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TV Junkie: LA's 'Southland' Axed; Uh Oh 'Hawaii Five-O'
It's difficult not to look back in anger as NBC cancels "Southland" in sacrifice to the blind idiot god of Leno's 10pm slot.
It's difficult not to look back in anger as NBC cancels "Southland" in sacrifice to the blind idiot god of Leno's 10pm slot.
NBC's edgy cop drama "Southland" has been given the ax - a victim of the network's Leno-ization of the 10pm slot. The series was supposed to restart on October 23rd and was in the middle of shooting the 6th episode but now thoere's no word on if and when the finished episodes will ever air. This was a good show and it's a goddam shame it won't be continued. Oh, and who's on Leno tonight? Football dinosaur Terry Bradshaw, thanks for scraping the bottom of the barrel for that, NBC.
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From tsunami-watch to bad-acting-watch, news has it that Hawaii will be subjected to a CBS reworking of "Hawaii Five-O". Since "Fringe" co-creators Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are writing the pilot, we will give it at least that shot, but unless they have continued involvement, we don't have a lot of hopes for the show.---
There's some great TV this weekend but it's starting with what appears to be the swan song of "Ugly Betty" tonight as moving the show to Friday's will kill it. "The Soup" will doubtlessly feature Joel McHale's exchange with a testy/weird Richard Belzer on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" earlier this week (we suggest they implement a "Belzer-watch" segment because of his proclivity to generate zingers). Saturday KCET will feature a documentary on the Los Angeles Times-founding Chandler family with a Drew Barrymore-hosted "SNL" later in the evening.
Sunday night is always complicated and this week will be no exception: the great "Dexter" takes a back seat to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and (more importantly) "Bored to Death" which somehow gets better each and every episode. Then we suggest jumping back to Showtime for a round of "Californication" which will feature an appearance from Rick Springfield and a shot of his '80s ass. Then over to AMC's "Mad Men" to bring our weekend down to a level of pseudo-depression and hopelessness. For those without any premium channels, consider watching the Discovery Channel's 9pm documentary on the unearthing of the 4.4 million year old hominid Ardi cuz you might be related. Please check out the full listing of highlights below.
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The TV Junkie Plan: Tonight - Bill Maher, "Monk", "The Soup", Letterman, Fallon. Saturday - "Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times", "SNL". Sunday - "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Bored To Death", "Californication", "Mad Men".
Tonight
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7:00pm Real Time With Bill Maher HBO - Actor Richard Belzer; former R.I. Sen. Lincoln Chafee; professor Cornel West; former Tenn. Sen. Bill Frist; comic Sarah Silverman.
8:00pm Ugly Betty ABC - Season Premiere
8-11:00pm The Prisoner IFC - 3 more episodes of the classic Patrick McGoohan series!
9:00pm Monk USA - After Monk's insurance company refuses to pay for more private therapy sessions, he joins Dr. Bell's therapy group
9:00pm Dollhouse FOX - Victor and Echo's imprints collide when Victor is sent on an assignment as the psychotic nephew of a Dollhouse shareholder
10:00pm NUMB3RS CBS - The team investigates a deadly gambling ring that runs a high-stakes Russian roulette tournament
10:00pm The Soup E! - Another good one in the works.
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10:00pm Sanctuary Syfy - Season Premiere
10:00pm Comedy Central Presents Comedy Central - Comic Nick Swardson performs.
10:00pm Crash Starz - Ben and Anthony visit the athletic club where Cassie was murdered, but are dissuaded from investigating further.
10:00pm The Jay Leno Show NBC - Former NFL player Terry Bradshaw.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Jon Hamm; comic Andy Kindler; Brett Dennen performs.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien NBC - Writer Zack Hample; Lady Antebellum performs.
12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Director Michael Moore; actress Malin Akerman; Backstreet Boys perform.
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12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actor Gerard Butler; Phoenix performs.
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Martin Short; real estate investor Jeff Lewis; Cory Chisel performs.
Saturday
12:00pm Quest for Atlantis: Startling New Secrets The Weather Channel - NBC News’ Natalie Morales hosts this documentary about the lost city of Atlantis.
9:00pm Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times PBS/KCET - For four generations, the Chandler family influenced many through the Los Angeles Times
9:00pm Robin Hood BBC America - Gisborne employs Prince John's Elite Guards and a mysterious weapon in his attempts to catch Robin
10:00pm Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me HBO - The comic performs at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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10:00pm The Graham Norton Show BBC America - Olivia Newton John; Ozzy Osbourne; Sharon Osbourne; Ricky Gervais
11:25pm Saturday Night Live NBC - Drew Barrymore hosts; Regina Spektor performs.
Sunday
12:00pm Countdown to Doomsday The Weather Channel - Today show host Matt Lauer takes viewers through 10 different scenarios that could bring about the end to all life on Earth. This special not only looks at the potential for the end of the world, but also possible solutions to avert such catastrophes.
8:00pm The Amazing Race 15 CBS - Teams scramble to spot royalty in Cambodia's jam-packed streets
9:00pm Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO - Larry exposes Christian Slater at Ted and Mary's anniversary party
9:00pm Dexter Showtime - Vigilant neighbors, an inability to drive and a fascination with Trinity's technique interrupt Dexter's routines.
9:00pm The Unknown TCM - (1927) A circus freak (Lon Chaney) goes to horrific lengths to win the woman (Joan Crawford) he admires.
9:00pm Discovering Ardi Discovery - Investigation whether a 4.4-million old hominid skeleton could be an ancestor of humans.
9:30pm Bored to Death HBO - Jonathan falls for his latest client; Ray agrees to help a lesbian couple start a new family
10:00pm Californication Showtime - Hank attends a university mixer and consoles his jilted assistant
10:00pm Mad Men AMC - Don and Sal have trouble giving the clients what they want; Betty hosts a fundraiser.
10:00pm Army Wives Lifetime - Season Finale
10:30pm The Girls Next Door E! - Season Premiere
11:00pm Leave it to Lamas E! - Season Premiere
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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