Around the remote: Television picks for the week of July 5-11
DON’T MISS:
“THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP” _ Forget the “staycation” and hitch a ride on this wild cross-country journey. “Road Trip” is a new eight-episode reality series that has a group of disparate families traveling historic Route 66 and competing in some kooky challenges. Along the way, they check out iconic landmarks such as the Grand Canyon and Washington Monument while doing their best to maintain their sanity. Sounds like a show with potential, but let’s hope the first episode doesn’t make us squeal, “Are we there yet?” 8 p.m. Tuesday, NBC.
OTHER BETS:
MONDAY: The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? “Star Trek” or “Star Wars”? Ginger or Mary Ann? These and other nagging questions will be pondered on “The Great Debate,” a six-part series that has bickering celebrities attempting to settle (without bloodshed) matters once and for all. No one asked us, but, Mary Ann rules. 10 p.m., VH1.
MONDAY: On “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” our beleaguered gal continues to try and raise her profile _ this time by writing a tell-all book about her friends, her family and, naturally, poor Ryan Seacrest. 10 p.m., Bravo.
TUESDAY: We really don’t want to hate “10 Things I Hate About You.” It’s a new teen-centric series inspired by the 1999 hit movie, which was inspired by the writings of some old dude named Shakespeare. 8 p.m., ABC Family.
TUESDAY: “Warehouse 13″ is a weird blend of “The X-Files” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but with the excitement of neither. It’s a series about a pair of Secret Service agents (Eddie McClintock and Joanne Kelly), who are unexpectedly reassigned to a top-secret facility in South Dakota that houses a mysterious collection of strange and supernatural artifacts. 9 p.m., Sci-Fi Channel.
WEDNESDAY: Neil Patrick Harris, aka Barney from “How I Met Your Mother,” serves as a guest judge on “Top Chef Masters” as the contestants must cook eggs with one hand tied behind their backs. Sounds like we better suit up. 10 p.m., Bravo.
THURSDAY: On “Big Brother 11,” a new set of boorish roomies move into what TV Guide calls the “hostel from hell.” Let the back-stabbing commence. 8 p.m., CBS.
FRIDAY: “The Assistants” is a new comedy about four underlings working for a hot-shot producer in Hollywood and looking for their big break. We’re told that lots of hilarity ensues. 8:30 p.m., The N.
SATURDAY: “Harper’s Island,” the weekly murder mystery that took “’til death do you part” way too literally, comes to a close with what we hope will be a bloody good finale. 9 p.m., CBS.
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Chuck Barney: cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com
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(c) 2009, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).
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