What2Watch: Return to Melrose Place

Also: True Blood terror, Glee debuts, and Hank Hill is history.
Stephanie Jacobsen as Lauren and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as Violet on the pilot for CW's reboot of 'Melrose Place' on the CW
Stephanie Jacobsen as Lauren and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as Violet on the pilot for CW's reboot of 'Melrose Place' on the CW - The CW
Charlie Toft

The CW is embracing its identity as the home to remakes of old series that really aren't that old. The original Melrose Place only left the air in 1999, which is hardly enough time for anyone to feel nostalgic for it. But the 90210 revival did decently by the CW's modest standards, and thus we now have a new Melrose Place to accompany it, debuting Tuesday at 9 p.m.

The new series seems to have an even younger cast than Melrose 1.0, given that its most famous names are Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Katie Cassidy (Harper's Island). But Laura Leighton is back from the original version, reprising her role as Sydney; and while she was far from its most memorable character, you take what you can get. The pilot episode presents a murder mystery, with a body discovered floating in the Melrose pool just as a deceptively sweet-faced newcomer (Simpson-Wentz) arrives at the apartment complex. It's safe to say this will not be the last violent act on the series, even if sex proves the major draw.

Also this week:

Monday: The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family, 8 p.m.): In the season finale, Anne (Molly Ringwald), who is already the parent of a teenager, goes into labor at an inconvenient time. No one can ever give birth routinely in prime time. Also, Ricky and Adrian decide to get counseling, while Jack and Grace face yet another crisis.

Wednesday: Glee (Fox, 9 p.m.): The pilot for this series did not draw an audience commensurate with its hype when it aired in May, but here's hoping viewers eventually catch on now that it's back for keeps. This week, the glee kids stun the school with their first public performance, and cheerleader coach Sue (Jane Lynch, who might want to start working on her speech for next year's Emmys) steps up her efforts to sabotage the singers.

Thursday: Supernatural (CW, 9 p.m.): The Winchester boys are back for a fifth season of wisecracks and battles with all manner of oddities. Sam and Dean absorb the news that the devil has emerged from hell, which would be a big deal even if you were in a different line of work. This might just take more than a season to solve.

Friday: Hotel Ground Zero (History, 10 p.m.): Airing on the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, this documentary follows the story of the Marriott Hotel on the site of the World Trade Center. The hour includes interviews with rescue workers and guests who escaped, including some who even survived inside the hotel following the collapse of the towers.

Sunday: King of the Hill (Fox, 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.): Easily one of the most underrated series in TV history, Hank Hill and his propane accessories ride into the sunset tonight after fourteen hilarious seasons. The final two episodes center on Bobby, as he finds himself pursued by the school's elite girls and then gets recruited for a team of collegiate meat tasters. It looks like Bobby will finally make Hank proud after all.

Sunday: True Blood (HBO, 9 p.m.): A very successful second season ends with Maryann (Michelle Forbes) and her horde of followers preparing for their big sacrifice, Hoyt becoming more exasperated by his mother, and Queen Sophie-Anne delivering a warning to Eric. I predict that someone is going to die. Yeah, not much of a stretch.


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