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Arts & Entertainment

TV Junkie: Michael Jackson TV Spectacle; Letterman Leads Conan; Doctor Who Returns

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DrWhoTennant.jpg
"Doctor Who" returns on Saturday night, 9pm on BBC America


"Doctor Who" returns on Saturday night, 9pm on BBC America
Weekend Edition
The three-ring-circus-feeding-frenzy-this-could-make-my-career-vomitorium that "news" television has morphed into after the death of Michael Jackson was succinctly written up by Salon's Heather Havrilesky. This spectacle hasn't even begun yet really though, so hey Britney and Lindsay, this is how disgusting things can get even if you had talent, here's your chance to get off your respective paths to destruction.
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Do you rememberjust a few days ago when we surmised that the viewership gap between Conan and Letterman would open up sometime in the next few weeks? Turns out we were too conservative, the Wall Street Journal called Letterman the victor (for the time being).
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We have some great science fiction hitting us this weekend: tonight features "Virtuality" on FOX (by the creators of "Battlestar Galactica"), and tomorrow we have a new "Doctor Who" at 9pm on BBC America - Cybermen in Victorian England!!If you've got HBO, don't forget that "Hung" premieres on Sunday.

The TV Junkie Plan: Tonight - Bill Maher, "Virtuality", "The Soup", Kimmel. Saturday - "Charlie's Angels", "Doctor Who". Sunday - "True Blood", "Hung"

Tonight

7:00pm Real Time With Bill Maher HBO - Oliver Stone, Cameron Diaz and Billy Bob Thornton.

8:00pm Virtuality FOX - Original Telefilm Premiere from the creators of "Battlestar Galactica"

8:00pm Friday Night With Jonathan Ross BBC America - Jack Black; Sue Perkins & Giles Coren; Jack Black threatens to strip.

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8:00pm The Chopping Block NBC - The contestants must serve dishes to Italian customers, including Vincent Pastore, Federico Castelluccio and Mario Batali.

8:00pm The Cincinnati Kid TCM - (1965) An upstart card shark (Steve McQueen) has a marathon game with the king (Edward G. Robinson) of stud poker in 1930s New Orleans.

9:00pm Bill Moyers Journal PBS/KCET - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.S. Merwin discusses language and his writing process.

10:00pm The Soup E! - Probably a lot about "Real Housewives" and a bit about MJ

11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Martin Short; Regina Spektor performs.

11:35pm The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien NBC - Rapper Snoop Dogg; Adele performs.

12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actress Megan Fox; actor David Cross; Phoenix performs.

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12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actress Lisa Kudrow; author James Frey; Chairlift performs.

12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actress Cameron Diaz; Grizzly Bear performs.

Saturday

7:00pm Charlie's Angels TV Land - Two episodes back-to-back starring Farrah.

8:00pm Kings NBC - King Silas takes David with him on a pilgrimage; Jack and Michelle's secret is in danger of being exposed.

9:00pm Doctor Who: The Next Doctor BBC America - Original telefilm premiere.

9:00pm Chasing Farrah TV Land - A tribute to the late Farrah Fawcett

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9:00pm Ellen's Bigger, Longer, & Wider Show TBS - Series Premiere

9:00pm Harper's Island CBS - Stunned by more deaths and the disappearance of yet another friend, the group begins to fight ba...

Sunday

2:00pm The Jacksons: An American Dream TV Land - Five hour mini series about the Jackson Family

8:00pm '09 BET Awards BET - Jamie Foxx hosts

9:00pm True Blood HBO - Bill enlists Eric's help to save Sookie after she is attacked by a mysterious creature

9:00pm Gene Simmons Family Jewels A&E - Two new episodes

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9:00pm Masterpiece Mystery! Poirot: Mrs. McGinty's Dead PBS/KCET - Crime novelist Ariadne Oliver joins Poirot to save James Bentley, who has been sentenced to hang for the murder of Mrs. McGinty.

10:00pm Hung HBO - Series Premiere

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