TVSquad

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Wow, this is quite a list of shows this week, though I think the only one I'm definitely going to buy is the second season 30 Rock set. Maybe the Three Stooges set too. Those are good sets to have. I'm tempted to buy the complete series set for Speed Racer because I remember it from my childhood, but I have a big suspicion that my memories would be better than the show itself.

• 30 Rock - Season 2
  
• The Beverly Hillbillies - Season 2
• Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern - Collection 2
• Brotherhood - Season 2
• Corner Gas - Season 5
• Doctor Who - The Brain of Morbius and Trial of a Time Lord
• Full Circle with Michael Palin
• Ghost Hunters - Season 4, Part 1
• How I Met Your Mother - Season 3
• Johnny Cash & Friends - Christmas Specials
• Martin - Season 5
• Midsomer Murders - Box Set 11
• Mission: Impossible - Season 5
• The Munsters - Complete Series and Family Portrait
• Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares - Vol. 2
• Robot Chicken - Season 3
• The Sarah Jane Adventures - Season 1
• The Simpsons - Season 11
• The Smurfs - Season 1, Vol. 2
• The Three Stooges Collection - Vol. 4: 1943-45
• South Park - The Cult of Cartman
• Speed Racer - Complete Series
• Speed Racer: The Next Generation - Vol. 2
• Wagon Train - Going West

As we've told you before, this is the 60th anniversary of the Emmy Awards. The September 21 show, telecast on ABC, will not only celebrate the Best Actresses and Best Dramas of the current prime time lineup, it will also celebrate the many stars and characters and shows of 10, 20, 40, 60 years ago.

ABC has created an ad that features a lot of those stars. A lot of the stars are easy to find and it's a no-brainer that they were included (Marge and Homer, Rod Serling, Dick Van Dyke, Stewie, the South Park guys, etc), but I'm happy to also see some people I didn't think would be in such an ad: Guy Williams as Zorro, Robert Culp from I Spy, Mike Connors from Mannix, Tim Daly from Wings, Wally Cox from Mr. Peepers, among others.

We're used to reading all of the lists that rank the best and worst TV shows of all-time, now ABC is getting even more specific than that. What are the top moments in television history?

You can vote for them at the ABC site and your answers will be revealed on the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast on Sunday, September 21. There are two categories, comedy and drama (sorry fans of game shows and reality shows). No, you can't write in your own vote, you have to pick from the finalists that they've already chosen for you, so right off the bat you know there's going to be a lot of "but what about..." and "why did they include..." talk.

I have a confession to make: I always liked Caroline in the City. Maybe it was because it was set in the world of cartooning, or that I liked the fact that Richard was sarcastic and morose, or maybe it's just that I've always thought that Lea Thompson was really cute. Anyway, the first season is out on DVD tomorrow, and I just might have to pick it up.

Another syndicated-writer show is on DVD for the first time tomorrow too: Dave's World, the sitcom starring Harry Anderson that was based on the life and columns of Dave Barry. I miss Harry Anderson.

• Caroline in the City - Season 1
• Dave's World - Season 1
• Kenny vs. Spenny - Season 4
• The Love Boat - Season 1, Vol. 2
• Naruto - Uncut Box Set 9
• Prison Break - Season 3
• South Park - Season 11
• The Superman/Aquaman Adventure Hour - DC Superheroes: Filmation Adventures
• That Girl - Season 4
• Tom and Jerry Tales - Season 5
• Tru Calling - Complete Series
• The Wire - Season 5

FOX's second day on TCA was given over to FX, and network president John Landgraf had some news:

• They are ordering an additional 19 episodes of Nip/Tuck. The show will be end its run in early 2011 with an even 100 episodes. Show-runner Ryan Murphy wil stay through the end of the run.
• Michael J. Fox will appear on a four episode arc of Rescue Me next season. He'll play Janet Gavin's new boyfriend, who is confined to a wheelchair.
• Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden will be a regular on second season of Damages.
• The network has ordered 39 more episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This is in addition to 13 currently being produced for the upcoming season.
• They are ordering 13 episode of new comedy series Testees, created by Kenny Hotz (South Park - Kenny vs Spenny). Its about two friends in their early 30's who earn living as medical guinea pigs.

OK, let me start this off by saying that Weezer is one of my favorite bands and that I haven't stopped listening to their new self-titled "red album" since it came out on Tuesday. It's their best stuff in a long time. So what I'm about to say is more of an observation than an accusation.

Alright, so am I nuts, or is there a striking resemblance (or at least some obvious similarities) between the video for Weezer's new single "Pork and Beans" and the South Park episode "Canada on Strike?"

Due to the complicated and apparently outdated Emmy Awards nomination rules, prime-time animated shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Dad, South Park and others have had to choose which Emmy category they want to compete in, animated or comedy series. Then, that decision impacts eligibility for writers and animators on those shows in other categories. Well, Family Guy is in a unique position this year, as their "Blue Harvest" Star Wars parody was classified as a special. And as the animated category looks at single episodes, Family Guy can submit "Blue Harvest" to the animated category, and the show itself, to comedy series.

I'd say it's a tremendous long shot that an animated show can be nominated over the live-action comedy series it will be facing. But there's always a first time for everything; when Disney's animated Beauty and the Beast picked up an Oscar nod for "Best Picture" it was groundbreaking in the same way. It's a tough debate. These shows compete with prime-time comedies every week and yet get put up against the likes of Spongebob Squarepants come awards time. How do you compare The Venture Brothers and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends?

Being the award for Excellence in Animation, this was easily the widest ranging category, and you all really came through in your nomination suggestions (sorry The Venture Brothers doesn't qualify). With animation owning several channels all to itself and still appearing everywhere else, you've got kid's shows, very much adult only series (did I mention The Venture Brothers can't get nominated?), gag cartoons, sci-fi cartoons and even gothic horror.

With your help from my Adam Finley Award call for nominations post last week where you tried to trick me into nominating The Venture Brothers, even though I can't, we've managed to narrow down the field of contenders to what we feel were the five strongest entries into the wide world of television animation in the past season. Don't forget to check out the Reader's Choice at the bottom where you can vote for which of the five you think are deserving to win. Next week, we'll be revealing both your winner and ours.

For many longtime TV Squad readers the name Adam Finley could only be associated with one thing: the wide world of animation. Adam was passionate about animation, covering many shows for us here as well as reporting on anything and everything happening in the industry. So it's only right that the award for Excellence in Animation be named after him.

There's all kinds of possibilities for contenders here. I'd give a nod to both Star Wars tributes -- Family Guy and Robot Chicken -- and South Park definitely stretched their animation style with 'Major Boobage,' but I didn't think the episode was all that good. Aqua Teen Hunger Force had some good episodes this season (personal favorites include the VeggieTales parody and that crazy trilogy that opened the season).

But I've by no means watched all the best in animation this year, so I call out to you, dear readers. Which episodes or shows do you think set the bar or even raised it in this past year? Are The Simpsons out of their prime and not worthy of TVS recognition? How about King of the Hill or American Dad? The new The Mr. Men Show is retro-tastic, simple, but still cleverly awesome! Too many to handle! Help me TVS Readers, you're my only hope!

Quick, what do the following TV shows have in common: The Dick Van Dyke Show, Twilight Zone, The Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?

Answer: they're not on Empire Magazine's list of the 50 best greatest TV shows of all-time. Let the arguments begin!

• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by new episodes of Supernanny and Men in Trees.
• CBS has a new Big Brother at 8.
• NBC has a new, two hour Deal Or No Deal at 8, then a new Law and Order.
• FOX has a new 'Til Death at 8, followed by new episodes of Back To You and American Idol.
• There's a new America's Next Top Model on The CW at 8, then the season finale of Pussycat Dolls.
• PBS has a new Secrets of the Dead and a new National Geographic's Strange Days on Planet Earth.
• At 9, Discovery has a new Mythbusters.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters at 9.
• Travel Channel has two new episodes of John Ratzenberger's Made in America at 9.
• At 9:30, HGTV has a new Design on a Dime.
• At 10, TBS has two new episodes of Taylor Perry's House of Payne.
• Comedy Central has a new South Park at 10.
• Bravo has a new Top Chef at 10.
• Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
• Also at 10: MTV has a new episode of The Real World.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7:30, FOX has the "Idol Gives Back" American Idol special.
• At 8, CBS has a new Big Brother, then episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• NBC has a new Deal Or No Deal at 8.
• The CW has new episodes of America's Next Top Model and Pussycat Dolls.
• HGTV has a new Designed To Sell at 8, then new episodes of Get It Sold, Deserving Design, Design on a Dime, and House Hunters.
• At 9, ABC has a new Supernanny, followed by a new Primetime.
• PBS has a new American Masters at 9.
• Food Network has a new Chefography at 9, about the Food Network itself.
• Travel Channel has two new episodes of John Ratzenberger's Made in America at 9.
• Also at 9: Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters, followed by a new Destination Truth.
• At 10, Comedy Central has a new South Park, then a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.
• There's a new Top Chef on Bravo at 10.
• Spike has a new Ultimate Fighter at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Welcome to Subtle Subtitles. For those of you who are uninitiated to the purpose of this feature, we're asking you to come up with your funniest quote or description for what's going on in the screen grab we choose for the week. Winners are announced in the following Friday's contest.

Last contest's winner: Rob

This week, a scene from the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen ...

• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by new episodes of Supernanny and Men in Trees.
• CBS has a new Big Brother 9 at 8, then new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• NBC has a new Deal Or No Deal at 8.
• FOX has the season finale of Moment of Truth at 8, then a new American Idol.
• There's a new America's Next Top Model on The CW at 8.
• At 9, Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters, then a new Destination Truth.
• Travel Channel has two new episodes of John Ratzenberger's Made in America starting at 9.
• At 9:30, HGTV has a new Design on a Dime.
• At 10, TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
• Comedy Central has a new South Park at 10, followed by a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.
• Bravo has a new Top Chef at 10.
• Also at 10, MTV has a Real World reunion show, The Real World Awards Bash.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap.
• FOX has a new Moment of Truth at 8, followed by a new American Idol.
• CBS has a new Big Brother at 8.
• There's a new Great Performances on PBS at 8, then a new Great Performances at the Met.
• The CW has a new America's Next Top Model.
• At 9, HGTV has a new Deserving Design, followed by a new Design on a Dime.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters at 9, then a new Destination Truth.
• At 9:30, HBO has a new In Treatment.
• At 9:45, TCM has the 1932 version of The Most Dangerous Game.
• At 10, ABC has a new Men In Trees.
• Bravo has a new Top Chef at 10.
• TBS has two new episodes of Taylor Perry's House of Payne at 10.
• Also at 10: Comedy Central has a new South Park, then a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.

Check your local TV listings for more.