Top TV Shows To Start Up This Week
Some of our favorite television shows have been lying dormant to the writers’ strike and they are finally getting back on their feet. This week some of the best are starting back up again.
Samantha Who?
Monday at 9:30 ET on ABC
She’s been gone so long, viewers were beginning to ask “Samantha Who?” but tonight Samantha Newly, amnesia and all, returns with a brand new episode. Sam’s forced to move back into her apartment she sublet to Todd after she discovers she could be evicted thanks to his inviting his new girlfriend to move in with him. Later, when Sam doesn’t show up for a makeover night with her mom, Regina and Dena end up bonding and having their very own girls’ night.
American Idol
Tuesday & Wednesday at 8pm ET & Thursday at 9pm ET on Fox
Last week after an epic night of Dolly tunes, the fourth finalist was eliminated from the competition. (Watch a recap of who was sent home.) The teeny tiny Ramiele Malubay failed to impress America during Dollywood week and was sent packing. Kristy Lee Cook and Brooke White joined her in the bottom three. This week the top 8 finalists perform on Tuesday. Wednesday is “Idol Gives Back” night. The “Idol Gives Back” fundraiser for U.S. and international charities features appearances by Bono, Mariah Carey, Billy Crystal, Miley Cyrus, Chris Daughtry, Celine Dion, Fergie, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Maroon 5, Brad Pitt, Snoop Dogg, Kiefer Sutherland, Carrie Underwood, Robin Williams and Reese Witherspoon. After the festivities on Wednesday, another contestant will be sent home on Thursday night.
Secret Talents of the Stars
Tuesday at 10pm ET on CBS
This new reality competition series from CBS is in the same vein as “America’s Got Talent” except that the contestants are celebrities. Each week, the celebrities featured will compete in a tournament-style format to determine who has the best hidden talent among them. (Watch a preview clip.) Their performances will be critiqued by a judging panel, but viewers will get the chance to vote for which celeb they want to stay in the competition and which celeb they think will should go home. The 16 contestants include country singer Clint Black performing stand-up comedy, “Star Trek’s” George Takei singing country, “Cosby Show’s” Malcom-Jamal Warner playing the bass guitar, actress/model Marla Maples doing gymnastics, Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen performing with a Chinese Acrobat Troupe, wrestler Ric Flair salsa dancing, professional boxer Joe Frazier singing R&B, “Girl Next Door’s” Bridget Marquardt soaring as a trapeze artist, singer/actress Mya tap-dancing, former child actor Danny Bonaduce riding a unicycle, “Next Great American Band” judge Sheila E. juggling, professional boxer Roy Jones, Jr. rapping, actress Cindy Margoilis performing magic, and comedian Ben Stein dancing the jitterbug.
The Office
Thursday at 9pm ET on NBC
You’re about to read four words sure to have you jumping for TV joy: The. Office. Is. Back. Finally! After a more than four-month-long hiatus prompted by the writers’ strike, the whole Dunder Mifflin gang returns Thursday just in time for Jan and Michael to host a (what we’re sure will be awkward and bizarre) dinner party. Jim and Pam run out of excuses and are forced to go, and when Andy and Angela show up, Dwight simply can’t control his jealousy.
ER
Thursday at 10pm ET on NBC
It’s back to County General tonight with an all-new episode of “ER,” and as usual, the staff isn’t exactly behaving like one big happy family. First Pratt and Dr. Brenner get off to a rocky start when Brenner refuses to teach the interns, and then Abby contemplates telling Kovac the truth about her one-night stand with Moretti as she heads for Croatia. Meanwhile, Sam finds out that Gates(who’s busy treating a young heart transplant patient) and Julia have broken up. Will she make a move on the handsome Dr. Gates?
Desperate Housewives
Sunday at 9pm ET on ABC
It’s about time! The ladies of Wisteria Lane are back on our TV sets, and they’ve brought plenty of big drama with them. Susan’s younger cousin (“The O.C’s” Chris Carmack) shows up and dishes up some secrets. Elsewhere, Katherine reveals some shocking information as well. And wedding bells are ringing for someone.