Deadliest Catch has proven to be one of the most influential series of recent years, as it has spawned a whole slew of reality shows based on the idea of watching people perform dangerous jobs: a reality that most of us have the luxury of not even thinking about very often, much less experiencing for ourselves.

No one was more surprised than History last summer when Ice Road Truckers became its most popular show in short order. The story of the men who brave cold and frightening isolation to supply the remotest parts of the Canadian north, the series proved to be both exciting and informative, with the truckers themselves becoming macho icons. The second season, which opens on Sunday (History, 9 p.m.), finds some of the season one holdovers and some rookies delivering natural gas supplies onto the Arctic Ocean itself. Hopefully global warming will hold off long enough to give us several more seasons.

Charlie Jade (SciFi, tonight 8 p.m.): This new series sets up its premise in the premiere: a detective who is torn between three parallel universes. If Battlestar Galactica always makes sense to you, this should be no trouble at all.

Modern Marvels (History, tonight 8 p.m.): Exploring danger in the form of snakes, weather, and even football. There's also Mt. Rainier, the volcano which is as dangerous as it is pretty.

Doctor Who (SciFi, tonight 9 p.m.): The doctor never gets a rest: this week, he, Martha, and Donna are on the planet Messaline, where a mess of a fight between humans and the Hath is ongoing.

Man vs. Wild (Discovery, tonight 9 p.m.): Bear learns a little bit about Arctic survival from the Tuvans, who have been kickin' it in Siberia for about 20,000 years.

Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet, tonight 9 p.m.): The season opener finds alliances shaky in the post-Flower era. The old clan has split up, with Rocket Dog running the old Whiskers group while her sister Maybelline is trying, and not often succeeding, to exert dominance with the Aztecs.

What Not to Wear (TLC, tonight 9 p.m.): Clinton and Stacy attempt to help Sunny, an aspiring actress who favors glittery makeup and fairy wings. I believe this is how Dame Judi Dench broke into the big time.

Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, tonight 10 p.m.): The rebel cylons formulate a way to get to the resurrection hub. Those of you who have seen the previews know what this means: D'Anna is back, and it looks like she's ready to talk.

Belmont Stakes (ABC, Saturday 5 p.m. Eastern): Can Big Brown finally break the 30-year Triple Crown drought? These colts always look unbeatable going into the Belmont, and yet someone always manages to beat them.

Sybil (CBS, Saturday 8 p.m.): The original film based on this huge 1970s bestseller is best remembered today for being Sally Field's introduction as a serious actress. Tammy Blanchard plays the Field role in this new version of the story of a young woman with multiple personalities; Jessica Lange is her psychiatrist.

Groomer Has It (Animal Planet, Saturday 9 p.m.): The groomers visit a rescue organization and each chooses a dog for a special makeover. You. are. not. going. to. make. me. cry.

Robin Hood (BBC America, Saturday 9 p.m.): Robin plans to disguise himself at a feast for the Black Knights and put an end to the plot against the king, but finds he's been double-crossed.

HGTV Green Home Giveaway 2008 (HGTV, Sunday 8 p.m.): The oh-so-pretty Carter Oosterhouse announces the winner of an eco-friendly home on Hilton Head Island.

I Didn't Know I was Pregnant (Discovery Health, Sunday 8 p.m.): It's not often I would be interested in a show based solely on its title, but I might make an exception here. No word on whether interviews with members of the Spears family are part of this special.

Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, Sunday 8 p.m.): Adam Sandler plugs his movie; Eminem, who has completely fallen off the pop radar, plays some hoops with Jimmy.

The Circuit (ABC Family, Sunday 8 p.m.): Michelle Trachtenberg plays a rising racer who competes against her past-his-prime dad (Billy Campbell) and her boyfriend (Drew Fuller).

Backwoods (Spike, Sunday 9 p.m.): Young corporate types off for a lighthearted weekend of games in the woods find themselves stalked by people who aren't playing.

Bridezillas (WE, Sunday 9 p.m.): The mother of the groom refuses to hide her negative feelings about her future daughter-in-law; a bride-to-be outsources the wedding plans to her best friend.

Design Star (HGTV, Sunday 9 p.m.): Nine contestants gather in Nashville to see who will follow in the footsteps of Kim Myles.

Iron Chef America (Food Network, Sunday 9 p.m.): Bobby Flay is challenged by Marcus Samuelsson.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA, Sunday 9 p.m.): A new season: while Goren waits to hear if he's sane enough to go back to work (does he really want an answer to that one?), he goes off on his own in pursuit of a drug dealer.

NBA Finals, Game Two (ABC, Sunday 9 p.m.): Not caring who wins is doing wonders for my nerves ... but I'm still not going to watch.

When We Left Earth: the NASA Missions (Discovery, Sunday 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.): This history of the U.S. space program, narrated by Gary Sinise, opens with a look at the Mercury and Gemini programs. For those who were boys in the 1960s (cough), this stuff is like catnip.

Army Wives (Lifetime, Sunday 10 p.m.): Lifetime's biggest hit series ever returns for a second year, as we discover what exactly happened when the jealous husband blew up the bar at the end of the first season. The survivors move on in their soapy ways.

Ax Men (History, Sunday 10 p.m.): Season finale: one of the Stump Branch loggers packs it in; Jesse Browning worries about the future of his company.

Denise Richards: It's Complicated (E!, Sunday 10 p.m.): Irv gets made over in preparation for his first red carpet; Denise considers the merits of posing nude. We've seen it, sweetie: the thrill is gone.

In Plain Sight (USA, Sunday 10 p.m.): A drug dealer just out of prison sues for custody of his son, who has been adopted by another family in witness protection. USA has to be thrilled with the first week's ratings for this one.

The Next Food Network Star (Food Network, Sunday 10 p.m.): Robert Irvine guests as the contestants are awakened early and sent on a food run through Manhattan, before being told to prepare brunch on a moving train. This may be the last function Irvine performs for the network.

This American Life (Showtime, Sunday 10 p.m.): The lives of several people named John Smith are examined, including an 11-week-old baby. Kid, you peaked young.

Too Ugly to Love (BBC America, Sunday 10 p.m.): Sure, Barack Obama has the nomination sewn up, but between him and me, which one of us got our autobiography made into a TV show first? Hmmmm? OK seriously, this is a special about body dysmorphic disorder, which causes people to become preoccupied with imagined physical flaws.

Living Lohan (E!, Sunday 10:30 p.m.): Dina encourages Ali to stay focused when she's the target of school taunts because of her fame. Which having a television show will do much to mitigate, I'm sure.

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