TVSquad

Let's be honest. There are really only four or five real contenders for this category, and most of them were nominated last year. But it's not like the talented Tina Fey (30 Rock), Mary Louise-Parker (Weeds), Julia Louise-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) don't deserve the recognition. They all fit the bill, and most of their shows were damn good this year.

I'd be happy to see any one of them go home with the gold on Emmy night. I'd also love to see some recognition for Christina Applegate's work in Samantha Who?, a great show that got the ax earlier this year.

• Travel Channel has a new Man vs. Food marathon all night.
• Discovery has a Who Was Jesus? marathon all night.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by the Academy of Country Music Awards.
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7, then new episodes of Kings and Celebrity Apprentice.
• At 8, FOX has a new episode of The Simpsons.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8.
• Also at 8: HBO has a new No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, then the season premiere of In Treatment (two episodes).
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
• Showtime has the season premiere of The Tudors at 9, then a new United States of Tara.
• MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, followed by new episodes of Bully Beatdown and Nitro Circus.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• At 1AM, Cartoon Network has a new episode of The Mighty Boosh.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by a new, two-hour Extreme Makeover.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7, followed by new episodes of Kings and Celebrity Apprentice.
  
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons.
• HBO has the series premiere of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency at 8.
• Disney has a new Sonny with a Chance at 8.
• At 9, FOX has a new Family Guy, then a new American Dad.
• PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic at 9.
• MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, followed by new episodes of Bully Beatdown and Nitro Circus.
• Also at 9: Comedy Central has the standup special Jim Gaffigan: King Baby.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• Showtime has a new United States of Tara at 10.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Delocated, then a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• ABC Family has a Secret Life of the American Teenager marathon all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7, followed by new episodes of Kings and Celebrity Apprentice.
  
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• There's a new Challenge on Food Network at 8.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
• MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, followed by new episodes of Bully Beatdown and Nitro Circus.
• HBO has the season finale of Big Love at 9, then the season finale of Flight of the Conchords and a new Eastbound & Down.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• Comedy Central has the Craig Fergsuon: A Wee Bit 'O Revolution standup special at 10.
• Also at 10: Showtime has a new United States of Tara.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Delocated, followed by a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7, followed by the series premiere of Kings and a new Celebrity Apprentice.
  
• FOX has a new Hole in the Wall at 7, then new episodes of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• ABC Family has the movie Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise at 8.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, followed by a new Iron Chef America.
• Also at 8: Disney has a new Sonny with a Chance, then a new Wizards of Waverly Place.
• At 9, MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, followed by new episodes of The CollegeHumor Show, Nitro Circus, and How's Your News?
• HBO has a new Big Love at 9, then new episodes of Flight of the Conchords and Eastbound & Down.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• Showtime has a new United States of Tara at 10.
• Comedy Central has the Larry The Cable Guy Roast at 10.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Delocated, followed by a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listing for more.

• TCM is showing Elvis Presley movies all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, then new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, followed by new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has Saturday Night Live Just Game Show Parodies at 7, then Saturday Night Live Just Commercials, and then a new, two-hour Celebrity Apprentice.
  
• FOX has a new Hole in the Wall at 7, followed by new episodes of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• At 8, Food Network has a new Challenge.
  
• Discovery has two new episodes of Rampage at 8, then Hudson Plane Crash: What Really Happened.
• Showtime has The L Word Finale Special at 8, followed by the series finale and new episodes of The United States of Tara and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
• At 9, HBO has a new Big Love, followed by new episodes of Flight of the Conchords and East Bound & Down.
• MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, then new episodes of The CollegeHumor Show, Nitro Circus, and How's Your News?
• At 10, AMC has the season premiere of Breaking Bad.
  
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Delocated, followed by a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• FOX has the Sprint: Auto Club 500 NASCAR race all night.
• At 7, ABC has The Barbara Walters Special, followed by The Oscars Red Carpet and The 81st Annual Academy Awards. After the awards (and/or local news), there's a special Jimmy Kimmel Live with Mel Gibson.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then a new Amazing Race.
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7.
• At 8, Discovery has three new episodes of Rampage!
• VH-1 has a new Confessions of a Teen Idol at 8.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
• Food Network has a new Iron Chef America at 9.
• MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory at 9, followed by new episodes of The CollegeHumor Show, Nitro Circus, and How's Your News?
• HBO has a new Big Love at 9, then new episodes of Flight of the Conchords and Eastbound & Down.
• Showtime has a new episode of The L Word at 9, followed by new episodes of United States of Tara and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
• Also at 9: Sundance has a new Shameless.
• At 11:30, E! has 2009 Academy Awards After Party.
• At 12:30am, Cartoon Network has a new Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job.

Check your local TV listings for more.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com, or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479. Your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 24, Big Love, Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Lost, Nip/Tuck, Smallville, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and United States of Tara. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

I guess all those good reviews and high ratings haven't gone unnoticed. United States of Tara has only been on the air for a month, but Showtime has already committed to another year of Toni Collette dealing with her multiple personalities. The network has given the green light to a 12 episode second season.

Tara's premiere earned 2.67 million viewers, more than the premieres of Showtime's Dexter, Weeds, Californication and The Tudors. I'm with America on this one. I was charmed by the Tara premiere, and it's quickly become my favorite Showtime series.

• Disney has a Phineas & Ferb marathon all night.
• TV Land is showing I Love Lucy all night.
• At 6, NBC has The Super Bowl, followed by a new episode of The Office.
  
• At 7, CBS has a new CBS Reports: Road To The White House.
• Animal Planet has Puppy Bowl V at 7.
• At 8, VH-1 has a new Confessions of a Teen Idol.
• ESPN has two new episodes of The World Series of Poker: Europe at 8.
• At 9, HBO has a new Big Love, then a new Flight of the Conchords.
• Showtime has a new episode of The L Word at 9, followed by new episodes of United States of Tara and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
• At 10, ABC has Wipeout Bowl 1: Cheerleaders vs. Couch Potatoes.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Robot Chicken.
• At 12:15am, Cartoon Network reruns the Drinky Crow Show pilot.
  

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E02) Last week we were introduced to T and Buck, and this week we got to meet Alice. While T may be the most outrageous, and Buck the strangest, this first impression suggests that Alice is the most dangerous of Tara's alters. Along with learning about Alice, and her future plans, it was also a big night for guest spots. Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, and Nathan Corddry were all along for the ride.

(S01E01) My first reaction to seeing the Tara premiere was that this one is going to be very hit and miss with viewers. Diablo Cody doesn't have a long list of credits, but she certainly does have her own unique style. If it's a style you like, you'll be able to fall right in with this one. If you don't ... yeah ... this one could grate on you. Even if that is the case though, I would encourage you to hang in there and give the show a little time. Underneath the occasionally too clever dialog, the Gregson's story has a heart.

Some quickie news from Showtime, presented by entertainment president Bob Greenblatt:

• Ilene Chaiken is developing a spin-off for The L Word, which will feature a yet unspecified character from the original show, whose upcoming season will be its last. There will be an open-ended plot in the season finale that Chaiken will continue online, then pick up if the spin-off comes to pass.
• Two more 13-episode seasons of Weeds have been ordered.
• A seventh season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! has been ordered, making it Showtime's longest-running show.
• A reality/documentary show called Lock 'N Load has been ordered; it's filmed in a gun shop, and it shows the various people who purchase guns and "exploit their right to bear arms," according to the press release.
• Two new pilots have been ordered and filmed. The United States of Tara, produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Diablo Cody, stars Toni Collette as a suburban mother with multiple-personality disorder. John Corbett stars as her husband (yes... it's a comedy). The other pilot is tentatively-titled Nurse Jackie. It stars Edie Falco as a New York City nurse with a painkiller addiction who sometimes crosses moral lines to help her patients (no... it's not a comedy). Tara will begin airing in winter 2009, and Jackie will begin airing in late spring or early summer.
  

Do you love Tracey Ullman? Yeah, who doesn't? The lady's a riot. Showtime is so enamored of the Brit-com-queen that they've ordered a second season -- seven fresh episodes -- of Tracey Ullman's State of the Union. The network has also lined up another English artist for 2009. Comedy star Marc Wootton is locked in for six episodes.

"I won't hold it against them that both are from the U.K.," laughed Showtime prez Robert Greenblatt. "Tracey Ullman is the veteran genius who continues to impress us with her versatility, while Marc Wootton is the up-and-comer who will surprise our audience with his own unique voice. This is an embarrassment of riches for us in the comedy department."

This sounds like a promising new project: John Corbett as Toni Collette's leading man in the Showtime comedy pilot United States of Tara. The show comes from the pen of Diablo Cody, fresh off her Oscar win as the screenwriter of Juno, and the pilot's director is Craig Gillespie who received plaudits for the indie hit Lars and the Real Girl. Oh, and did I mention that Steven Spielberg is one of the producers? Considering this collection of talent and Showtime's recent programming successes, United States of Tara sounds like another ace for the cable net.