I can't help it: Criss Angel irritates me. I prefer my magicians old-fashioned and hokey rather than emo and self-consciously edgy. And they definitely shouldn't be hanging out with celebutantes -- you never saw Harry Blackstone clubbing. Still, the guy does know how to attract attention. His stunt last week, which appeared to show him on the wrong end of a nail gun, made the internet rounds, and his escape from an imploding building the previous week actually made a couple of newscasts I saw. The overall package helps, but Angel could probably get attention even if he looked like an insurance salesman.

Tonight's Criss Angel Mindfreak (A&E, 10 PM) will find our hero handcuffed and then locked inside an 85-gallon drum, which will then be placed inside a box and lifted 100 feet in the air. The box is set to fall to earth at a designated time, making it imperative that Angel free himself beforehand. This one isn't live so I'm going to go out on a limb and say he didn't die, but they will probably make it look exciting nonetheless.

Olympics Highlights: Tonight's NBC coverage beginning at 8:00 features the American beach volleyball duo of May-Treanor and Walsh, and four more event finals in swimming. The men hold their individual all-around final in gymnastics, and there will also be coverage of the individual time trial in women's cycling, with American Kristin Armstrong (good name for a cyclist). If you're a devotee of the "minor sports" (they aren't minor for those who participate in them), you might enjoy Team USA facing Germany in field hockey (USA, 2 AM).

Greatest American Dog (CBS, 8 PM): The dogs are going to be painting this week. What in the world is that supposed to prove? Dogs don't think in the abstract. If the paint doesn't contain beef drippings, they're not going to care. During the evaluations, there's more backbiting among the human contestants.

Ghost Hunters International (SciFi, 9 PM): The hunters dare to enter Predjama Castle in Slovenia, which is allegedly too scary for anyone to have looked into before. There's also a side trip to Slovakia to visit the castle famous for former resident Elizabeth Bathory, a prolific killer 400 years ago.

Monster Quest (History, 9 PM): Diving teams head to the north Pacific to investigate the legend of a giant octopus that can sink boats single-handedly, or rather octo-handedly. I'm amused that there are actually people willing to foot the bills for these wild goose chases. How does a 20-ton octopus go unnoticed?

Mythbusters (Discovery, 9 PM): The team looks into whether stunts familiar from viral videos can be replicated, such as frightening fainting goats and using water pressure from several hoses to lift a car into the air. They didn't really need to test this, as I am certain that everything you see on the internet is real.

Project Runway (Bravo, 9 PM): Have the designers ever performed worse collectively than they did on the Olympic outfit challenge? The point was missed over and over again. Tonight, another big-name judge as Brooke Shields is on hand for a challenge that asks the hopefuls to create something for working women. I suspect a lot of noses will be turned up.

Family Foreman (TV Land, 10 PM): The Foremans take a trip to their ranch in rural Texas, and big George becomes inspired to get his kids in shape, as he gives the ranch workers some time off and has the young 'uns take over their duties.

Man vs. Wild (Discovery, 10 PM): Bear Grylls is even closer to home this week: actually inside the United States, in fact, as he tours the swamps of the deep South. He dodges gators and venomous snakes, and nabs a catfish with his bare hands, which sounds like a useful skill. I just hope the boys from Deliverance aren't anywhere around.

Real Vice Cops Uncut (Spike, 10 PM and 10:30 PM): At 10:00, our cops go after some college students who are supplementing their incomes by dealing, and bust some expensive call girls. At 10:30, a medical student is suspected of dealing prescription drugs, and a cocaine deal nearly turns violent.

Shear Genius (Bravo, 10 PM): Unlike Project Runway, the "celebrity judges" on this show are celebrities if you're into getting your hair cut, which isn't really the case with me. This week, the remaining designers have to work on their loved ones, and then come up with a cute back-to-school style for 5-year-olds. Now that's pressure: no one wants to look like a dork in their first school picture.

Recommend (0)

|  Comments (0)

|  Email

|  Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us