TV viewing: The good, the bad — the icky!
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Just to remind you how bad TV can get, cable's A&E, which used to stand for Arts & Entertainment and now seems to mean Anything & Everything, announced last week it's making a docu-reality series about exterminators.
Oh, great. Missing from the release is the word "ick."
On the other hand, if the exterminating family could get a guest shot on any of the "Real Housewives" shows, we might have something.
There is lots of good TV, too, even in the holiday season when the channels are loaded with filler.
For the rest of this week's What to Watch (or Not):
_Tuesday
"Shatner's Raw Nerve" (10 p.m. on Bio): Sure, "Boston Legal" is ending, but you can still catch Shatner (if you have expanded digital cable or satellite service) earnestly interviewing celebrities. And this week, his guest is porn star Jenna Jameson. Sounds like a perfect pairing.
_Wednesday
"Life" (9 p.m. on NBC): This clever and engaging series has one of the best cop characters ever _ detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) _ and there are only a couple episodes left before it goes away until February. In this one, Crews and his partner find a murdered man buried to his neck and surrounded by flower petals. They think something is odd.
_Thursday
"Planet in Peril: Battle Lines" (6 p.m. on CNN): A two-hour follow-up to last year's special report, this looks at the environmental conflicts between the world's growing population and its dwindling resources. Anderson Cooper hosts; Lisa Ling and Dr. Sanjay Gupta report.
_"CSI" (at 9 p.m. on CBS): Gil Grissom (William Peterson) leaves the lab on Jan. 15, and this week, in the last new episode before Gil's farewell, Laurence Fishburne joins the team to help maintain the show's star power.
"30 Rock" (9:30 p.m. on NBC): I'm still pushing this comedy, and this week is the Christmas episode, with Liz trying to play Santa, Jack suffering a visit from his mother, and Jenna doing her cheesy worst on "The Girlie Show's" holiday special.
_Friday
"Frosty the Snowman" (8 p.m. on CBS): It's all about Frosty's magic hat and Jimmy Durante's narration in the 1969 classic.
"Frosty Returns" (8:30 p.m. on CBS): This is the 1995 sequel with John Goodman voicing ol' Frosty, who battles an evil inventor and a snow removal spray. This makes no sense, but it's here if you want a Frosty Friday.
_Saturday
"Ironman World Triathlon Championships" (11:30 a.m. on NBC): If you can put up with the often-sappy side stories, it's a thrill to watch the highlights from the race _ it's a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run _ in Hawaii.
"The Greatest Game Ever Played" (6 p.m. on ESPN): The 1958 NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants is generally credited with bringing pro football to the attention of the nation. Not everyone thinks that's a good thing. ESPN restored and colorized film from the game and mixes it with commentary from players. Not included is evidence of whether it really was the greatest game ever.
_Sunday
"Survivor: Gabon" (8 p.m. on CBS): Time for the season finale with the usual two-hour episode and hourlong chat. I'm a fan, but I can comfortably say, worst season ever.
"Dexter" (9 p.m. on Showtime): It's the finale for Season 3 and Dexter is heading for the altar. Dexter is getting married. How great is this show?
___
Rick Kushman: rkushman@sacbee.com
___
© 2008, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.).
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