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Walt's Picks: Best TV This Week

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2008

On a Tuesday when we're wondering whether "Dancing With the Stars" favorite Warren Sapp was ever known for his moves on the dance floors of Tampa nightspots when he played for the Bucs, here is my list of 10 noteworthy things debuting on TV this week.

Biggest, most important show: The second presidential debate between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, 9 tonight on just about every major network.

Good old Tom Brokaw moderates.

Here's hoping Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart get new material out of this.

Most interesting newcomer: "Life on Mars," 10 p.m. Thursday on ABC.

New York police Detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) is struck by a car in 2008 and wakes up in 1973, when he might as well be on another planet. It's a world without cell phones, DNA evidence or high-ranking female officers. Can he cope with '70s music, polyester and big hair?

Worst newcomer: "Kath & Kim," 8:30 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

This shallow, stupid comedy stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair as bickering mother and daughter.

Most anticipated returning show: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," 9 p.m. Thursday.

This is the last hurrah for series star and co-producer William Petersen. He departs after 10 episodes. A new guy, played by Laurence Fishburne, will arrive on the scene.

Next big freak show: "The Eleventh Hour," 10 p.m. Thursday on CBS.

Movie bad guy Rufus Sewell stars as Dr. Jacob Hood, an eccentric genius who solves bizarre scientific mysteries for the FBI with assistance from a lovely female agent (Marley Shelton). The first case involves cloning run amok. The second is about 11-year-olds dying from heart attacks.

Best new cable addition: "The Starter Wife," 9 p.m. Friday on USA.

Debra Messing, of "Will & Grace," stars as the divorced wife of a selfish Hollywood producer. She is starting her life over as the outcast "starter wife" in Hollywood's superficial social system. It's good fun.

Best place to see Sarah Palin skits: "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday," 9:30 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

The first of three half-hour doses of "Saturday Night Live" political humor. The 34-year-old sketch comedy series is riding high this year, thanks to Tina Fey's guest appearances as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

New show mostly likely to be ignored: "The Tony Rock Project," 8 p.m. Wednesday on MyNetwork TV.

Chris Rock's look-alike brother is a comic, too, but he has had to live in the shadow of his famous sibling. On his new show, he does politically incorrect people-on-the-street interviews.

Mondo Bizarro guilty pleasure: "Pickup Artist 2," 10 p.m. Sunday on VH1.

Some things are so ridiculous that they become entertaining, and this series is one of them. Former magician and self-proclaimed seduction artist who calls himself Mystery (Erik von Markovik) runs a boot camp for geeks where he trains the socially challenged to become "master pickup artists."

Best civic lesson: "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Kids Pick the President," 9 p.m. Sunday on Nickelodeon.

In four of the last five presidential elections, the kid viewers of Nickelodeon have accurately predicted the outcome of the national election.

The only time the kids didn't mirror the outcome was 2000, when they picked Al Gore over George W. Bush (but Gore did win the popular vote).

Sunday's program features Sens. McCain and Obama, answering questions submitted by kids on a wide range of hot political topics. After the show, kids will be able to vote by going to www.nick.com Nickelodeon will announce the results at 8 p.m. Oct. 20.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Real Housewives of Atlanta, 9 p.m., Bravo

As an alternative to the presidential debate, this one won't tax your brain. These Southern belles are just as bad as the real housewives of Orange County, Calif., and New York.

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