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Sunday's must-watch TV includes the season finale of HBO's "Bored To Death" at 10:00pm
Weekend EditionFox has pulled "Running Wilde" from it's line up with a possible return of the show on November 30th - it's a shame that a show with this much talent can't find it's sea legs. There's been a lot of supposition that the network has been fiddling with the show from the beginning, so how can you fix a show that the network broke? A better questions is: why would they be bringing it back? We love Will Arnett and David Cross and hope to see them in something that isn't screwed from the get-go.
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On a similarly sad note, AMC has cancelled its conspiracy show "Rubicon", starring James Badge Dale. This was a well-written and interesting show that unfortunately required a level of devoted attention that was difficult for a lot of people, including ourselves, to invest. Perhaps it was "Lost"-fatigue but the John le Carré-style skulduggery made the first 2/3 of the season drag. But even in a John le Carré novel, there are elements of action early on in order to keep you motivated to process the devious machinations with the chess-piece characters. The action really didn't seem to start until 3 or 4 episodes from the season finale and that kind of build-up seemed unreasonable.
This summary is not meant to diminish superior performances from the likes of James Badge Dale, Natalie Gold, Michael Cristofer, Arliss Howard, Miranda Richardson, and their fellow cast members. We hope to see them on TV again very soon. Do you think "Rubicon" failed somehow, was it doomed from the start or was AMC too impatient?
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Last Night's Great Moments In TV: In Chronological Order: 1. The cast of "Community" performs almost exclusively within the study room, well written and acted, creator Dan Harmon is a genius. 2. The gang from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" create a hilarious (and exciting) version of Lethal Weapon, I hope those guys have a movie in the works because they have the chops for it. 3. Courtroom shenanigans and inspired dialogue made for a ridiculous episode of "The League" so good we watched it twice. 4. Jon Dore with a drawing of a penis on his bare stomach on "Conan". 5.Jeff Goldblum and Biz Markie jam "Just a Friend" with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, fantastic.
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This weekend we're looking forward to: The season finale of "Real Time With Bill Maher" (sad because I felt like we just got going, the momentum of this show is great), followed by "The Soup" (of course), Letterman (awesome comic Greg Fitzsimmons), and Fallon (living legend Dick Cavett). Saturday is a wasteland other than Tracy Morgan's HBO special. And finally, very sadly, the season finale of "Bored To Death" at 10pm on Sunday - we're elated that the series has been picked up for another season, we've had a lot of contact with and insight from the creators and cast of this show, one of the best new shows to have debuted over the last couple years and this season, and perhaps it had the great moment of TV this year when Ted Danson had a romantic prostate exam in stirrups . Jim Gaffigan fans should know that he's in the season finale as well!
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Yesterday we mentioned Ray Romano's Multiple Myeloma Benefit on Saturday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre & Club and now we're going to alert you to An Evening of Music to benefit Ronnie Lippin Cancer Information and Resource Line and Cancer Research at Tower Cancer Research Foundation on December 4th at the Avalon in Hollywood, featuring Band From TV - the band composed of actors from some of your favorite TV shows: Hugh Laurie from "House M.D.", James Denton from "Desperate Housewives", Jesse Spencer from "House M.D.", Greg Grunberg from "Heroes", Adrian Pasdar from "Heroes", Scott Grimes from "E.R.", and Bob Guiney from "The Bachelor".
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The TV Junkie Plan: Tonight - Bill Maher (Nora Ephron, Michael Moore, Mike Huckabee), "The Good Guys", "The Soup", "Fashion Police", Letterman (Kelly Ripa, comic Greg Fitzsimmons), Fallon (Tracy Morgan, Dick Cavett, Kings of Leon). Saturday - Mrs. Miniver, "Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue". Sunday - "Tina Fey: The Mark Twain Prize", "Boardwalk Empire", "Bored To Death", "The Walking Dead"
8:00pm Real Time With Bill Maher HBO -Season Finale. Author Nora Ephron; filmmaker Michael Moore; journalist Jessica Yellin; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)
8:00pm School Pride NBC - The team helps repair ailing school grounds for a spirited community in California.
9:00pm The Good Guys Fox - Jack and Liz go away for a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast, but Jack becomes suspicious of the owner's unusual curiosity.
9:00pm What Not to Wear TLC - A Naval officer and mom takes sexy attire to a new level; her husband's tolerance has reached code red levels.
10:00pm The Soup E! - Another serving of Joel McHale? Yes please.
10:00pm Blue Bloods CBS - After witnessing a crime in progress, Jamie pursues a suspect; Danny has to help Jamie avoid an internal affairs investigation.
10:00pm Sanctuary Syfy - Hero 2: Broken Arrow Kate gains super-hero-like abilities when an Abnormal attaches itself to her for safe keeping.
10:30pm Fashion Police E! - Joan Rivers reams Hollywood fashion and rightly so.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - TV host Kelly Ripa; comic Greg Fitzsimmons; Reba McEntire performs.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actress Diane Keaton; actor Kevin McHale; Switchfoot performs.
12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - E-mail with actor Billy Gardell; dancer Carrie Ann Inaba.
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Tracy Morgan; actor Dick Cavett; Kings of Leon perform.
Saturday
8:00pm Mrs. Miniver TCM - (1942) William Wyler's Oscar-winning classic about the tensions faced by a family of hard-working Brits in war-torn England.
10:00pm Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue HBO - The comic performs at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
11:25pm Saturday Night Live NBC - Host Scarlett Johansson; Arcade Fire performs.
Sunday
7:30pm Tina Fey: The Mark Twain Prize PBS/KCET - The honor to writer and actress Tina Fey features Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Lorne Michaels, Betty White, Steve Martin, Jane Krakowski, Steve Carell, John Hamm, Jennifer Hudson, Tracy Morgan, and Amy Poehler.
8:00pm Great Migrations National Geographic - Feast or Famine Epic journeys driven by hunger.
9:00pm Boardwalk Empire HBO - Nucky prepares for war with a rival faction; Jimmy stands by his alibi; Margaret helps Madame Jeunet.
9:00pm Dexter Showtime - Take It
9:00pm Desperate Housewives ABC - Gabrielle and Carlos host Carmen, Hector and Grace for a Thanksgiving feast; Bree invites Keith's parents to her house for Thanksgiving
9:00pm The Next Iron Chef Food - Chefs must seduce the taste buds with the best cocktail and snack in thirty minutes.
9:00pm Great Migrations National Geographic - Race to Survive Animals race to reach their destination before it's too late to breed, feed or stay alive.
10:00pm Bored to Death HBO - Season Finale. Officer Drake, Ray and Jonathan try to track down a stalker; George decides to make a stand at work; Jonathan battles his nemesis.
10:00pm Luther BBC America - Luther begins a tense investigation when an art dealer's wife is taken hostage.
10:00pm The Walking Dead AMC - Rick goes back to Atlanta to save a man's life; Lori and Shane deal with the surprise return of someone they thought was dead
10:00pm Great Migrations National Geographic - Behind the Scenes The stories of the people who filmed the migration footage
