Prime Pick
Photo: Fox
Traditional sitcoms may feel old and tired to most viewers, but that doesn't mean that the right mix of talent won't have you guffawing louder than that booming laugh track. If you can stomach its old-fashioned format, Fox's "Back to You" (8 p.m. EDT) has a pretty bulletproof cast, inhabiting roles they were born to play: Kelsey Grammer as an arrogant blowhard of a news anchorman, Patricia Heaton as his exasperated, put-upon co-anchor, and Fred Willard as the weirdo weatherman. These three are serious pros at the rhythms and sight gags of the multi-camera sitcom, and they have plenty of great material to play with here. Let's just hope they don't belabor love stories (the endless love of Rachel and Ross on "Friends" slowly and painfully killed that golden goose long ago), because lampooning the supreme stupidity of local news is much more fun.
Also…
The second episode of surreal dramedy "Pushing Daisies" airs at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC, and the post-finale reunion episode of "Top Chef" airs at 10 p.m. EDT on Bravo. Afterward, on MTV's new reality show "Pageant Place" (premieres at 10:30 p.m. EDT), Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA share an apartment in New York together while carrying out their duties as glad-handing spokesmodels.
On the talk shows
Regis and KellyABC, 9 a.m. EDT |
Joaquin Phoenix, Tyler Perry, Taylor Swift |
The ViewABC, 11 a.m. EDT |
Tracy Morgan, Alice Waters |
Ellen DeGeneresSyndicated, check local listings |
Rita Wilson, Kate Walsh, Kristin Chenoweth |
Oprah WinfreySyndicated, check local listings |
Nate Berkus |
Charlie RosePBS, check local listings |
George Clooney, Emile Hirsch |
Larry KingCNN, 9 p.m. EDT |
Howard K. Stern |
Jon StewartComedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT |
Lynne Cheney |
Stephen ColbertComedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT |
Gen. Wesley Clark |
David LettermanCBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT |
Stephen Colbert, Eva Mendes, Queens of the Stone Age |
Jay LenoNBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT |
Dana Carvey, Malin Akerman, Plain White T's |
Tavis SmileyPBS, check local listings |
Janet Reno |
Jimmy KimmelABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT |
America Ferrera, Tony Hawk, Datarock |
Conan O'BrienNBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT |
Tracy Morgan, Emile Hirsch, A.J. Jacobs |
Craig FergusonCBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT |
Fred Willard, Saffron Burrows, Modest Mouse |
Contributors: Megan Doll, Heather Havrilesky, Eryn Loeb, Amy Reiter
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