The Real World seasons seem to come closer together than ever, with the new season beginning tonight (MTV, 10 PM) only three months after Sydney ended. That's not the main reason the series has almost completely lost buzz, however. Let's face it, there's not much you can show that hasn't been seen in the preceding 19 seasons, especially since MTV has long since been casting the series with those who grew up watching it and thus know exactly how they are "supposed to act."

There was never a pristine era where The Real World was populated by future social workers and computer programmers; would-be entertainers have been part of the mix from the start. But the proportion of professional fame-seekers has certainly increased of late, to the point where MTV is now abandoning all pretense, setting the series in Hollywood and casting people who are admitting up front they want careers in the entertainment industry. Tonight, someone named Brianna finds out that there is a warrant out for her arrest, which is the kind of thing we typically don't see till midseason at the earliest. Kids these days: they're prodigies.

America's Next Top Model (CW, 8 PM): Paulina Porizkova gives the girls pointers on how to behave during interviews and in public settings. But... but... where will the next generation of nipple slips come from?

Big Brother 9 (CBS, 8 PM): Either Sharon will leave, thus confirming the existence of a just and loving God; or Natalie will be voted out, signaling that Satan is now alive and well on earth. (Sorry, I let Natalie write that last sentence.)

Democratic Debate (ABC, 8 PM): Clinton v. Obama from Philadelphia, probably the last one of these on a major network till the fall. This will air in what is usually the Supernanny time slot, fitting given the amount of bad behavior we will likely see.

'Til Death (Fox, 8 PM): Eddie defends Kenny when his friend believes he was treated in a racist manner at a theater, but he later wonders if they both overreacted.

Under One Roof (MNTV, 8 PM): Flavor Flav stars in this sitcom about an ex-con who moves in with his snooty brother (Kelly Perine). What would the 1988 version of Flav have thought about his 2000s orientation as a terminally silly pop culture figure? What do any of us think about the people we've become? Food for thought, boyyyyyy.

Back to You (Fox, 8:30 PM): While attending a party at Marsh's home, Chuck and Kelly try to get rid of a photo that brings back memories they want kept buried, and find something in Marsh's bedroom they wish they hadn't seen.

American Idol (Fox, 9 PM): Mariah Carey will descend from Mount Olympus long enough to perform prior to the departure of one more contestant. Maybe it's just me, but Carey bringing a dog to her Idol mentoring assignment seemed a touch disrespectful of the kids, if in diva character for her.

Criminal Minds (CBS, 9 PM): The team goes after spree-killing teenage lovers in rural Texas.

Ghost Hunters (SciFi, 9 PM): Investigating supernatural goings-on at the Ruff Stone Tavern in Rhode Island and the Mount Washington (N.H.) Resort.

John Ratzenberger's Made In America (Travel, 9 PM and 9:30 PM): At 9, Ratzenberger shows us the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, which scared me half to death when I saw it as a kid. At 9:30, it's a visit to the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh and to the maker of movie camera equipment in California.

The Truth About Cancer (PBS, 9 PM): Filmmaker Linda Garmon used her husband's battle with cancer as the motivation for this film that deals with patients, their families, and their doctors. Linda Ellerbee, herself a cancer survivor, then leads a panel discussion on cancer-related issues.

Design on a Dime (HGTV, 9:30 PM): An open basement is subdivided into separate kid and adult zones. Because a happy family is one where no one ever has to see anyone else.

CSI: NY (CBS, 10 PM): The body of a real estate salesman washes up on a beach, along with the corpses of several sharks.

Men In Trees (ABC, 10 PM): Marin finally meets this Julia she's heard so much about; Sam gives Jane a ring he discovered in the lost and found. Dude, you may be lovably blue collar, but there are things you don't do!

South Park (Comedy Central, 10 PM): The show takes a detour into the unspeakably horrific this week when the Internet mysteriously disappears, sending Stan and his family on a search for an access point.

The Big 4-0 (TV Land, 10 PM and 10:30 PM): The just-ended season of High School Reunion focused on the class of 1987, and this new series covers people about to hit their 40th birthdays, so it seems that TV Land is trying to corner the "John Hughes kids grown up" generation. In the premiere, a former NFL running back tries to put together a game between college players and people in his age group; at 10:30, a woman prepares to come clean to her friends about her true age.

Top Chef (Bravo, 10 PM): The chefs work on a dish designed to complement a drink, and then tackle some tailgating. Any Midwesterner can tell you that the key to good tailgate food is plenty of good tailgate booze.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne (TBS, 10 PM and 10:30 PM): At 10, Ella and Claretha help a young woman from their church with an abusive boyfriend. At 10:30, Janine's pregnancy makes news during a party, and Curtis's TV goes out at an inconvenient time.

UFO Hunters (History, 10 PM): The team interviews a former military pilot in Peru who claims he tried following a UFO in 1980.

Recommend (0)

|  Comments (0)

|  Email

|  Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us