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What to Watch on Sunday: Jane Lynch hosts Emmy Awards

Emmy Awards (8pm, Fox) - Jane Lynch hosts the 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Presenters include Will Arnett, Zooey Deschanel, Ashton Kutcher, Julianna Margulies, Amy Poehler, and Sofia Vergara. HBO leads the nominations with 104 and its miniseries "Mildred Pierce" leads all with 21 nominations, followed by AMC's "Mad Men" with 19. Former Raleigh residents Michael C. Hall and Evan Rachel Wood are nominated.  I'll be watching tonight and doing some live-blogging and some tweeting (@WarmTV), so follow along!

Drop Dead Diva (9pm, Lifetime) - A bride-to-be sues a bridal store after she is seriously injured during a sale stampede. Also, Parker hires his ex-girlfriend as a temp.

Breaking Bad (10pm, AMC) - Jesse, Mike and Gus head to Mexico where Jesse is tested and Gus comes face to face with his old nemesis. Also, Walter Jr. becomes concerned when his dad doesn't show up for his birthday party, and Skyler becomes more involved in Ted's IRS situation. I don't know how they keep doing it, but this is another incredibly intense episode.

Rock Docs: Planet Rock - The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation (10pm, VH1) - An exploration of the connections between hip-hop music and the crack-cocaine epidemic, narrated by Ice-T. Remarks by Snoop Dogg, B-Real, RZA, Raekwon, and former drug dealers Azie Faison and Freeway Ricky Ross are included.

Against the Wall (10pm, Lifetime) - Abby and Lina investigate 911 response complaints after they are unable to get emergency help. Meanwhile, Donnie tries out for the SWAT team, which leads to family secrets being revealed.

A Lifetime TV miracle: My serendipitous retro cake carrier

Two weeks ago I was watching the premiere episode of Lifetime's pretty good new cop drama "Against the Wall." About a quarter of the way through the episode, the show's star, Rachel Carpani (who spookily resembles a young Meg Ryan), takes a cake to her father, who is played by Treat Williams. She's buttering up her dad because she has some tough news for him: she has to tell her cop father that she, also a cop, has taken a job in the much-despised Internal Affairs division. The conversation doesn't go well.

It was an intense scene, full of drama. But my attention was on the retro aluminum cake carrier Det. Abby Kowalkski was toting. I'd never seen anything like it.

Instant wanting.

What to Watch on Sunday: McCreery on CMA show, Gervais on 'Curb'

CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock (8pm, ABC) - Scotty McCreery is slated to perform! Oh, and also: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Reba, and many others.

In the Flow with Affion Crockett (9pm, Fox) - A new sketch comedy series created by actor-comedian Affion Crockett, who is from Fayetteville. Tonight's first episode comes out swinging with a spoof of Tiger Woods trying to get his game back together after his extramarital scandal, and a skit about auditions for new judges on "American Idol."

True Blood (9pm, HBO) - Sookie and Eric side with the king when Bill and Marnie prepare for an epic confrontation.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (10pm, HBO) - Larry's heroic side comes out and Jeff pursues a professional relationship with Ricky Gervais.

The Great Food Truck Race (10pm, Food) - In the second season premiere, eight gourmet food trucks begin their cross-country competition for a $100,000 prize. Things start in Malibu, California, and move on to Las Vegas.

Breaking Bad (10pm, AMC) - Jesse's disappearance leaves Walt fearing the worst. Also, Skyler has a surprising reunion and Hank gives Det. Roberts bad news.

Against the Wall (10pm, Lifetime) - An ex-con accuses some police officers of harassment. Meanwhile, Abby is propositioned by the detective investigating Richie's shooting of a teen, and Sheila visits the mother of the boy Richie shot in an attempt to cope with her own grief.

Ryan & Tatum: The O'Neals (10pm, OWN) - In the Season 1 finale, Ryan and Tatum find themselves at an impasse as the publication date for Tatum's second memoir looms.

"Against the Wall" has its flaws, but also has promise

The cop show is TV staple, yet despite its abundant selection of women in jeopardy, it's taken awhile for Lifetime to get one on the air.

Now suddenly, it has two. "The Protector" with Ally Walker and Tisha Campbell-Martin is pretty lame. But happily "Against the Wall" (Lifetime, 10 tonight) is better. Not fantastic, but solid and promising.

It starts with the star. Rachel Carpani plays Abby Kowalkski, a Chicago cop from a family of cops. She wants a promotion and a faster ticket to becoming a homicide detective; she discovers that the only way there is through a position in Internal Affairs, the division that investigates other cops. This does not please her dad (Treat Williams), and two of her three brothers (Brandon Quinn, James Thomas and Steve Byers); one is mostly supportive. Her only refuge is her mother, played by Kathy Baker. Abby also has a pregnant partner played by Marissa Ramirez.

What to Watch on Sunday: Prostitutes, parrots, vampires and aliens


RED FLAG WARNING
: Shark Week begins tonight!
 

Same Name (9pm, CBS) - This might actually be really interesting: Comedian Kathy Griffin trades places with a working mother from Fayetteville, Georgia.

True Blood (9pm, HBO) - Sookie hunts for Jason under a full moon while Arlene and Terry wonder about the cause of a strange fire. Also, Eric gives in to a higher authority and Marnie has contact with her supernatural predecessors.

Masterpiece Mystery: Zen (9pm, UNC-TV) - Zen is assigned to the kidnapping of a wealthy industrialist and political party funder whom the Ministry of Justice wants returned alive at any cost.

Bachelorette: The Men Tell All (9pm, ABC) - Six rejected bachelors gather to confront Ashley and each other, and comment on the behavior of Bentley. I guess that means Bentley was smart enough not to show his face there.

Breaking Bad (10pm, AMC) - Jesse's downward spiral continues and things at his house begin to get out of control. Also, Skyler reluctantly decides she better call Saul for help with the car wash, Marie reverts back to an old habit, and Hank hears from an old friend who needs help.

Heidi Fleiss: Prostitutes to Parrots (10pm, Animal Planet) - A profile of former "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss as she tries to maintain legitimate business interests, stay sober, and care for her menagerie of exotic birds.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (10pm, HBO) - Larry challenges the rules of dating and rethinks a decision regarding a new workplace neighbor.

Against the Wall (10pm, Lifetime) - A new pilot about Chicago Internal Affairs detective Abby Kowalski (Rachael Carpani) who investigates crimes in the department. In the opener, Abby, a beat cop, accepts a promotion to detective in IA, which doesn't sit well with her family of cops. Also stars Kathy Baker and Treat Williams. Here's Adrienne's review.

Falling Skies (10pm, TNT) - Weaver turns more and more erratic, stirring up trouble while on a reconnaissance mission with Tom and Hal. Meanwhile, Pope constructs a potent weapon and Anne makes a startling discovery while performing an autopsy on a Skitter cadaver.

Marriage Ref (10pm, NBC) - Maybe worth tuning in for just to hear JB Smoove and Larry Miller goof on the couples' disputes. Rachael Ray is also a judge.

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