TVSquad

I can't decide if this is good news or bad news. Moonlight star Alex O'Loughlin is staying at CBS.

Unless you've been in another galaxy for the past year, you know that the Aussie actor cultivated an enormous fan base with his role as vampire P.I. Mick St. John on CBS' Moonlight. The uproar caused by the cancellation of the show in May can still be heard, well, in another galaxy.

At the Television Critics Association press tour in July, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said the popularity of Moonlight was due in large part to O'Loughlin's fan base. So I can appreciate the fact that CBS wants to keep him around. But it's what they'll do with him that has me worried.

• NBC has The Olympics all night.
• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother 10.
• Disney Channel has a new Phineas & Ferb at 8, then a new Wizards of Waverly Place.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, followed by a new In Plain Sight.
• There's a new Generation Kill on HBO at 9.
• HGTV has the HGTV Summer Showdown at 9.
• At 9:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, then a new Two Coreys.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• Lifetime has a new Army Wives at 10.
• E! has a new Pam on the Loose at 10, then a new Sunset Tan.
• ESPN2 has more Little League World Series coverage at 10.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, followed by new episodes of Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job and Assy McGee.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S02E09) Ah, if only we all had someone in our lives who would say that whenever we turn up with a problem. I'd like to say there were some surprises in this episode, but really there was just one I didn't see coming.

Trevor realizes that he's been a handful so when she says, "I wish I could deploy -- to a five-star spa," he takes her words to heart. In typical TV fashion, because in reality this kind of stuff doesn't happen, Trevor decides to create a spa dinner for Roxie.

The tribe chip in to help him, but the surprise is ruined because Roxie can't resist socializing with the girls from her G.E.D. class. Now, that did come as a bit of a surprise. Not Roxie socializing, but that she's a high school dropout. She comes off as a smart cookie, but apparently that's all life experience.

• At 8, ABC has a new High School Musical: Get in the Picture.
• CBS has a new Big Brother at 8.
• NBC has preseason football at 8, the Redskins vs. the Colts.
• Also at 8: TV Land has the M*A*S*H 30th Annivesary Special.
• At 8:30, Disney has a new Hannah Montana.
• At 9, USA has a new Law and Order: CI, followed by a new In Plain Sight.
• There's a new Ice Road Truckers on History Channel at 9.
• Food Network has a new Iron Chef America at 9.
• Sundance has a new Shameless at 9.
• HBO has a new Generation Kill at 9.
• At 9:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, then a new Two Coreys.
• At 10, Lifetime has a new Army Wives.
• AMC has a new Mad Men at 10.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Fat Guy Stuck In Internet, followed by new episodes of Tim and Eric's Awesome Show Great Job and Assy McGee.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S02E08) Well, this was one packed episode. I think the only thing missing was the kitchen sink. With the exception of the Denise-Getty will they-won't they love story, every thread was neatly tied up by the end of the show. It made for a satisfying episode, but I'm not sure it was as fulfilling as the storylines that take time to develop and resolve.

It was refreshing to see Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz in a few scenes as Sandy, a new waitress at Roxy's bar -- which they're now calling a diner. Even in just the few moments, she was a shot of vinegar. Too bad she turned out to be a one-dimensional character with a plot that was wrapped up before it started. Roxy wiped the floor with her when she fired her, in Roxy style.

What was troubling was Trevor popping pain pills. In his efforts to rush back to his unit, he's making a big mistake. I hope they're not going in this direction, but I'm afraid they are.

• Shark Week begins on Discovery Channel,
• At 8, ABC has a new High School Musical: Get in the Picture.
• CBS has a new Big Brother at 8.
• TNT has The Wizard of Oz at 8.
• HGTV has all new episodes starting at 8: House Hunters, House Hunters International, Design Star, The Stagers, and Property Virgins.
• TCM has Mr. Deeds Goes To Town at 8.
• At 9, NBC has a new Dateline.
• PBS has a new Masterpiece at 9.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, followed by a new In Plain Sight.
• History Channel has a new Ice Road Truckers at 9.
• HBO has a new Generation Kill at 9.
• At 9:30, A&E has a new Gene Simmons Family Jewels, then a new Two Coreys.
• At 10, AMC has the season premiere of Mad Men.
• There's a new Army Wives on Lifetime at 10.
• E! has new episodes of Denise Richards: It's Complicated and Living Lohan starting at 10.
• Also at 10: Food Network has the season finale of The Next Food Network Star. It's followed by a sneak peek at Ted Allen's new show, Food Detectives.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, then new episodes of Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job and Assy McGee.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• AMC's Mad Men marathon runs all night until 1am.
• BBC America's Spaced marathon continues until 9pm.
• At 7, G4 has a new Hurl!
• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother.
• ABC has the premiere of High School Musical: Get in the Picture at 8.
• Disney has a new Hannah Montana at 8, followed by a new Wizards of Waverly Place.
• There's a new Challenge on Food Network at 8, then new episodes of Iron Chef America and Next Food Network Star.
• At 9, NBC has a new Dateline.
• PBS has a new Masterpiece at 9.
• ESPN has the ESPY Awards at 9.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, then a new In Plain Sight.
• A&E has two new episodes of Gene Simmons' Family Jewels starting at 9, followed by a new Two Coreys.
• History Channel has a new Ice Road Truckers at 9.
• HBO has a new Generation Kill at 9.
• Nickelodeon has a new Nick News at 9.
• Sundance Channel has a new Shameless at 9.
• Also at 9: HGTV has a new Design Star.
• At 9:30, TCM has Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.
• At 10, Lifetime has a new Army Wives.
• E! has a new Denise Richards: It's Complicated at 10, then a new Living Lohan.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Fat Guy Stuck In Internet.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

Yes! The second season premiere of Burn Notice hit #2 this week! Sure, it was expected, but that doesn't mean it's not fantastic news. USA has a ton of shows in the top 10, actually, taking six of the spots. Those Sprint Cup races seem to make an appearance every week now, as do Army Wives on Lifetime and something on Disney Channel that features a Hannah and/or a Jonas brother.

1. Monday Night RAW (USA)
2. Burn Notice (USA)
3. Sprint Cup - Chicago (TNT)
4. In Plain Sight (USA)
5. Monday Night RAW (USA)
6. Law and Order: CI (USA)
7. Picture This (ABC Family)
8. Camp Rock (Disney)
9. Law and Order: SVU (USA)
10. Army Wives (Lifetime)

If there's one thing about success in the entertainment business it's this: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That means if something is working on another show, steal/borrow the idea. As I've pointed out before, the soaps are inspired by movies and TV shows all the time, including Ugly Betty and The Devil Wears Prada and 24 and anything else that the daytime dramas can adapt into the soap opera format.

The latest form of flattery will be on All My Children with the introduction of Beth Ehlers as a new character in Pine Valley, Lieutenant Taylor McBride, a U.S. Army vet who has recently been deployed in Iraq.

(S02E06) One of the really good things about Army Wives is that it presents situations and problems that don't have easy answers. As a viewer, you watch and wonder, "What would I do if I was in his/her shoes?"

That was what I was wondering when Claudia Joy was faced with advising a soldier/mother who's teenage daughter was acting out because she didn't want her mother to leave for another tour of duty. With little recourse that doesn't involve court martial and loss of benefits, Clare Duncan, faces a moral dilemma that most TV shows never address.

I have to admit I didn't even know that issues like dual deployment -- when both a father and mother are serving in combat, leaving kids behind and in need of care -- existed till tonight. It seems unfair for the children of military families, which is the point the program was making.

There were plenty of personal stories going on as well. Trevor's a wreck, uncomfortable with being hailed a hero, and Roxy is unsure how to help him.

• At 8, CBS has the premiere of Big Brother.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8.
• At 9, NBC has Miss Universe 2008.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, then a new In Plain Sight.
• HBO has the premiere of Generation Kill at 9.
• TLC has a new Singing Office at 9.
• A&E has a new Gene Simmons' Family Jewels at 9, followed by a new Two Coreys.
• History Channel has a new Ice Road Truckers at 9.
• HGTV has a new Design Star at 9.
• At 10, Lifetime has a new Army Wives.
• Food Network has a new Next Food Network Star at 9.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.
• Showtime has a new I Can't Believe I'm Still Single at 11:30.

Check your local TV listings for more.

The success of Army Wives has been huge for Lifetime. Currently, the second season is doing gangbuster ratings so it's no surprise the CEO Andrea Wong announced yesterday that Army Wives has been renewed for season number three.

Commencing in early 2009, there will be 18 new episodes of the military-oriented, drama set in Fort Marshall around the lives of the families of Army personnel. Currently, the tale of the "tribe" has been a grand slam, Sunday night success for the cable net, the number one cable show among women 25-54 and women 18-49, Lifetime's key demographics.

Kim Delaney is not Quinn Cummings, but the actresses share one thing in common: Marsha Mason as a mom, on screen that is. Army Wives has cast Marsha Mason, Oscar-nominated actress for The Goodbye Girl, as Claudia Joy Holden's mom. She will be appearing on at least two episodes this season, visiting Fort Marshall and her daughter, the general's wife.

Marsha, who is actually has been Oscar-nominated as Best Actress four times in all (Cinderella Liberty, Chapter Two, Only When I Laugh), will guest on Army Wives as Charlotte Meade, Claudia's socialite mother. Her relationship with her daughter is strained and her visit comes without warning.

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

Breaking News: No SpongeBob is the top 10 this week! But USA must be happy with what they're doing, with five shows on the list. And it's a good bet that Burn Notice will be on the list when the second season premieres next week.

Don't know what to tell you about the top 4 shows. There's that many people watching wrestling and auto racing?

1. Sprint Cup - Daytona (TNT)
2. Monday Night RAW (USA)
3. Monday Night RAW (USA)
4. NASCAR Post-Race Show (TNT)
5. Law and Order: CI (USA)
6. In Plain Sight (USA)
7. Red Sox/Yankees (ESPN)
8. The Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney)
9. Army Wives (Lifetime)
10. Law and Order: SVU (USA)

(S02E05) For the first 52 minutes (including commercials) of tonight's Army Wives, I was wondering where it was going, and -- I have to admit -- I was getting a little impatient. It seemed like a lot of little bits weren't adding up for a very cohesive episode.

Then the last act kicked in and I found myself in tears. The memorial service at the end for the MIA soldier whose remains were finally being returned from Vietnam was a knockout. It just took some time to get to that point.

The heart of the show was Trevor's return from Iraq and his difficulties dealing with the aftermath of killing the man who shot and wounded him. He's uncomfortable with being labeled a hero.