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Davidsen Middle Teacher Appears On 'Jeopardy' Tonight

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

Updated: 07/10/2008 07:58 pm

IN JEOPARDY: Competing in "Jeopardy!" was a "dream come true" for Hillsborough County teacher Tom Pusateri.

"I've been watching it almost my entire life," says the 28-year-old Clearwater resident who teaches sixth grade social studies and geography at Davidsen Middle School in Westchase.

He passed the required tests at an open casting call at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino earlier this year and taped an episode in March that aired tonight.

He made the trip to Los Angeles with his wife, Julie, and his parents. He said getting to meet host Alex Trebek was a thrill.

Pusateri said his family, friends and co-workers were planning a watching party tonight.

He came in third place with $6,200.

'Burn Notice' Returns: Oe of the best summer pleasures returns for a second season when "Burn Notice" heats up the USA cable network at 10 tonight.

Set in the trendy South Beach area of Miami, this fast-paced spy thriller stars the engaging Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, a crafty former CIA agent who got a mysterious "burn notice," the government's way of blacklisting an agent as untrustworthy, unreliable and therefore unemployable.

During the first season (last summer), Westen suddenly found himself with cash and stuck in his hometown of Miami. He was warned that if he left town, he would be exterminated.

He became a troubleshooter for hire. A cross between James Bond and MacGyver with a touch of Jim Rockford, wiseguy spy, Westen pays the bills by helping people who are being threatened by various local thugs and gangsters.

He also is trying to find out why he was "burned" and who is responsible - and who still has him under surveillance.

Westen is aided by an ex-girlfriend, the deadly and exotic former IRA operative Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar); and former spy-turned beach bum Sam (Bruce Campbell). He's also forced to come to terms with his crusty, nagging, chain-smoking mother (Sharon Gless).

Sidekick Campbell, a cult icon who is maybe best known for his "Evil Dead" horror comedy films, is also fun to watch.

Joining the cast this season is former "Battlestar Galactica" actress Tricia Helfer as Carla, a mysterious villainess who will play a role in Westen's fate.

In four episodes that air later this summer, Westen will collaborate with a bitter "burned" ex-spy, named Victor (played by Michael Shanks from "Stargate SG-1").

DOG FIGHT: CBS gives new meaning to the term "going to the dogs" with the "Greatest American Dog," a new unscripted reality competition hosted by pet expert-zoologist Jarod Miller that debuts at 8 tonight.

A dozen people and their pooches will be housed in a "canine academy" where they will face weekly challenges and a three-judge panel.

The "greatest" dog and owner can win $250,000.

The producers say a lot of issues arise in the doggie household where the mutts are eating others' food and playing with others' toys.

Also, there are 12 people who think they have a special relationship with their pet.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD: If all goes well, I will be in Beverly Hills today to join about 150 people who write about television.

We're gathering for what I call the annual summer "Critics' Camp" where cable and broadcast networks trot out their stars for interviews.

I'll be posting pictures, comments and critiques at Walt TV on TBO.com.

Check some of my pictures from last year's adventures in LA LA Land.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Hellboy, 8 p.m., FX

This sleeper hit action flick from 2004 stars Ron Perlman as a wisecracking, big bad demon who fights evil. The sequel hits movie theaters Friday.

Dean Martin: The One and Only, 10 p.m. WEDU, Channel 3

This special profiles the ultracool

crooner-actor from his days as a nightclub singer to his comedy work with Jerry Lewis, his musical career, his later films and his days as a member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack.

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