TVSquad

Okay, I admit it. I like reality TV. Or maybe I should say unscripted TV. These days the parsing of the term "reality" has become as much a discussion as the genre itself. And don't kill me for calling it a genre. It is. It's here to stay. As long as producers can come up with ideas that make money and networks give them air time, reality/non-fiction/unscripted television is going to continue to proliferate the tube.

It's not with any great pride that I admit I'm hooked on reality shows -- some reality shows. My favorites include the high quality, classy shows, like The Amazing Race and Top Chef and Project Runway, as well as trashy ones, i.e. The Real Housewives of Orange County (and New York), Hell's Kitchen and Bridezillas. I like some of the competition-oriented shows, but that doesn't stop me from gazing in astonishment at the train wreck docu-series like Hey Paula and Being Bobby Brown. In fact, when I hear Kathy Griffin riffing on those shows -- her imitation of Whitney screaming "Bobby!" is classic -- I want to cry out, "Yes, yes, I watch that one, too."

High Def -- HD -- is gradually spreading throughout the television business and more and more HD channels are proliferating the dial. Now comes news that one of reality TV mainstays, Survivor, will be shot and broadcast in high definition next season.

With greater clarity, better images, more vibrant colors and depth of image, HD is in many ways like seeing television with new eyes. It really makes a difference. For a show like Survivor which is set in exotic locales and emphasizes the beauty -- and occasional cruelty -- of nature -- HD is going to be a spectacular improvement visually.

Well, here's something about reality TV that didn't make me gag. Survivor mega-producer Mark Burnett has a new unscripted project, greenlighted by CBS, called Jingles. It's a competition show in which contestants have to create tunes for products, commercial jingles. No mud wrestling, no unlocking keys to puzzle pieces the size of boulders, no eating slugs wrapped in wild boar bacon. This time it's all about catchy melodies, clever hooks and lyrics that incorporate product info whether the products an erectile dysfunction pill or a new luxury car.

• FOX has the Packers/Giants game all night (starts at 6).
• ESPN has The Australian Open all night.
• At 7, CBS has the special The Age of Warming, followed by the season finale Amazing Race.
• NBC has a new, two hour Dateline at 7.
• Also at 7: The CW has a new CW Now.
• At 8, ABC has a new, two hour Extreme Makeover.
• The CW has a new Life is Wild at 8.
• At 9, NBC has a new Masterpiece.
• CNBC has the Detroit Auto Show All Access special at 9.
• Food Network has a new Iron Chef America at 9, then a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
• There's a new episode of The Wire on HBO at 9, followed by a new Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam.
• At 10. AMC has the season premiere of Breaking Bad.
• Showtime has a new L Word at 10.
• At midnight, AMC starts to run the first season of Mad Men again.

Check your local TV listings for more.

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

Wow, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is really making an impact, eh? The first episode got over 18 million viewers! I don't know if that's because people were really excited about seeing what the pilot was like or because it was a benefit of the writers strike or a combo of both, but those are good numbers.

1. NFC Playoffs (FOX)
2. AFC Playoffs (CBS)
3. Allstate BCS National Game (FOX)
4. CSI (CBS)

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

Two things strike me as I look at this week's list: 1.) if crime didn't exist, CBS probably wouldn't be in the top 20 as much as they are, and 2.) NBC had a lot of football on last week. So many football games, shows, and pre-kicks in the top 20 that it's actually a little confusing.

1. Sunday Night Football (NBC)

• At 7, NBC has a new Football Night in America, followed by the Colts/Titans game.
• ABC has The Sound of Music at 7.
• The CW has a new CW Now at 7.
• At 8, CBS has a new episode of The Amazing Race.
• ESPN has the PetroSun Independence Bowl at 8.
• Lifetime Movie Network has Finding John Christmas at 8, then Christmas in Paradise.
• At 10, E! has a new episode of The Girls Next Door, followed by a new Snoop Dogg's Father Hood.

Check your local TV listings for more.

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

NBC hits #1! OK, it's football and it's probably a temporary thing (plus it's the holidays), but they did it, and NBC even got a few more shows into the top 20 (even if they were temporary reality shows). I'm getting a little sick of typing the letters "CBS" each and every week though, at least when they're attached to shows like CSI. Interesting that 60 Minutes hit #3, considering it was a repeat.

1. Sunday Night Football (NBC)

• At 7, ABC has Elmo's Christmas Countdown, followed by a new Duel and The Santa Clause 2.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, then the Redskins/Vikings game.
• The CW has a new CW Now at 7.
• At 8, CBS has a new episode of The Amazing Race, then the special In God's Name.
• The CW has The Story of Santa Claus at 8.
• ESPN has the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at 8.
• Also at 8: TCM has Christmas in Connecticut, followed by Holiday Affair.
• At 9, Lifetime has the movie A Very Married Christmas.
• HGTV has Decorating Cents Home for the Holidays at 9.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new Xavier: Renegade Angel, followed by Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and Shark.
• ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos at 7, then a new Extreme Makeover and the new movie For One More Day.
• NBC has a new Football Night In America at 7, followed by the Colts/Ravens game.
• The CW has a new CW Now at 7.
• At 8, The CW has a new Life is Wild.
• Lifetime has the movie The Christmas Shoes at 8, then the movie An Accidental Christmas.
• Mario Lopez and Melissa Joan Hart spend a a Holiday in Handcuffs, on ABC Family at 8.
• At 8:30, FOX has a new episode of King of the Hill.
• At 9, Showtime has a new Dexter.
• At 9:45, AMC has the excellent 1984 version of A Christmas Carol.
• At 10, HGTV has What's With That Decked Out Christmas House?

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by a new Amazing Race and the movie Pictures of Hollis Woods.
• ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos at 7, then new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, then the Bengals/Steelers game.
• There's a new CW Now on The CW at 7.
• At 8, FOX has the BCS Selection Show.
• If you like You've Got Mail, check out 1940's The Shop Around The Corner, the movie it was based on. It's on TCM at 8.
• HBO has Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project at 8.
• At 9, The CW has a new Life is Wild.
• Lifetime has Finding John Christmas at 9.
• Food Network has a new Iron Chef America at 9, then a new holiday Dinner: Impossible.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, followed by the season finale of Brotherhood.
• Also at 9: Sci-Fi has part one of the Tin Man miniseries.
• At 9:30, FOX has a new American Dad.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• TV Land has an Andy Griffith Show marathon all night.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and Shark.
• ABC has two new episodes of Extreme Makeover starting at 7, then new episodes of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Eagles/Patriots game.
• FOX has a new King of the Hill at 7.
• There's a new CW Now on The CW at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons.
• ABC Family has a new holiday movie at 8, Christmas Caper.
• TNT has one of their 700 showings of A Christmas Story at 8.
• AMC has Santa Claus: The Movie at 8, followed by the excellent 1984 TV version of A Christmas Carol.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, then a Christmas dessert battle on a new Iron Chef America.
• At 8:30, PBS has The Best of Masterpiece Theatre.
• At 9, FOX has a new Family Guy.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new Xavier: Renegade Angel, then a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and Shark.
• NBC has a new Football Night In America at 7, followed by the Patriots/Bills game.
• The CW has a new CW Now at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• ABC has The American Music Awards at 8.
• PBS has a new Nature at 8, followed by a new Masterpiece Theatre.
• There's a new Life is Wild on The CW at 8.
• At 9, Food Network has a new Iron Chef America, featuring the winner of Next Iron Chef.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, then a new Brotherhood.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new Metalocalypse, followed by new episodes of Xavier: Renegade Angel and Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

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

It's becoming clear that it's a Dancing with the Stars world, and we just live in it, to paraphrase what they used to say about Sinatra. Not only does the show have two of the top 10 slots this week (and some weeks it has three), it also seems to have a lock on all of the entertainment shows too. What's happening on Dancing with the Stars tonight! Who is getting kicked off! Why did Marie faint? Is Jane Seymour's house safe from the fire? Who is dating who on Dancing with the Stars? Can the dancers of Dancing with the Stars solve the writers strike and bring peace to the Middle East?

I also find it interesting that even though CSI: Miami is the most popular show in the world, it still loses out to that quiet powerhouse, NCIS, in the U.S.

1. Dancing with the Stars - Mon (ABC)

(S12E01) Yes, it's that time already! Despite occasional teams who have irked me to no end, The Amazing Race has always been my favorite reality television show. I love the whirlwind travel around the world and peeking at places I'll probably never be able to visit in my own lifetime.

The pace can be amazing; the countrysides and cityscapes can be amazing, too. I find I learn from this show as I'm always tempted to research a bit after seeing an episode. The season premiere turned out to be no exception to the rule. It's off to a good start and, so far, I enjoy most of the teams. Those teams I don't care for ... heh ...