what to watch tonight: New Year's Eve 2010!

When I was 18 and had just moved to Southern California, I was starstuck as could be, and jumped at the opportunity to dance on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve party. As a kid, watching the countdowns were the event of New Year's -- at least for a nerdy kid like myself -- so being about to be a part of one sounded pretty perfect. [Spoiler alert: Yes, the L.A. segments are pre-taped!] So on an early Saturday morning in December, my dorm roommate and I drove up to L.A. in our "party" outfits, and nervously waited for direction. They reminded us that "everyone" is on TV, and to keep smiling, and to keep having fun. But after a long 14 hour day of standing around watching Hall & Oates take their mark, I was pretty much over the whole TV taping thing. And naturally, it kind of ruined the experience of watching Dick Clark's Rockin' NYE. Now each year I can't help but judge the suckers who got roped into drinking those empty cups and counting down that 3 week early 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-Happy New Year!! I suppose the up side of the experience was the fact that I ended up being sick on December 31, stuck at home in bed. It was an alright consulation knowing that my TV self was "at the hottest of hot L.A. clubs" living it up, TV dancing, and drinking fake TV champagne.

Here are the NYE parties in a box for tonight!
ABC: Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2010 at 11:30p
FOX: Billboard's New Year's Eve Live at 11p
NBC: New Year's Eve Live at 11:30p

what to watch tonight: Wednesday the 30th.

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
MTV: The Real World (DC) at 10p

what to watch tonight: Tuesday the 29th.

TONIGHT'S SPECIALS:
CBS: The 32nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Tabatha's Salon Takeover at 10p

This week: New Year's Eve

It's almost 2010! And there's nothing new on TV... unless you check out PBS. (They've got new specials every night this week!) Oh, and those silly sports channels do too -- There are some games of all sorts. Football. Hockey. Pick your addiction. I'm going to take the week off from TiVo and put my record player and new fondue set to use. To the 1960's, I go. But if you don't feel like doing that.. Here's a lovely New Year's Eve episode of The Hills.

The Hills (Season 1) - MTV Shows

Happy New Year, NOT so guilty TV readers! Don't be like LC. Get a kiss at midnight.

Merry Christmas!!

Here's wishing you exactly what you've earned! And all that good stuff.

what to watch tonight: Tuesday the 22nd.

MOVIES ON TV TONIGHT:

ABC: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at 8:30p
Disney: Nightmare Before Christmas at 8p
FX: Home Alone at 8p

SOMETHING NEW:
History: How the Earth Was Made at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Oxygen: Bad Girls Club at 10p

what to watch tonight: Monday the 21st.

It's getting so very close to Christmas! Tonight's TV options includes a lot of re-runs, but set your DVR for some of these new episodes before you make the trek to your local mall.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
ABC: I want a dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! at 8p

SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T SEEN:
Bravo: Inside the Actor's Studio: Kate Hudson at 7p
NBC: The Sing-off at 8p
TNT: The Closer at 9p; Men of a Certain Age at 10p
TVLand: Make My Day at 10p

what to watch this weekend: 12/18-12/20

MUST WATCH:

ABC Family: Pixar Short Films at 10p on Friday

SEASON PREMIERES:
TLC: Four Weddings at 10p on Friday
E!: Kendra at 9p on Sunday

SEASON FINALES:
TLC: Say Yes to the Dress at 9p on Friday

CBS: Survivor: Samoa at 8p on Sunday

what to watch tonight: Thursday the 17th.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
NBC: SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas at 8p [click for promo]

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Real Housewives of Orange County at 10p; Watch What Happens Live (one hour episode! with Sarah Jessica Parker!) at 12a

Guest Blogger: Michelle: Men of a Certain Age

As a woman of a certain age, I wasn’t sure I was the demographic this show was aiming for. But, I have to say, after viewing the first two episodes this show is going to remain on my DVR record list.

There are three main characters, Joe (Ray Romano), Owen (Andre Braugher) and Terry (Scott Bakula). They’re friends from college and have had varying successes in their lives. Terry is a has-been actor still doing temp office work to pay the bills between acting gigs, Owen works as a car salesman at the dealership owned by his father and Joe owns a party supply store and is separated from his wife. Doesn’t sound like must-see television, does it? Trust me, it is. Joe is also a compulsive gambler, Owen is trying to balance providing for his family and working for his father and Terry is still trying to get back into the acting game. Finally, a one hour drama where the men can be flawed, damaged, weak and floundering, but are still men! Not one of these characters is perfect, physically or emotionally. How refreshing!

I am not a big Ray Romano fan, but I have to say that his performance in the first two episodes has pleasantly surprised me. He plays Joe’s sadness and confusion about the future of his marriage in a subtle and believable way. Underlying all that is the fact that he is a compulsive gambler, which is what destroyed his marriage. I have to say I am impressed with how complex all the characters are across the board. Andre Braugher also gives an impressive performance. As a fan of his work, I’m used to seeing him play strong, outspoken, assertive characters. In this show he is beaten down by his overbearing and ambitious father/boss and he plays it brilliantly. Scott Bakula is also impressive playing the aging actor. He imbues Terry with a quiet desperation that is only too prevalent out here in LA, yet he also manages to make Terry sympathetic and likable at the same time. All three men are able to portray flawed characters in a very real way and you feel like you’re a fly on the wall watching three real friends going through their day.

Men of a Certain Age may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the writing is intelligent, complex and realistic and the acting is top notch. And I for one am always encouraged when I see shows that highlight characters that are older than 25 years old. If you don’t have a show you already watch or TiVo on Monday nights at 10pm ET, I suggest you give this show a whirl! - Michelle Sekine

Mondays at 10p ET on TNT

Tonight: Launch My Line

It's been 3 weeks with Bravo's "new hit" Launch My Line. I wanted to give it a chance; I really wanted to like it. But after 3 weeks, I've gotta say what I said after week 1: it's not Project Runway.

I feel like it's probably a pretty obvious comparison, but who are we kidding? It's a show about fashion, with a work room, designers (and experts), gay men giving advice, and a runway finish each week that chooses the best and the worst designs. Sounds familiar. Sounds very familiar. (like the Russ that Rachel dates after Ross on Friends.)

When Project Runway started, it was very edgy. Cool shots of New York City... A behind the scenes look at what it takes to start a fashion line that matters. We saw the sweat that went into the creation of, as Tim would say, very fashion forward pieces. It was aspirational. If the designers were impressive, we looked forward to rooting for them each week. If the designers were terrible, we looked forward to Heidi's "auf wiedersehen." The casting was brilliant in those first seasons. "What happened to Andre??" - still a favorite quotable moment. And Tim was always so charming.

So what happened [to Project Runway]? Well this year, I personally couldn't grasp watching Tim and Heidi all packaged up in Lifetime wrapping. The red carpet stuff was very lame. The voice in all of the promos was misplaced. Nothing about watching Lifetime felt right. And the show itself didn't feel the same. Leaving NYC to bring the work room to L.A. made Project Runway feel like a TV show. Now instead of getting a glimpse at passionate designers struggling to make something new and different, we watched three average Janes make clothes in front of a camera. The challenges started slipping a couple seasons back when the product placement settled in. But even more, with movie themed fashion challenges on Lifetime, (I hate to say it but..) Project Runway lost it's mojo. In it's prime [on Bravo], Project Runway, was my favorite show - We all have our favorite shows. But at some point, the idea gets tired, or the characters get married, whatever it is, time goes by, and we have to move on [to Launch My Line].

This time around, Launch My Line (like The Fashion Show) feels like a TV show. It's the same formula with a little bit of a twist. This time around we have a group of people who have had very successful careers in different areas, but now think that they deserve a fashion line. (And they've been paired with experts who will do all the actual construction for them.) I feel like the concept lacks passion, as well as inspiration. The "designers" don't really know what they're doing. (However, in their defense, the rules and the challenges kind of suck. They had to pick out all of their fabric the first week, and I feel that telling them what type of piece to make every week doesn't really let them design much of anything. Very odd.) Also, the strange set up has been cast with a much older group than [that other show] ever had. Sigh. I don't believe that I'm the only one feeling like I just want to see struggling designers who really want to make it. These "designers" have had other jobs. When they get auf'd - oops, I mean - when their line gets dropped, they've still got a way to pay the bills. They don't need to look up to D-squared like Christian needed to look up to Tim. And there's no fun in that!

Let's end on a positive note. Launch My Line has it's watchable points. Not being Project Runway, these designers and their experts are trying to make one cohesive line. It's interesting to look at what they've put together thus far all in one rack, and to decide if they are staying focused. I have trouble with the fact that each challenge is steering the look, and the line. (As well as finding anyone I really like.) But I'll give it another shot next week. For now, as D-squared said, "Interesting doesn't always mean fabulous."

Last Night: Bad Girls Club

I know, I know. I know. It's so bad. But I can't help it. I just keep watching. (I'm not alone. Bad Girls Club viewer numbers went up 28% from last week!) Do that many people like drama? Hm. I don't think so. I think it's just a guilty pleasure type of thing.

It's no good. We know it. But we keep watching. Because it's shocking. It's unbelievable.. My eyes are wide open at almost every episode's finish! What??

These girls are nuts. Or they've just got a lot more anger than anyone I've ever known. Wow. Florina and Natalie's "there's no point in being nice to people" talk was my favorite. Insane. I'm speechless.

what to watch tonight: Wednesday the 16th.

TONIGHT'S FINALES:
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance at 8p
Syfy: Ghost Hunters at 9p; Ghost Hunters Academy at 10p
FX: Nip/Tuck at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Top Chef: Las Vegas Reunion at 9p; Launch My Line at 10p

READER'S CHOICE:
CBS: New Adventures of Old Christine at 8p
NBC: The Sing-Off at 8p; Jay Leno Show at 10p

what to watch tonight: Tuesday the 15th.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:

ABC: Charlie Brown Christmas at 8p

TONIGHT'S SPECIALS:
FOX: Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live at 9p

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
A&E: Psychic Kids at 9p; Paranormal State at 10p

TONIGHT'S FINALES:
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance Part 1 at 8p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Tabatha's Salon Takeover at 10p
Oxygen: Bad Girls Club at 10p

what to watch tonight: Monday the 14th.

THIS WEEK:
The CW is airing a Vampire Diaries marathon all week long. I'm not so into vampire stuff, so I will only be catching a glimpse as I flip through the channels. Sorry! Cool idea though!

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
ABC: Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas at 8p
FOX: Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special at 8p

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
NBC: The Sing-Off at 8p
E!: Bank of Hollywood at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Chef Academy at 10p

what to watch this weekend: 12/11-12/13

In middle school, I spent one [very thrilling] day at a weather station in Monterey learning about cold fronts and barometers. It was a Take Your Kid to Work type of program - but I wasn't the weather person's kid - just a nerd with a well written application. My mom encouraged it, and now that I think about it, she had always encouraged both my brother and myself to pursue weather. (She wanted my brother to be the weather guy... admittedly just so he could say hi to her every night before sending it back to the news. "Hi Mom.") A mother's pressures aside, it's finally Friday, raining in L.A., and cold - cold - cold everywhere else it seems. [See map above.] What's better to do on a rainy weekend than watch some good TV? Bravo is airing a full day marathon of America's Next Top Model on Saturday. Perfect timing I'd say. Who doesn't want to cuddle up by the fire and watch skinny girls duke it out? And speaking of cuddling, this Saturday is also my parents' 28 year anniversary. My Dad decided to buy a new flat screen TV this week, so I'm guessing in years to come 2009's anniversary will be referred to as "the year he bought the flat screen". I love my parents. [Card is on its way Mom & Dad.] I also love season premieres.. and we're in luck... [See list below.] Happy Friday! Happy watching.

SEASON PREMIERES:
TLC: Ghost Intervention at 9p on Saturday
A&E: The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty at 9p on Sunday
E!: Keeping Up with the Kardashians at 10p on Sunday

SEASON FINALES:
Showtime: Dexter at 9p on Sunday

TiVo SEASON PASS:
ABC: Ugly Betty at 8p on Friday

what to watch tonight: Thursday the 10th.

SEASON FINALES:
FX: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 10p; The League at 10:30p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Real Housewives of Atlanta: Lost Footage at 9p; Real Housewives of Orange County at 10p; Watch What Happens Live at 12a
NBC: The Office at 9p; 30 Rock at 9:30p

what to watch tonight: Wednesday the 9th.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
ABC: Shrek the Halls at 8p

TiVo SEASON PASS / SEASON FINALES:
Bravo: Top Chef: Las Vegas at 10p

FOX: Glee at 9p

what to watch tonight: Tuesday the 8th.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:

ABC: Charlie Brown Christmas at 8p; Disney's Prep & Landing at 8:30p

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
ABC: Better off Ted at 9:30p
Syfy: Outer Space Astronauts at 9:30p
MTV: Teen Mom at 10p

TONIGHT'S FINALES:
NBC: The Biggest Loser at 8p
Syfy: Scare Tactics at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Tabatha's Salon Takeover at 10p
CW: 90210 at 8p
Oxygen: Bad Girls Club at 10p

what to watch tonight: Monday the 7th.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
ABC: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town at 8p

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
TNT: The Closer at 9p; Men of a Certain Age at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
CW: Gossip Girl at 9p
Bravo: Million Dollar Listing at 10p; Chef Academy at 11p

This week: Bad Girls Club

Curiosity struck me yesterday after hearing that the Bad Girls Club premiere on Tuesday was the show's highest rated premiere ever. (And by rated, I mean, Nielson ratings. Lots of viewers, and yet, not me! Insert curiosity strike here.) Honestly, I didn't even know much about the show prior to watching. My assumption: a show about girls. bad ones. the club part just being a nice little title addition. My assumptions were pretty much correct. It's a Real World-esque setting. Seven girls picked to live in a house. All with self-proclaimed [generally] socially unacceptable bad habits... And very loud voices.... And a major bone to pick with almost anyone... [Bad Girls Club airs on Bravo's sister network, Oxygen, which is also the home of Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.] After spending my very first hour with the BGC I got to wondering: what would make a girl sign up for a show like Bad Girls Club? Well.. Here's the checklist I've created based on viewing just one episode. Ladies - please refer to this list when Oxygen starts casting for the next season. Then you, too, can accomplish all of your cat-fighting dreams.

You know you're a BAD GIRL when...

• You meet a girl and automatically size her up: "Oh, I could take her."
• You've "never NOT cheated on a boyfriend."
• Your response to a girl wanting to learn to use a stripper pole is: "You don't know how to do it already??"
• Your RSVP sounds something like, "Bitch, ya, I'm comin' to the club."
• You lack in the problem resolution department: "She does not want me to hit her. I will KO her."

Seriously, this show makes the Top Model house look oh so cuddly. I'm just glad I don't have to be in the same room as them to watch.

What to watch tonight: Wednesday the 2nd.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
NBC: Christmas in Rockefeller Center at 8p
CBS: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at 8p

SEASON PREMIERES:
A&E: Dog the Bounty Hunter at 9p; Steven Seagal: Lawman at 10p
Bravo: Launch My Line at 11p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Top Chef Las Vegas at 10p

FOX: So You Think You Can Dance at 8p; Glee at 9p

What to watch tonight: Tuesday the 1st.

Presidential Address to the Nation
Tonight at 8pm ET on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC & FOX. Pick your favorite network and tune in.

TONIGHT'S PREMIERES:
ABC: Scrubs at 9p
BBC America: Britain's Missing Top Model at 9p
Oxygen: Bad Girls Club at 10p

TONIGHT'S FINALES:
FX: Sons of Anarchy at 10p
MTV: The Hills at 10p; The City at 10:30p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Tabatha's Salon Takeover at 10p
CW: 90210 at 8p

What to watch tonight: Monday the 30th.

Mondays are a drag. Especially after a holiday weekend. But Mondays after a holiday weekend are also GREAT because of ALL NEW episodes! And because of holiday specials. 25 days 'til Christmas....

HOLIDAY SPECIALS:
ABC: How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 8p; Shrek the Halls at 8:30p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
CW: Gossip Girl at 9p
Bravo: Million Dollar Listing at 10p; Chef Academy at 11p

Gossip Girl Season 3 Episode 11 "Treasure of Serena Madre" Promo from Denise Larson on Vimeo.

Happy Thanksgiving NOT so guilty readers!

I don't know about you, but TV & family go hand in hand in our house. Nope, it's not the TV Dinner era anymore, but it might as well be. (Coffee table = perfect dinner table.) It's what we do, and it's why I'm me. I'm excited to go home for a few days! The letdown of the holidays, however, is the reruns! Luckily, there are a few cable channels stepping up their game and premiering some new shows for us! Have safe travels and happy feasting this weekend. Here's what we might be watching at my parents' new house this weekend (if the DirecTV install goes as scheduled).

SEASON PREMIERES:
Sundance: Shameless at 8p on Friday
Travel Channel: Meet the Natives at 9p on Sunday*

SEASON FINALES:
CMT: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team at 9p on Saturday
Discovery Channel: Storm Chasers at 9p on Sunday
E!: Leave It to Lamas at 10:30p on Sunday

*NOT so guilty TV pick. Saw the promo for this one. Looks absurdly interesting. [<-- Click to read all about it.]

What's on tonight: Wednesday the 25th.

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Top Chef Las Vegas * Re-air from last week! Sorry! (But if you're missing your weekly dose of Padma... she'll be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight. Watch!)
FOX: Glee at 9p

ABC: Modern Family at 8p (re-air); The Middle at 8:30p; Modern Family at 9p; Cougar Town at 9:30p; Eastwick at 10p

What's on tonight: Thursday the 19th.

SEASON PREMIERE:
TBS: The Very Funny Show at 12a

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Real Housewives of Orange County at 10p; Watch What Happens Live at 12a
NBC: The Office at 9p; 30 Rock at 9:30p

SEASON FINALES:
Lifetime: Project Runway at 10p; Models of the Runway at 11p

What's on tonight: ANTM Finale!

SEASON FINALE:
CW: America's Next Top Model at 8p

Who's gonna win?? Nicole or Laura! I've got a home-cooked meal bet on Laura, but I will really be happy either way. Both girls are awesome.

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Top Chef Las Vegas at 10p

What's on this weekend?

SEASON PREMIERES:
Travel Channel: Ghost Adventures Live 8p on Friday
Adult Swim: Metalocalypse at 12:30a on Sunday

SEASON FINALES:
VH1: Tool Academy at 9p on Sunday

TiVo SEASON PASS:
ABC: Ugly Betty at 8p on Friday
AMC: Mad Men at 10p on Sunday ** Season Finale!

What's on tonight: Tuesday the 3rd.

SEASON PREMIERE:
ABC: V at 8p
Bravo: Tabatha's Salon Takeover at 10p

SPECIAL:
Bravo: Kathy Griffin: Balls of Steel at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
CW: 90210 at 8p
MTV: The Hills at 10p; The City at 10:30p

What's on this weekend?

SEASON PREMIERES:
MTV: Styl'd at 10p on Sunday
Vh1: S*x Rehab with Dr. Drew at 10p on Sunday

TiVo SEASON PASS:
ABC: Ugly Betty at 8p on Friday
AMC: Mad Men at 10p on Sunday

What I watched last night: Last week's Office vs. 2 weeks worth of MTV drama

This should be no surprise, but The Office is a far superior show to The Hills and The City.

Why? Well... From a relationship standpoint, Jim & Pam serve as much better role models than Kristin & Justin Bobby (they might as well be talking to walls. there is no emotion between those 2), or even Whitney Port & Jay (what was the point of those 2 grabbing drinks? Jay doesn't like Whitney with Freddie, but Whitney made it clear that it's her life, and apparently she'll do whatever she wants. Like, you know, dress up really hot for Jay even though she is "over it".)

That hostile environment was much more uncomfortable, and much less funny than the one at Dunder Mifflin last week when Pam found out Michael was dating her mother.

I choose humor. Not drama. But I'll keep watching both, for analytical purposes.

What's on this weekend?

SEASON PREMIERES:
ABC: Super Nanny at 8p on Friday
USA: White Collar at 10p on Friday

SEASON FINALES:
MTV: P. Diddy's Starmaker at 10p on Sunday
VH1: My Antonio at 10p on Sunday

TiVo SEASON PASS:
ABC: Ugly Betty at 8p on Friday
AMC: Mad Men at 10p on Sunday

Tivo'd: 90210

So in the first 10 minutes of this week's episode I was feeling really down about all the hype I've been giving 90210. A fender bender with a (gasp) girl surfer, and Dixon and his girl are still hiding out. Oh, and Silver is being a daughter. Snooze.

But before I could hit my TiVo menu to change shows, Dixon was almost kicked off the surfing team! Annie is a muse! And Dad had cancelled lunch with Mom for (real gasp) Kelly! And Mom showed up and saw! Ahh!

So the Bev Hills show continues its drama-rama, leaving me on the edge of my couch over and over again. (Also, laughing, a lot, at sentences like, "Let's have a gnarly meet!" said at the surf contest.)

I still don't know what happened with Dixon and his girl. I missed one episode and I'm so lost with that. For some reason they are hiding out. And Dixon is bummed, as he should be.

An impromptu surf contest is started at the Halloween party - where everyone was dressed as very typical characters from movies - Adriana would be Marilyn Monroe.

Meanwhile Annie is enjoying getting to know Jasper and not being a lemming as he has scripted her to say. (I must say that was a better line, written and delivered, than any of his movie script that they later attempt while borrowing a Bentley.)

Silver is struggling with pressures of school and her mom's cancer. We found out that Teddy's mom died 3 years ago, and the 2 bond over tennis. I'm glad he got her to relax.

But the kicker, in the last 5 minutes, was Dixon's girl returning, post-dump, to tell him that she's pregnant. My prediction is.. this shady girl is fibbing.

What's on tonight: Thursday the 22nd.

SEASON PREMIERE:
Comedy Central: The Jeff Dunham Show at 9p
TLC: American Chopper at 9p; Heavy Haulers at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Real Housewives of Atlanta at 10p; Watch What Happens Live at 12a
NBC: The Office at 9p; 30 Rock at 9:30p

Last Night: Glee (I'm hooked!)

Last night's Glee was pretty great. Slushees, Thong Song, sunglasses and all.

They've hooked me. They really have. And of course, it's a re-run next week. Ugh.