accessAtlanta

City & State or ZIP Tonight, this weekend, May 5th...
City & State or ZIP
City & State or ZIP Tonight, this weekend, May 5th...
City & State or ZIP

TV best bets with returns of “Leverage,” “HGTV Design Star,” “The Bill Engvall Show”

Which returning series are you most looking forward to seeing this week?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

While the broadcast networks focus mostly on reality shows, cable keeps carving out more dramas and comedies.

Atlanta-based TNT not only brings back its light-hearted caper “Leverage” for a sophomore stint, but it’s pairing it Wednesday with a new undercover cop drama “Dark Blue” featuring Dylan McDermott (”The Practice”). And sister station TBS is giving “The Bill Engvall Show” a third season of 10 episodes — but anchoring it on Saturday night, a risky venture given how little original programming is expected that night.

And Nickelodeon is celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Spongebob Squarepants” this weekend with a 50-episode marathon, including 10 new episodes. 

MONDAY
“The Bachelorette” 8 p.m. ABC — Jillian finally got rid of charlatan Wes! Now she takes Reid, Ed and Kiptyn to Maui.
The Great American Road Trip” 8 p.m. NBC (new time slot) — Six remaining families perform before Andy Williams and Yakov Smirnoff in Branson, Missouri.
“The Closer” 9 p.m. TNT — Pope does a rotation as a member of Brenda’s squad.
“Teddy: In His Own Words” 9 p.m. HBO — HBO culls through the complicated life of Teddy Kennedy.
“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” 10 p.m. Travel (summer season debut) — His latest trip is to Chile.
“Run’s House” 10, 10:30 p.m. MTV (6th season finale) — Fans are still keeping this show around, though buzz online seems rather tame.
TUESDAY
“MLB All Star Game” 8 p.m. Fox — The American League has been dominant for years. Can they win again?
“America’s Got Talent” 9 p.m. NBC — Week four of auditions. This show sure likes its opera singers, eh? Last week, we got a female version after a male opera singer won last year.
“Big Brother” 9 p.m. CBS — Can Atlanta’s Laura Crosby use her sexiness to her advantage?
“Hawthorne” 9 p.m. TNT — Amanda, Christina’s not-so-nice mother in law, gets her own nurse.
Miami Social” 10 p.m. Bravo (new series)— Bravo explores the party scene in Miami.
Tiny & Toya” 10 p.m. BET — The second episode airs a week later after the MJ memorial preempted the show last week.
WEDNESDAY
So You Think You Can Dance” 8 p.m. Fox — Sad to see Phillip go last week and miss the top 10.
America’s Got Talent” 9 p.m. NBC — Week four of five weeks’ worth of auditions end.
Extreme Loggers” 9 p.m. Discovery (second season debut) — Warm weather threatens to end the season early.
Leverage” 9 p.m. TNT (second season debut) — The team pits the mob vs. a banker trying to game a government bailout.
Dark Blue” 10 p.m. TNT (new series) — Life as an undercover cop in this potboiler starring Dylan McDermott.
Michael & Michael Have Issues” 10:30 p.m. Comedy (new series) — Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter host a fictional sketch show and reveal how much they (fictionally) hate each other.

<a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=233075" target="_blank">Michael and Michael Have Issues: Trailer</a>

Michael and Michael Have Issues: Trailer

THURSDAY
So You Think You Can Dance” 8 p.m. Fox — Sad to see Phillip go last week and miss the top 10.
America’s Got Talent” 9 p.m. NBC — Week four of five weeks’ worth of auditions end.
Extreme Loggers” 9 p.m. Discovery (second season debut) — Warm weather threatens to end the season early.
Leverage” 9 p.m. TNT (second season debut) — The team pits the mob vs. a banker trying to game a government bailout.
Dark Blue” 10 p.m. TNT (new series) — Life as an undercover cop in this potboiler starring Dylan McDermott.
Michael & Michael Have Issues” 10:30 p.m. Comedy (new series) — Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter host a fictional sketch show and reveal how much they (fictionally )hate each other.
THURSDAY
“J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life” 8 p.m. ABC — A news special that sounds like a promo for the next Harry Potter flick.
Big Brother” 8 p.m. CBS — The first person is to be ousted tonight. Will our local gal Laura Crosby survive?
Stoked” 8:30 p.m. Cartoon (new series) — Six teens spend a summer working and surfing at a resort.
“Burn Notice” 9 p.m. USA — Michael gets kidnapped by the Ukranians.
“16 & Pregnant” 10 p.m. MTV (first season finale) — This very serious show did better in ratings than “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.” So there is a God!
Raising Sextuplets” 10 p.m. WE (first season finale) — Bryan and Jenny get advice in disciplining toddlers.
Fashion Show” 10 p.m. Bravo — Former Atlantan Anna McCraney has been the most consistent contestant so far, never finishing at the bottom. She could win this show!
FRIDAY
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” 8 p.m. Fox — Star Jones and Jack Hanna are the latest celebrity contestants.
The Chopping Block” 8 p.m. NBC (season finale) — The winner gets $250,000 to open a restaurant — but the show was on the chopping block ages ago.
“The Goode Family” 8:30 p.m. ABC — Gerald and Helen tutor at-risk kids, which doesn’t help their own kids.
Eureka” 9 p.m. SyFy — An insecure Global Dynamics tech tries switching places and faces with Deputy Jo Lupo.
Mental” 9 p.m. Fox — Dr. Gallagher treats a suicidal teen with a dark secret.
Whale Wars” 9 p.m. Animal Planet — The Sea Shepherds launch an attack against the whaling fleet.
WEEKEND
“Phineas and Ferb” 8 p.m. Saturday Disney — Former Conyers man Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”) voices Irving, a fan of Phineas and Ferb.
The Bill Engvall Show” 9 p.m. Saturday (third season debut) — The economy is hurting Bill’s business so he can’t afford sending Lauren to Cancun for spring break.
“Dirty Sexy Money” 10 p.m. Saturday ABC (return from hiatus) — ABC finished dumping leftover episodes of “Eli Stone” and “Pushing Daisies.” Now, it’s this turkey’s turn.
“Labor Pains” 8 p.m. Sunday ABC Family — Wow. Lindsey Lohan’s career has come to this: she plays a secretary who pretends to be pregnant to avoid being fired. On the ABC Family network.

Drop Dead Diva” 9 p.m. Sunday Lifetime — Rosie O’Donnell plays a judge when Deb defends a waitress who lost her job after gaining 50 pounds.
“HGTV Design Star” 10 p.m. HGTV Sunday (fourth season debut) — Atlanta’s Vern Yip is back as a judge before plenty of great designers.

4 comments Add your comment

atl1000

July 12th, 2009
10:54 pm

OK first off, i really like the show ‘the listener’. it’s on thursday nights on NBC. secondly, GO brian mccann! – the braves representative to the all-star game. and Kiptyn is the man for the bachelorette jillian!

Hoop

July 13th, 2009
8:58 am

Leverage is a lot of fun – reminds me of a slightly more madcap version of “Burn Notice” or a considerably more serious “Psych”. Classic TV nerds will get a kick out of the various shoutouts and references, too (one character’s aliases include “Doctor Thomas Baker” and “Sylvester McCoy” ).

shu2stef

July 13th, 2009
10:47 am

Re: Big Brother: Just for the record, our “local girl”, Laura Crosby is coming across as a very superficial person who’s not very attractive inside or out!

Carlos

July 13th, 2009
6:17 pm

I really really hate Bravo. They come up with the most stupidest reality TV shows. At least VH-1 has some decent ones but Bravo takes the cake and all the spoons.

“Miami Social” 10 p.m. Bravo (new series)— Bravo explores the party scene in Miami.

Good Grief.

Add your comment