TVSquad

Over the last two years Food Network's Alton Brown has taken to America's roads less traveled in the Feasting on Asphalt series in order to find the little known jewels that were left behind as the Interstates began to rule the country. Along the way, Alton and his crew dined on alligator, various pieces of pig that are not normally consumed by the general public, sweet bread sandwiches, and lots and lots of doughnuts. Now, filled with fried dough and cow brains, Alton has decided to get off of his motorcycle and see what other delicacies are out there in warm waters of the Caribbean.

Alton Brown is a unique commodity on Food Network. In an environment where most of the action is in front of the stove or above the cutting board, Brown's Good Eats takes us beyond that. Sometimes it's to the origins of the food or the recipe; other times it's into the science of how all of the ingredients of a particular combination of foods work together. He does this with a bit of nerdiness, a bit of hipness, and a good amount of humor.

When he took his love for food on the road in the first Feasting on Asphalt it produced a very successful mini-series that showed the non-corporate side of America's eateries. It also showed us some of the small cities and towns, and their personalities, that we don't normally see off of the interstate at our Applebee's booth.

Now, his second series of Asphalt is out on DVD. While not as fresh as the first series (and, what is the second time around?) it is still a fascinating look into the America that has been nearly forgotten as the corporations took over the country. You'll want to savor this journey because, frankly, that's about all there is in this 3-DVD set.

• At 7, USA has coverage of the U.S. Open.
• At 8, ABC has college football.
• TLC has a new Property Ladder at 8, followed by a new Flip That House.
• There's a new Emeril Live on Food Network at 8, then a new Feasting On Asphalt.
• Disney has a new Kim Possible at 8.
• At 8:30, Nicktoons has two new episodes of The Secret Show.
• At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
• CNBC has a new Suze Orman Show at 9.
• At 10:15, Disney has a new As The Bell Rings.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ESPN2 has coverage of the Little League World Series (two games).
• At 8, CNN has the special Hope & Heartbreak: Inside The Sago Mine Tragedy.
• Food Network has a new Emeril Live at 8, then a new Feasting On Asphalt.
• There's a new Life with Derek on Disney at 8, followed by a new Cory in the House.
• TCM has That Touch of Mink at 8, then Tea For Two.
• At 8:30, ESPN has coverage of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament.
• At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
• CNBC has a new Suze Orman Show.
• VH-1 has NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell at 9.
• At 10, ABC has a new Masters of Science Fiction.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Food uber-nerd Alton Brown is heading back on the road starting this weekend in a new series of Feasting on Asphalt adventures. However, instead of traversing the back-roads of America like he did in last year's series, Alton will be going up the river.

The Mississippi River, to be precise. In Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run, premiering August 4th at 9:00 pm on The Food Network, the host of Good Eats and his cast of not many journey the length of Mightily Mississip in search of honest to goodness road food. They begin their adventure at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, stopping along the way to dine on crawfish, alligator, fried chicken, chicken livers, tamales, donuts and authentic home-cooked favorites.

• At 8, HBO has Brad and Angelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
• At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
• TLC has a new Trading Spaces at 9.
• Food Network has a new Feasting on Asphalt at 9, followed by a new Unwrapped.
• Also at 9: ESPN has The X Games.
• At 10, MTV2 has a new Headbanger's Ball (this show is still on?!?), featuring Slayer.
• There's a new Henry Rollins Show at 10 on IFC.
• I mentioned the M*A*S*H DVD set this morning, and tonight Hallmark has a mini-marathon of four episodes. Its starts at 11.