Storm Chasers, Monty Python series start, while Flipping Out, Housewives depart

past forward »   
by Andy Dehnart / October 16, 2009, 12:54 PM

comment »

Here’s what happened last week, and what to watch for next week:

The Past

• It may have been a week that started with a federal holiday, but this week was full of crazy stories. CBS wrecked the end of a sad ending to one of its shows, and that end was even more tragic when we learned what really happened. We learned who the new Bachelor is, and that Tyra Banks makes $30 freakin’ million a year. The author of Where the Wild Things Are had surprising thoughts about childhood and kids, while it’s no surprise that the winner of Hell’s Kitchen won a job as an employee only. Also this week, we learned of impending departures: a reality-focused cable network is going away, as are Jon and Kate. Thursday was the most shocking day of all: Mia Michaels quit and Wife Swap balloon boy transfixed us, and then revealed it was a hoax and puked.

The Forward

• Friday, Oct. 16 Just when it didn’t seem possible for Discovery to air yet another show about people who have crazy fishing jobs, here comes Lobstermen [Discovery Channel, 10 p.m.],
• Saturday, Oct. 17
  The Househusbands of Hollywood reunite [Fox Reality, 9 p.m.] before the cancelled reality-focused network airs its final Really Awards [10 p.m.], which will be hosted by Vivica A. Fox with Lance Bass on the red carpet, and will hopefully actual involve reality this year, instead of last year’s pointless scripted drivel.
• Sunday, Oct. 18
  Crazy people chase tornadoes in the third season debut of Storm Chasers [Discovery 10 p.m.], which I plan to start watching now that I’ve seen this insane trailer. Holy crap.
• Monday, Oct. 19
  Monty Python: Almost the Truth is a six-part series that debuts tonight and looks in-depth at the comedy group, using interviews with its members and the celebrities they influenced [IFC, 9 p.m.]. A “two night special event” starts when Extreme Paranormal’s “team descends to the eeries depths of a remote haunted lake to summon the spirit of a mass murderer” [A&E, 10 p.m., continues Oct. 26]. If you want to get even more scared, ponder why Josh got a haircut on Million Dollar Listing [Bravo, 10 p.m.] and Chad did not.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20
  PBS’ Independent Lens airs a documentary about a famous mining town and its impact in Butte, America [PBS, check local listings]. Also, there are two season finales tonight: Shark Tank [ABC, 8 p.m.], and Flipping Out [Bravo, 10 p.m.]
• Wednesday, Oct. 21
  So You Think You Can Dance [Fox, 8 p.m.] gets its top 20, finally. Now it’s time for the really amazing dancing to begin.
• Wednesday, Oct. 22
  The Real Housewives of Atlanta [Bravo, 10 p.m.] ends its second season, but I stopped watching a few weeks ago. I just can’t get into it or the O.C. season, whereas the New Jersey and New York seasons were like televised versions of crushed up Ritalin.