TVSquad

(S07E04) Okay, this episode was a definite reach, especially the convoluted way they came up with a climax to feature Monk doing all the things necessary to pass a fitness exam. Perhaps it was an homage to the Olympics, a twisted connection thanks to the NBC Universal. I don't know, but it took a leap of faith to buy it all.

For starters, there was no star murderer. It was an interesting case for a change, especially since the killer was a professional hit man. The planting of the bomb in the heavy bag was clever, although wouldn't a real pro make sure that the target would be hit? The set up was so random. And if you don't care about killing, why not leave a bomb big enough to destroy the gym and everyone in it? Just wondering...

About two years ago The Contender, the Mark Burnett-produced boxing competitive reality show, moved from NBC to ESPN. After the second season on the popular sports network and the UK vs. USA challenge this spring, it was still up in the air whether the show would continue. Luckily, for those fans of boxing out there, ESPN has ordered up a third season of the show.

The premiere is actually coming up very soon: Sept. 4. So you won't have to wait too long if you are ready to see some amateur meat machines bash the snot out of each other.

A blogger over at Wired thinks that Battlestar Galactica is headed in the same direction as Lost: downhill. He wrote his post after last week's boxing episode where Kara and Lee beat the holy living crap out of each other. In particular, he didn't like the "barfy romantic flashbacks". He thinks BSG is headed in a dangerous direction and lists 10 reasons why, including Cylon threesomes, dangling subplots (Helo & Sharon's baby), and side projects that are keeping BSG creators busy.

Even though I disagree with him, I think the post is well-reasoned. I, too, have been wondering what the hell is going on with the Cylon/human baby that the Cylons managed to capture before they fled New Caprica. But, I adored last week's boxing episode that explains just how messed up Kara and Lee's relationship is. He doesn't like entire episodes being devoted to words like "genocide" and "torture", which I found to be thought-provoking.

I do agree on one point, though. Give Admiral Adama something to do other than just monologues. Edward James Olmos is a great actor and all he's getting are speeches.

Somehow, you just knew this was coming, right?

TV Land has ordered a pilot for Family Foreman, which will follow ex-heavweight boxer and Foreman Grill head George Foreman and his family. The pilot will start filming at the end of this month. It's part of several new reality shows that TV Land has coming up, including a show about high school reunions and another about turning 40. Ugh. At least the article above says that Star Trek and M*A*S*H* reruns are also coming to the network.

I wonder if the network will have some sort of guide to the characters that you can download from their web site, since Foreman doesn't just have one son named George but five. Also, they need some sort of contest where you can get a new Foreman Grill. Mine has a lot of wear and tear on it and I could use a new one, maybe one of those megasize ones where you can fit 10 burgers at once.

Yesterday I listed the best sports to watch on television. Here's my list for the worst.

1. Fishing: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

In conjunction with the season two premiere of Huff, a Hank Azaria comedy, Showtime is going to be free for one whole weekend. Showtime is calling the promotion "It's All For You", and it's going to be free from Friday, March 31 through Monday, April 3. Along with Huff, Showtime will also premiere the Academy award winning movie, Crash, that weekend, as well as some boxing and the digitally remastered classic, Liza with a Z. The free weekend wraps up with the season premiere of Penn & Teller's Bullsh*t!.