This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Holt McCallany and Melora Hardin star in FX's "Lights Out" which premieres tonight at 10pm. Perhaps FX's most promoted show ever - will it live up to the hype?
Tuesday night is becoming very competitive, particularly in the 10pm slot. Let's look at what is vying for our attention: "Parenthood," "Detroit 1-8-7," "Glory Daze," "Lights Out," "Tosh.0"/"Onion Sportsdome," "SouthLAnd."
The big launches tonight are FX's "Lights Out" and Comedy Central's "Onion Sportsdome." We saw the pilot and first couple episodes of "Lights Out" last summer and weren't too impressed: retired boxer has money troubles, a close relative screwing up his businesses, and sees his only way out as to either be a muscle guy for a crime lord or get back into the ring - how many cliches is that in just one show? The performances by Holt McCallany and Stacy Keach seemed a bit wooden too, but hey, that was months ago, they could have done some reshoots and editing since then and since so many people were wowed by boxing-focused film, The Fighter, we can see "Lights Out" being a potential hit for FX and the network has been marketing the heck out of the show for the 6 months with campaigns running during NFL and college football games, during "Conan" and other programs not to mention copious print ads. We mused a couple months ago that "Terriers" might have had a chance if the show had received just 10% of the marketing that "Lights Out" has enjoyed.
Comedy Central is launching the "Onion Sportsdome" sport programming spoof show tonight at 10:30pm. I'm sure that sports fans will find the show to be dead on and very funny, we thought it was funny as well but the problem is that we've thought that ESPN's "SportsCenter" and its ilk have been parodies of themselves for the last decade (at least) and were already intelligently skewered by that most excellent but unfortunately short-lived show, "Sports Night," almost 13 years ago. Will the Onion crew take it to the next level? Yeah, no doubt, but it might be too much of a good thing as the Onion's other show, "The Onion News Network," launches in about a week over on IFC, our eyes might be tearing up. If you want to get a preview of what Comedy Central hopes will be its Tuesday two-punch knockout, see the clip at the end of this post.
Despite all the competition, we're going to stick with "SouthLAnd" at 10pm on Tuesday nights. Tonight's episode does not back off, making this dynamic show of great writing backed by great performances, the keeper.
---
Why I'm excited about late night tonight: I'm hopeful that Bill Maher rips Jay Leno a new one on "The Tonight Show" - for creating yet another unanswered right-wing forum and for the entire Conan debacle. We also have to make a difficult decision for the 12:35am slot because Ferguson has the incredible Dave Attell, who will definitely push some limits, and then on Jimmy Fallon's show we have the incredible Tom Tom Club celebrating their 30th anniversary by performing with the Roots. I have a soft spot in my heart for that band because we got to hang out with them on multiple occasions between 1990-1992 and then again in 2001 - Chris Frantz, drummer and co-founder of both the Tom Tom Club and the Talking Heads, makes a mean Greyhound and is an incredibly nice guy, probably the least rockstar rockstar we've ever met. Our sister publication, Gothamist, interviewed Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth recently.
---
Follow the TV Junkie on Twitter to catch our Tweets live from the Winter sessions of the Television Critics Association with plenty of tidbits about the shows that will premiere between now and the end of 2011.
---
The TV Junkie Must-Watch Plan: "No Ordinary Family," "V," "SouthLAnd," "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" (Colin Firth), Leno (Bill Maher), Fallon (Jennifer Connelly, Jerry O'Connell, Tom Tom Club performs)
8:00pm No Ordinary Family ABC - Jim's brother learns of the family's powers and tries to use it to his advantage; Katie is promoted; Daphne becomes a part of the school's peer disciplinary committee.
8:00pm NOVA PBS/KOCE - Deadliest Earthquakes Scientists in Haiti and Chile gather data to prevent future disasters.
8:00pm I, Predator Animal Planet - Series Premiere
9:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles CBS - A body containing a top-secret residue is stolen from the autopsy room, leading the team to discover an experimental Navy tracking system; Callen challenges Hetty on the rock wall.
9:00pm Frontline PBS/KOCE - Battle for Haiti Rebuilding Haiti amid corruption and intimidation by gang
9:00pm Millionaire Matchmaker Bravo - Season Finale
9:00pm V ABC - For the first time in 15 years, Diana and Anna face off; Erica makes a discovery when she has Tyler's blood analyzed.
9:00pm Dirty Jobs Discovery - Rum Distiller Mike heads to Newport Distillery to help the crew turn molasses into rum.
10:00pm Southland TNT - Sammy and Nate feel threatened when Sal calls in Lydia and Josie to help them solve a series of gang murders; John must keep an eye on Dewey
10:00pm Parenthood NBC - Adam worries about the stability of his job; Haddie seeks comfort in Amber when her parents refuse to accept her decision
10:00pm Detroit 1-8-7 ABC - A stunned squad investigates the shooting death of an assistant prosecutor.
10:00pm Glory Daze TBS - Joel shares his class notes with Christie; Jason and Turbo bond over music.
10:00pm The Game BET - Season Premiere
10:00pm Lights Out FX - Series Premiere Former heavyweight boxing champion Patrick Leary struggles to find his identity and support his wife and daughters after retiring.
10:00pm Independent Lens PBS/KLCS - Children of Haiti Three teenage boys from Haiti reflect on their country and their lives.
10:00pm Tosh.0 Comedy Central - Season Premiere
10:00pm Chopped Food - Mussels and waffles in the appetizer round; lean meat and a delicate flower for entree
10:30pm Onion Sportsdome Comedy Central - Series Premiere
11:00pm Let's Stay Together BET - Series Premiere
11:00pm The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central - Colin Firth
11:00pm Chelsea Lately E! - Actor Zach Gilford.
11:00pm Conan TBS - Actor Javier Bardem; actress Rashida Jones; Steel Train performs.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Vince Vaughn; reality TV stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz; Cage the Elephant perform.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - TV show host Bill Maher; The Duke Spirit performs.
12:00am Lopez Tonight TBS - Actress Jesse Tyler Ferguson; actress Mary Lynn Rajskub; comic Maz Jobrani.
12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actor Channing Tatum; actress Mamie Gummer; A Day To Remember performs.
12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Entertainer Paula Abdul; comic Dave Attell.
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actress Jennifer Connelly; actor Jerry O'Connell; Tom Tom Club performs
| Tosh.0 | Tosh Tuesdays 9pm / 8c | |||
| Tosh.0 & Onion SportsDome | ||||
| ||||
