Thursday TV: Formal ‘Penn’ Start, Oscar Noms
The official time slot premiere comes tonight for "1600 Penn" (NBC, 9:30 p.m.), the family comedy set in the White House that pretty much made its debut last month with…
Wednesday TV: Reality Takes a Dive
Stunt reality shows are often stuffed with celebrities on their way down or those whose names you never really learned in the first place. Rarely has there been such a…
Also on Wednesday: ‘People’s Choice,’ ‘Washington Heights’
Kaley Cuoco of the "Big Bang Theory," right, returns to host the 39th People's Choice Awards (CBS, 9 p.m.) from the Nokia Theatre in L.A. What kind of stars tend…
Also On Tuesday: Glorious ‘Justified’ Return, ‘Abolitionists’ and ‘Africa’
One of TV's best series returns for a fourth season. Even at a time when westerns are growing slowly on the edges of cable Graham Yost's "Justified" (FX, 10 p.m.)…
Monday TV: ‘Deception,’ ‘Reportoro’ and ‘Staircase’
The new network drama "Deception" (NBC, 10 p.m.) plays like the first half of a glossier-than-usual Lifetime mystery, with the childhood friend of a dead heiress, now a cop, goes undercover…
Sunday TV: Long Premieres for ‘Abbey,’ ‘Loser’
It's great to have "Downton Abbey" back on "Masterpiece Classic" (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), though public television seems set on messing with the magic by its odd manner…
Saturday TV: Dog Whispering Abroad
Soon after the fanfare surrounding the end of "The Dog Whisperer" (Nat Geo Wild, 7 and 11 p.m.), Cesar Millan is back, after an apparent midlife location change. He's moved…
Friday TV: Going Back to ‘Portlandia,’ Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’
One of the funniest and best-observed comedies on TV, “Portlandia” (IFC, 10 p.m.) returns for a second season at the top of its game. Fred Armisen is consistently more creative…
Thursday TV: Congressman Cao
With the new year already marred by another ugly partisan showdown, the timely “Mr. Cao Goes to Washington” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) shines a light on a man…
Wednesday TV: ‘The Hour’ Finale, Multi ‘Mobbed’
The second season of “The Hour” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) gets extra credit for keeping us entertained with well-paced, gripping, beautifully looking period drama at a time when most TV…