TVSquad

For thirteen years, Lewis Black has been ranting and raving as a correspondent for The Daily Show, venting about all things political and pop cultural. For much longer than that, he's been a an actor, a playwright, and stand-up comedian, playing clubs and theaters everywhere around the country.

He taped his latest special, Stark Raving Black, earlier this month in Detroit for a fall release in theaters October 8th before it heads to a new premium HB cable channel called Epix, where it will debut December 5. (Black also filmed a documentary about his transition from a writer to a comedian - he's unsure where that will end up). And Big Bang Theory fans will be happy to know he'll be doing a cameo on the show September 28. I spoke with him by phone last week.

Why release the new special theatrically?

In order to... I think... I've got no idea. Everyone around me seemed to think it was a smart idea. Why not? I'm interested in seeing how that works and if it does work. It's another way to reach people.

• NBC has The Olympics all night.
• At 8, CBS has a new Greatest American Dog.
• PBS has a new Click & Clack at 8, followed by a new Nova scienceNOW.
• At 9, Discovery Channel has a new Mythbusters, then a new Man vs. Wild.
• History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
• There's a new Deserving Design on HGTV at 9, followed by a new Design on a Dime.
• Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, then a new Shear Genius.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9, followed by two new episodes of Scare Tactics.
• Also at 9: Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
• At 10, A&E has two new episodes of Criss Angel Mindfreak at 10.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.
• Also at 10:30: TCM has The Maltese Falcon.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, FOX has a new, two-hour So You Think You Can Dance.
• CBS has a new Greatest American Dog at 8.
• Discovery Channel has a new NextWorld at 8, followed by new episodes of Mythbusters and Man vs. Wild.
• At 9, NBC has a new Baby Borrowers.
• TBS has four new episodes (including the season finale) of Tyler Perry's House of Payne starting at 9.
• Bravo has a new Project Runway at 9, then a new Shear Genius.
• There's a new MonsterQuest on History Channel at 9.
• HGTV has a new Deserving Design at 9, followed by a new Design on a Dime.
• At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, then two new episodes of Criss Angel Mindfreak.
• At 10, ABC has a new Primetime.
• TruTV has a new Black Gold at 10.
• Also at 10: TCM has The Graduate.
• At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.

Check your local TV listings for more.

So, what's more evil to you, ultimate fighting or bloggers/commenters?

That's the question that will be debated tonight at 10:30 pm on the second season opener of Comedy Central's Root of All Evil. Arguing that ultimate fighting is worse is Andy Daly, while Patton Oswalt argues that blogs and the people who comment on them (cough) are the true evil in this world.

You know, even though I blog all day long I can see Oswalt's point, especially about the comments left on some blogs. I mean, at least with ultimate fighting, if you don't like it, you can ignore it completely. It's a niche thing. But if you're the type of person who reads blogs and reads the comments section of many blogs or you work on the web, it's hard to get away from, and many comments are just...ugh. It's easy to do when you're anonymous. You can really put forth the hate and vitriol (but not here, because TV Squad readers are absolute saints).

Oswalt has a blog too. Not sure if he reads the comments. After the jump, the opening arguments from tonight's show.

Lewis Black's second season of Root of All Evil is back next week. And the topics on the premiere are close to my heart: Ultimate Fighting Vs. Bloggers. Because I am both a blogger and an ultimate fighter (okay, maybe not the second one), I will definitely be tuning in to see Patton Oswalt and Andrew Daly argue the case for each and hear Black's final judgment on which is more evil. I have a sinking feeling it's going to be bloggers.

The show is also getting a few new comedians. Jerry Minor and Andrea Savage will join Daly, Oswalt, Greg Giraldo, Andy Kindler, Kathleen Madigan, and Paul F.Thompkins. And here's some of the other topics: Steriods Vs. Boob Jobs, Disney Vs. Scientology, Strip Clubs Vs. Sororities, Olympic Games Vs. Drinking Games, NRA Vs. PETA, and The Hills Vs. Rocket Scientists. I think the Disney Vs. Scientology episode is going to be especially funny. Which debate do you think will be good?

Root of All Evil premieres on July 30th at 10:30 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

"Total (Lack of) Recall": Either the House Judiciary Committee loves talking about torture or they haven't been getting any answers during their hearings. Last week, they managed to pull John Ashcroft in for questioning, but they might as well have stayed at home. I can't look at John Ashcroft without thinking of "Let the eagle sooooar", so I'm glad that Jon Stewart brought it up. No mention of Robert Wexler's fantastic "I enjoy cocaine because it's a fun thing to do" from The Colbert Report, but we know everyone was thinking it.

Comedy Central has ordered a second season of the weekly series Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. Lauren Carrao, the president of original programming and development, made the announcement today adding that she was thrilled the second season could begin as early as this summer. Of the show's renewal, the comedian joked, "I am conflicted. I am thrilled it's been picked up but it means I have to go back to work."

For those of you unfamiliar with Black's show, it features a rotating set of comedians at a round table discussion of various pop culture topics. The press release gives "Dick Cheney Vs. Paris Hilton" and "beer vs. weed" as examples of past topics. The comedians argue who or what is the most evil and Lewis Black gives the final verdict. He also opens each show with one of his fiery monologues. Lewis Black also talked to TV Squad after the first season began.

Here are some of the comedians who have appeared on the show: Andrew Daly, Greg Giraldo, Andy Kindler, Kathleen Madigan, Patton Oswalt, and Paul F. Tompkins. The show returns on Wednesday July 30th at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

• 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.

Earlier this year, Adam told you about the pilot that comedian Lewis Black was filming for Comedy Central titled The Root of All Evil. Back then the show was described as a roundtable discussion a la Politically Incorrect or Real Time with Bill Maher or maybe Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. Well, the network has now picked up the show, and it seems the format has changed (I think).

The show will now feature two celebrities or two pop culture topics that go up against each other. Black will be the moderator and will give the final decision on who "wins" at the end of the show. Comedy Central said the show will put pop culture on trial.

Well, I told you about the pilot taping of The Root of All Evil and Julia actually went to the taping, but now it's official: Comedy Central has picked up the pilot, so keep your eyes peeled so you can judge the show for yourself.

Actually, don't keep your eyes peeled, because peeling your eyes actually makes your vision worse. Many people have experienced irreversible ocular damage because of that metaphor. Nasty business.