GOP takes over the TV
National convention eats up prime time, leaving little else to watch this week
Wow I thought counter programming was scarce during the Olympics, but the world sporting community's got nothing on the GOP. With the Republican convention eating up a lot of prime time on broadcast and cable networks, nonrepeat alternatives are few. Here's what to watch and what to avoid on television this week:
Monday: "2012 Republican National Convention" 7 p.m., PBS: Day one, live from Tampa.
"Stars Earn Stripes" 8 p.m., NBC: I've come full circle on this. I now believe D-list celebrities should fight all our wars. Here, Carrot Top, have a grenade launcher. Pass one to Meat Loaf, too.
Tuesday: "2012 Republican National Convention" 9 p.m., ABC, CBS, NBC: Three of the major broadcast networks join in with coverage of the second day of the GOP gathering. There's a lot of cable news coverage, too.
"The Daily Show" 10 p.m., Comedy Central: Jon Stewart and company put their comedic spin on the Repub hubbub tonight through Friday.
Wednesday: "NFL Exhibition Football" 7 p.m., CBS: The Dolphins' second- and third-strings take on the Cowboys' second- and third-strings in Dallas.
Thursday: "Snooki & JWoww" 9 p.m., MTV: Yes, there's a lot of political programming this week. No, these aren't Secret Service code names for Romney and Ryan.
Friday: "Law on the Border" 9 p.m., Animal Planet: Smugglers shoot drugs over the border fence from Mexico to the United States via air cannon. I had a similar experience at a minor league ball game, but all I got was this lousy T-shirt.
"Fashion Police" 9 p.m., E!: They may be covered in a divine and daring, silky leopard print, but don't kid yourself — those batons will still leave a mark.
"Great Performances" 9 p.m., PBS: The Vienna Philharmonic provides the movements and the Vienna State Opera Ballet provides the movement in "Dances and Waves."
Saturday: "That Metal Show" 10 p.m., VH1 Classic: Unless they're talking about the metal parts of artificial hips, I don't think Aerosmith belongs on this program.
Sunday: "TV's Most Dynamic Duos" 8 p.m., ABC: The Paley Center for Media lists television's most memorable pairings, including Pat Sajak and Vanna White. Wait — no Snookie and JWoww?
"Small Town Security" 10 p.m., AMC: The first (and let's hope last) season of AMC's reality misfire concludes tonight.
Contact Dale Roe at 912-5923 Twitter: @djroe
