Saturday TV: ‘Ball Boys,’ More Madness
A cable staple retools for a network presentation, albeit one that plays in the afternoon. The new “Ball Boys” (ABC, 3 p.m.) is right along the lines of “Pawn Stars,”…
Etch-A-Sketch in the News
Since when do the words of a campaign aide resonate long enough to rattle a front-running political campaign? When it involves a beloved children’s toy! Nobody has talked much about…
Friday TV: New ‘Fringe,’ ‘Sweet Home’ Finale
Those missing “The Bachelor” can check in on the two hour season finale of “Sweet Home Alabama” (CMT, 9 p.m.) in which a Southern belle named Paige Duke, right, decides…
Makeover Can’t Save Erika Van Pelt on ‘Idol’
She chopped off her hair and changed its color, but not even that could save Erika Van Pelt, the Rhode Island mobile DJ who had no flaw in her voice,…
Thursday TV: ‘Touch’ Premieres Again
I hate the way they roll out new TV series with a one time premiere of a pilot, which does little more than dilute the impact when the series actually…
Regarding the All-Billy ‘Idol’
Wednesday’s “Idol” was clearly one of the weirdest in a while. The theme was the songbook of Billy Joel – a 70s singer songwriter who predated all of the singers…
Karma Hits Colton on ‘Survivor’
It was all about Colton Wednesday night on reality TV. One Colton got to close “American Idol” on Billy Joel night with the most recognizable song, “Piano Man.” The other…
Wednesday TV: NBC Gets ‘Bent’
The new “Bent” (NBC, 9 and 9:30 p.m.) is not based on the 1979 play on persecution during Nazi Germany (that would be “Hogan’s Heroes”). Instead, it’s a harmless show…
Tuesday TV: Finales for ‘The River,’ ‘Switched at Birth,’ ‘Southland’
Don’t know why audiences haven’t taken to “The River” (ABC, 9 p.m.). I found it to be a pretty compelling little thriller, with commentary on modern television, about a wife…
In Premiere, Dancing Trumps Stars
“Dancing with the Stars” seems more and more old fashioned every time it comes on. A ballroom competition! Before an audience required to dress up! Featuring “stars” so obscure, a…