raven in a special episode in which Cory invites her to redesign the White House tour guide uniforms. Comic complications ensue when Raven has a strange premonition that prompts her to tackle the President.
The 4400 (USA Network, 9 p.m. ET) Diana locates her sister April, who took Promicin and developed an ability that has put her life in danger. Also, Shawn is approached to run for public office. Kevin Tighe and Natasha Gregson-Wagner are the guest stars.
Science of Speed Eating (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m. ET) Premiere. Have you ever wondered where all those hot dogs go when competitive eaters are in full devouring mode -- especially Takeru Kobayashi, that skinny guy who won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island for six consecutive years? What is happening inside their bodies? Why don't they barf or pass out? How can they swallow so much food in so little time? Doctors study the stomach of Tim Janus, a Wall Street day trader and top ranked competitive eater, in search of answers to those questions and others, including concerns about common digestive and weight gain issues. Also, viewers will be able to follow the progress of competitive eating rookie Loren "Bubba" Yarborough as he trains for the Nathan's challenge, and tour the professional eating circuit with Sonya Thomas, a 105-pound woman who holds several eating records and claims she can consume 18 pounds of food and water at one time.
The Dead Zone (USA Network, 10 p.m. ET) Johnny is pulled into a murder mystery that is more than a decade old at an Alice in Wonderland-themed circus -- and learns that his son may have inherited some of his psychic gifts.
Entourage (HBO, 10 p.m. ET) Drama takes the mayor of Beverly Hills out for a night on the town, Ari mishandles a top-secret script and Eric is the bearer of bad news for a Hollywood heavyweight.
American Body Shop (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. This new comedy series revolves around the eccentric workers at an auto body shop on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Shop owner Sam (Peter Hulne) and his crew resort to all kinds of shady methods and desperate measures to keep new customers coming.
MONDAY, JULY 9
Spielberg on Spielberg (TCM, 8 p.m. ET) Premiere. 90 minutes. Steven Spielberg reflects on his long and distinguished career as a director, which began with a segment of the pilot for the television series Night Gallery (starring Joan Crawford) and continued with the classic made-for-television movie Duel; the blockbusters Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park; the acclaimed dramas The Color Purple, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan and a couple of duds, including 1941 and War of the Worlds. At this point it is impossible to imagine the last four decades without Spielberg's influence on American popular culture.
Dog Whisperer Week (National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m. ET) National Geographic Channel this week will repeat dog behavior expert Cesar Millan's favorite episodes of his popular series Dog Whisperer Monday-Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. On Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. the network will premiere two new episodes, one featuring an aggressive Kerry blue terrier, the other a loveable bearded collie turned dictator. The top three fan favorite episodes, as determined last month by viewer voting on www.ngcdogwhisperer.com, will run Friday from 8-11 p.m.
In Pot We Trust (Showtime, 8:30 p.m. ET) Premiere. The value of medicinal marijuana is the subject of this documentary, which focuses on five chronically ill patients who continue to receive it from the United States government even though changes in the law have ended this practice, leaving millions to suffer without it.
The Closer (TNT, 9 p.m. ET) This detective drama continues its best season yet with an extended 70-minute episode in which a young African American girl is abducted on her way home from school, propelling Brenda and the team into a race against the clock to find her. As the pressure mounts and the investigation points toward a convicted sex offender who is now on parole, Sgt. Gabriel ill advisedly takes matters into his own hands. Kyra Sedgwick stars.
Greek (ABC Family, 9 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. This new drama about college students at fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University centers on freshman Rusty, a geek determined to make his college experience more exciting than his high school years, and his sister Casey, a sophomore comfortably ensconced in snooty sorority Zeta Beta Zeta who doesn't care to have her brother intrude on her good times. Together with her hunky boyfriend Evan, the president of the Omega Chi fraternity, Casey is considered "campus royalty."
The Bronx is Burning (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET) Miniseries Premiere. Based on the 2005 book Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning by Jonathan Mahler, this eight-hour miniseries chronicles the frenzied summer of 1977 in New York City, when the Yankees were powered to the top by owner George Steinbrenner while the city suffered a punishing heat wave, a disastrous blackout and a surging crime rate, and the serial killer known as the Son of Sam terrorized the streets, killing young people. John Turturro, Oliver Platt and Daniel Sunjata star. Beginning next week, the remaining seven episodes of Bronx is Burning will be telecast on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
TUESDAY, JULY 10
Eureka (Sci Fi Channel, 9 p.m. ET) Season Premiere. A series of sudden deaths, in which the victims spontaneously combust, have the residents of Eureka buzzing as season two begins. Are the deaths due to the Phoenix Effect, brought about by solar flares caused by an eclipse, as Taggart insists, or is something else going on? This is Eureka -- what do you think? (For those of you who don't know, the title town is populated by geniuses brought together by the government to conduct top-secret research.) Colin Ferguson and Joe Morton star.
Into Alaska with Jeff Corwin (Travel Channel, 9 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. Wildlife expert, anthropologist and Animal Planet personality Jeff Corwin explores the 49th state in this eight-part series. Included: visits to Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island, Lake Louise, Chugach National Park and Tongass National Forest, as well as a number of five-star hotels and a luxury cruise ship. Corwin's fans will be happy to know that he takes time to observe brown bears, grizzly bears, gigantic moose and other local wildlife.
Singing Bee (NBC, 9:30 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. Contestants are challenged to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs, even when the accompanying band stops playing along. Joey Fatone is the host. If you enjoy this show -- and we think you will -- you'll want to tune in to Fox on Wednesday and Thursday (at 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively) for the very similar Don't Forget the Lyrics.
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo, 10 p.m. ET) Kathy jumps at the chance to host the Gay Adult Video Awards and plans a comedy tour at the Arizona State Penitentiary.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8 p.m. ET) Ninety minutes. The remaining 14 contestants give it their all. Tune in tomorrow to see two of them learn that their best wasn't good enough.
Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush (HBO, 8 p.m. ET) Premiere. This documentary explores ten years in the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the legendary "Boys of Summer." It begins in 1947 when Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in the major leagues, continues through five World Series defeats and the Dodgers' 1955 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, and concludes in 1957, when the team shockingly relocated to the West Coast.
Footballers Wive$ (BBC America, 9 p.m. ET) While flying back to England, Tanya meets hunky new Earls Park player Paulo Bardosa and his partner, the formidable international magazine publisher Eva de Wolfe -- played by the formidable international television star Joan Collins! When she learns that Eva is planning the Egyptian themed wedding of Tremaine and Liberty, Tanya schemes to get an invite so that she can get close to Paulo.
Don't Forget the Lyrics (Fox, 9:30 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. If you liked Singing Bee last night on NBC you'll love this variation on the same theme. Contestants try to sing ten songs correctly, and if they do, they win the top prize of $1 million. Wayne Brady is the host.
Rescue Me (FX, 10 p.m. ET) The crew reacts to Jerry's suicide, Tommy's manhood is called into question after he suffers several embarrassing romantic encounters and Lou resorts to blackmail in his ongoing efforts to recruit a new probie for the house's basketball team.
TV Land Confidential (TV Land, 10 p.m. ET) Season Premiere. Two episodes. The TV Land series that reveals surprising secrets and insider information about classic movies and television programs returns for a second season. In the first of two new installments tonight, learn the inside stories about some of the oddest TV characters of all time, including the Sweathogs of Welcome Back Kotter, Lenny and Squiggy of Laverne & Shirley and the Reverend Jim and Balki of Taxi. In the second, find out how Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia got motivated for the dance scene in Big, why the dance scenes in Saturday Night Fever are so hot, why Christopher Lloyd almost turned down the role of Dr. Emmett L. Brown in Back to the Future and how the producers of National Lampoon's Animal House found the perfect school at which to film their raucous comedy.
Bodog Music Battle of the Bands (fuse, 10 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. This ten-episode reality series will provide a behind the scenes look at a nationwide music tour in which ten bands (chosen out of 7,000 that registered online in 2006) compete for a $1 million grand prize that includes on-air exposure on fuse, international marketing support from Bodog Music and, presumably, instant fame. The judges are Johnny Rotten, Billy Duffy of The Cult and Punk Goddess.
THURSDAY, JULY 12
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (BBC America, 8 p.m. ET) U.S. Season Premiere. Bombastic chef Gordon Ramsay takes arrogant charge and reverses the failing fortunes of four more struggling restaurants in the third season of this high-stress reality series. In tonight's episode, he heads off to Spain to rescue a young chef from financial disaster.
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 9 p.m. ET) Live. Two more dancers are sent home.
Burn Notice (USA Network, 10 p.m. ET) An assassin with a grudge against Michael arrives in Miami, and as Michael sets out to capture his would be killer he also tries to help his childhood friend Bill, whose 18-year-old daughter has been lured into a prostitution ring.
Hard Shine (TLC, 10 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. Hot rod craftsman Jimmy Shine is mentor to five trainees in this emotion fueled new reality series, which will conclude with one of the five receiving a permanent position at the renowned SO-CAL Speed Shop. The trainees include a self-described gang-banger who has been in and out of jail for half of his life and wants to go straight; a hot rod fanatic who lost her inspiration when her father died in a tragic accident; a man who walks away from a 16-year job to gamble on pursuing his dream; a loner who spent much of his teens in juvenile detention and is trying to put his drinking and drug problems behind him; and an artist who wants to focus on building hot rods.
General Hospital: Night Shift (SOAPnet, 11 p.m. ET) Series Premiere. According to SOAPnet, one need not be a viewer of the daytime drama General Hospital to enjoy this primetime spin-off, which features many of the same characters. The series begins with an explosion at the title institution that leaves Dr. Patrick Blake injured and his girlfriend, Dr. Robin Scorpio, struggling to maintain her composure while her man receives tender loving care from a number of sexy young nurses. Meanwhile, hospital volunteer Maxie Jones is caught in a compromising position with rookie police officer Coop Barrett and computer geek Damian Spinelli suffers a gunshot wound in his foot. Steve Burton, Kimberly McCullough, Jason Thompson, Kirsten Storms, Julie Marie Berman, Rebecca Herbst, Kent King, Jason Gerhardt, Josh Duhon, Lindze Letherman, Kiko Ellsworth, Sonya Eddy, Minae Noji, Bradford Anderson and Derk Cheetwood are among the actors who reprise their GH roles on Night Shift. Billy Dee Williams also stars.
FRIDAY, JULY 13
Drive (Fox, 8 p.m. ET) Series Finale. Two episodes. Last January Fox regarded this drama about a mysterious cross-country road race as having the potential to become its very own Lost. In fact, senior executives at Fox parent News Corp. wanted the network to hype the heck out of it at the winter Television Critics Association tour. That dream died with the show's low-rated two-hour premiere in February, and Drive was yanked after only four hours had been telecast. The network will burn off the remaining two episodes tonight. The star of Drive is Nathan Fillion, a talented young actor who deserves much greater success than he has had here or in Joss Whedon's short-lived Fox fiasco Firefly.
Return to Jericho (CBS, 8 p.m. ET) This special episode, which first aired just before Jericho returned from its prolonged midseason break, recaps the storylines from the first eleven episodes of the series and provides the perfect opportunity for new viewers to begin watching the show. And that's what the already legendary nut campaign was all about, right? At 9 p.m., stay tuned for The Day Before, the episode that launched the show's spring return. It flashes back 36 hours before the bombs began going off (in the first episode of the series) and reveals new information about Jake and Hawkins.
Monk (USA Network, 9 p.m. ET) Season Premiere. Season six opens with the return of Sarah Silverman as Marci Maven, Adrian's biggest and most obsessive fan. (She even runs a Monk site on the Web.) Marci seeks Monk's help when her neighbor insists that her dog mauled his wife to death, despite Marci's insistence that her pet is dead. Silverman first appeared as Marci back in season two. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford star. Sharon Lawrence also guests.
Doctor Who (Sci Fi Channel, 9 p.m. ET) Martha experiences her first voyage in the Tardis as the Doctor takes her back in time to Elizabethan England to help the one and only William Shakespeare -- who is under the control of deadly witch-like creatures! David Tennant and Freeman Agyeman star.
Psych (USA Network, 10 p.m. ET) Season Premiere. Season two begins with Shawn and Gus hired to protect the acerbic, Simon Cowell-like judge of a hit talent series called American Duos when it becomes clear that someone is trying to kill him. Tim Curry is wickedly funny as the Cowell-inspired judge, and Gina Gershon (the formidable Fabia on Ugly Betty) is a hoot as his loopy co-star, who bears a more than passing resemblance to Paula Abdul. Don't miss this episode -- the charismatic Dule Hill and James Roday (who co-wrote the episode with series creator Steve Franks) have never been better.