What2Watch: Generation Kill Ends As The War Is Just Beginning

The Wire creators David Simon and Ed Burns had awfully high expectations to meet with their seven-part Iraq War drama Generation Kill, but the miniseries has been an almost complete success, with the one drawback being that it's still awfully hard to tell who is who beyond the dozen or so main characters. Apart from the action -- and despite the low casualty figures from the invasion, these Marines had the farthest thing from a risk-free mission -- the series has been a priceless window on military sociology and male bonding generally. It also proves something that we already knew from civilian life: incompetence is not necessarily a barrier to career advancement.

The final episode (HBO, Sunday 9 PM) finds the First Recon Battalion in Baghdad at last, where these warriors are no longer being shot at, but find themselves dealing with the mundane concerns of a bereft and angry civilian population. The viewers of this series know what these Marines are in for after April 2003, and that has given an emotional kick to episodes like last week, which found Colbert (Alexander Skarsgard) brought up short by an Iraqi woman wondering why the Americans were there, and Ray (James Ransone) repeatedly stating that the war was practically over, while noting that Iraqis "never completely surrender either." Godspeed, men.

Olympics Highlights: It's the end of the line on Sunday, as the world leaves its memories, and a whole lot of cheap souvenirs, in Beijing. Highlights of the Friday prime-time show (NBC, 8 PM) include the U.S.-less 400 meter relays and American Bryan Clay in the decathlon. USA will feature the bronze medal and gold medal games in baseball beginning Saturday at 2 AM. The Saturday daytime show on NBC will feature U.S. women playing for gold in basketball (live at 10 AM) and volleyball. The last full night of the Games (NBC, Saturday 7:30 PM) is headlined by live coverage of the marathon and the finals in men's platform diving. The gold medal game in men's basketball will air live on NBC at 2:30 AM Sunday, and the always cheesetastic closing ceremonies comprise the final prime-time show (Sunday 7:30 PM). See you in London!

The Cheetah Girls One World (Disney, tonight 8 PM): This listing will likely be redundant to those of you with little girls at home. Our girls head to India with the aim of appearing in a Bollywood movie, but then learn they will have to compete against each other for just one part. Bollywood may never recover.

Discovery Project Earth (Discovery, tonight 9 PM and 10 PM): This new series aims to examine various theories about how to save the earth from the effects of climate change. One such idea: prevent glaciers from melting by wrapping them in enormous blankets. If all these ideas work, can I finally close my refrigerator door?

Stargate Atlantis (SciFi, tonight 10 PM): While on a mission to another planet, the crew notices some personality changes in McKay that at first seem pleasant, but turn out to be signs of a fatal disease. All my loved ones are likewise instructed to contact public health authorities if I ever start acting like a nice guy.

Dear Prudence (Hallmark, Saturday 9 PM): Jane Seymour stars as a Martha Stewart type who goes on vacation at a Wyoming lodge and promptly becomes involved in a murder mystery. Exactly the way I always like to spend a vacation. And there's time for romance as well.

Ice Road Truckers (History, Sunday 9 PM): These people are crazy enough in the dead of winter, but I really don't get how you can do this job when the ice roads are visibly thawing to the point where there's standing water. The big job this week is the moving of a 66-ton derrick, which requires two trucks, one of which is driving backwards. On thawing ice, mind you.

I Love Money (VH1, Sunday 9 PM): The teams have finally been disbanded, which doesn't end the concept of alliances but does mean that challenges are now individual. This series has been running now for two months, and people are still surprised when the elimination is the result of a backstab. When everyone is in an alliance with everyone else, how can they avoid it?

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (VH1, Sunday 9 PM): The season finale provides another glimpse at Goren's personal demons, and we all know how much fun that can be. A curious item found at his mother's gravesite leads Goren to believe that an old nemesis has returned to taunt him.

Gene Simmons Family Jewels (A&E, Sunday 9:30 PM): This sounds pretty random, even for a celebreality show: Simmons becomes the owner of an Australian Rules football team, and heads down under to see what that's all about, anyway. My guess is that the players will balk at the new Kiss t-shirt uniforms.

Mad Men (AMC, Sunday 10 PM): Pete and his wife see a fertility specialist (well, we know his swimmers work just fine); Joan believes she has found Don a new secretary; Don continues to deal with the battling Barretts.

Skins (BBC America, Sunday 10 PM): This series, new to American viewers, is getting a good deal of attention for its frank and (by U.S. standards) non-soapy look at teenage life. This week focuses on Jal, an accomplished clarinet player with an indifferent family and a big secret. You have to watch out for those clarinetists!

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