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.
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.