Last week I bemoaned the too-packed programming of the 8 p.m. slot on Mondays. Turns out 9 p.m.’s not much easier. Teen soaps and dramedies, procedurals, gripping — and not gripping so much as gyrating — reality; I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. (If I settle on Greek and Intervention, I’ll probs do both. Heyo!) Anyway, let’s run down the options:
‘Dancing with the Stars,’ 8–10 p.m., ABC
Reasons to watch: Baz Luhrman is tonight’s guest judge.
Reasons to skip: Jive, quickstep, and tango? Bo-ring. Plus, kind of a bummer they already cut Macy Gray.
‘Gossip Girl,’ The CW
Reasons to watch: Blair Waldorf.
Reasons to skip: There are still other characters on this show. Ah, well.
‘Greek,’ ABC Family
Reasons to watch: Attack of the Show’s Olivia Munn guest-stars tonight, plus Evan and Kappie’s bromance continues to evolve.
Reasons to skip: Greek isn’t quite a watercooler show, so you can catch up later and not have missed out on all the fun chitchat.
‘Intervention,’A&E
Reasons to watch: Tonight’s a departure episode (and season finale) about “one-man rehab” programs called sober companions.
Reasons to skip: If you’re not a fan of the show, tonight’s episode isn’t going to convert you; if you are, you still might not go for the format shift.
‘Lie To Me,’ Fox
Reasons to watch: The Shield’s genius producer Shawn Ryan is now steering the fun (if mostly predictable) procedural, which could mean subtle but substantive changes. Plus Erika Christensen guests tonight.
Reasons to skip: Christensen is playing someone with multiple personalities, which has got to be one of the most played-out tropes in all the world, right after “rookie and veteran cop have different taste in healthy/unhealthy foods.”
‘Trauma,’ NBC
Reasons to watch: Someone’s gotta fill ER’s shoes, so why not this? A high-energy medical drama that’s not a hospital-set series could be just what the doctor ordered. (Cheesy! But I could not resist.)
Reasons to skip: Perhaps ER left us for a reason — and how many explosions to paramedics really deal with on a regular basis? I like a special effect, but sometimes actual emotions need to do a show’s heavy lifting.
‘Two and a Half Men,’ CBS
Reasons to watch It’s the most popular comedy on TV, and maybe the Emmy voters were onto something (maybe?) with Jon Cryer.
Reasons to skip: Because you’re saving all your chuckles for the vastly superior Big Bang Theory at 9:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Isabella Vosmikova/Fox
Comments (1-15) of 22 Add your comment
I can watch 2 shows with my DVR, so it’s Lie to Me & Big Bang Theory. I can catch the Greek rebroadcast Tuesday at midnight. As for 8 PM, House & How I Met Your Mother and I can watch the Heroes re-broadcast on G4 Tuesday at 10.
Well, you have got a plan.
I gotta give the edge to Gossip Girl. While it’s true, Miss Waldorf is the primary reason to watch, this season is off to a great start with interesting storylines for most everyone. Last week’s episode, IMHO, was one of the best of the series. Blair and Georgina as roommates? Delish!
No How I Met Your Mother, and no day after recaps? Show Barney Stinson some love!
Haha the reasoning for Gossip Girl is so true. Why can’t it be all about Blair and Chuck? Anyway, thats the one I’ll be watching tonight.
Wait a minute, we have to decide? I thought the answer was clear: GOSSIP GIRL!!
Gossip Girl!
I’ll be watching the MNF wrap up, Sportscenter.. none of that sounds appealing at all.
Gossip Girl!
DWTS & Greek… can not EVER miss an opportunity to stare at Cappie.
HIMYM, MNF for an hour, Big Bang, end of the game.
DVR’d episode of Medium from last Friday.
I agree with jim – almost. HIMYM, MFN Big Bang – then add a healthy dose of Rachel Zoe to round out the evening.
Umm I will be going the DWTS and WWE RAW route. I can’t get enough of Randy “the Viper” Orton and his meaty man-thighs. God bless America.
I watch Lie to Me but I put Gossip Girl on DVR so I can breeze though the commericals and I can rewind some of the best moments.
Toss-up between Lie To Me and Gossip Girl. WHY did they move BBT to 9:30?? Thank god the MNF game is gonna be a snoozefest or I’d have four things on at the same time.