Ugly Betty welcomes Bernadette Peters beginning an ABC night of newness with Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.
Before Private Practice quarantines (what!), here is my look at last night.
Do you like the Friday the 13th movies? Then you’ll love the new CW show, 13- Fear is Real. I watched it but I don’t think I’ll be tuning in again. It’s sort of Fear Factor meets Real World meets Survivor. They pull out all of the usual reality show psychological stuff in order to pit the contestants against one another but add to that a layer of horror movie macabre straight out of the Saw movies. Frankly, I don’t know how they can do these things and not risk a law suit, or maybe much of it is faked for the viewing audience. They buried two girls and waited for them to dig themselves out. Earlier in the show, 5 of the contestants were blindfolded, bound and gagged and left in a Louisiana bayou to be rescued by their partners. The potential for a real accident here or worse is just too obvious. Yes, I know there’s a camera crew watching their every move but that’s not going to help if one of these kids really has a heart attack when they’re pushed to their limits. But then, I guess that’s the whole point of the show, isn’t it?
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Top Chef. Gayle Simmons is gone and in her place is a judge that isn’t pulling any punches. The words ‘cat food’ and ‘weapons of mass destruction’ were used and yes, he was referring to the food. Looks like the chefs are in for a rocky time for the rest of their stay. The lucky ones may have been Eugene and Melissa, the two that were sent home.
Knight Rider and Law & Order are waiting for me on the DVR and it looks like I’ll have time to watch them tonight since my favorite CW line-up is still in reruns.
Tonight On TV — Wednesday, January 7
One of my old favorites, Bernadette Peters plays an editor on a new Ugly Betty on ABC. After that a pediatric surgeon arrives on Grey’s Anatomy and there’s a quarantine in effect on Private Practice.
CBS is all reruns; CSI:NY, CSI (regular) and Eleventh Hour.
The CW is still in reruns with Smallville and Supernatural
And depending where you live, FOX is covering the BCS Championship Game.
NBC is mostly new with episodes of My Name is Earl, Kath and Kim and 30 Rock. The Office is a repeat but there’s a new ER at the end of it all.
Over on cable
The stars come out early on VH1 as they cover the Critics Choice Awards. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our full report from the big awards show.
TLC has an LA Ink marathon.
HGTV has a few new episodes, Dear Genevieve, House Hunters and their new real estate show, Property Shop.
News and notable
Singer Jesse McCartney and Privileged star Andrew West will be going Greek when the series returns to ABCFamily in March.
Kelsey Grammar is working on a new series about a laid-off Wall Street executive who moves back to his hometown with his wife and kids. It’s expected to air on ABC.
TVGuide is reporting that Tori Spelling will appear in several episodes of the new 90210. The CW says it is in final negotiations for an arc this spring.
If you’re a Pushing Daisies fan, word is that the network might run the final episodes all in one night just to finish them up and move on. Is that good news or bad news? I’m not sure. Photo credit:
Ugly Betty: Dress for Success – Betty (America Ferrera) juggles work and family without much success as she struggles to impress her idol, Jodie Papadakis (guest star Bernadette Peters), the editor running YETI. Things go from bad to worse when she encounters Teri (guest star Nikki Blonsky), an assistant at ELLE magazine, just as the long-running Mode/ELLE rivalry heats up. Photo: ABC/Patrick Harbron
My Name is Earl — Pictured: Jason Lee as Earl Hickey — NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth
Related TV news
The cast of Private Practice take us inside
The latest on Grey’s Anatomy
Visiting the New York set of Ugly Betty
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