Blogs

newsobserver.com blogs

What to Watch on Thursday: Season finales for 'Suits,' 'Rookie Blue,' 'Louie'

Rookie Blue (9pm, ABC) - Two new episodes end the second season. In the 9 pm episode, Andy and Sam can't stay away from each other, which puts Sam in harm's way. At 10 pm, Andy blames herself for the situation with Sam, and the resulting investigation may have shocking repercussions.

Project Runway (9pm, Lifetime) - The designers use computer technology to help them create signature fabric designs, but they must also venture out into the city to capture the stories behind their inspirations.

Suits (10pm, USA) - In the first season finale, Harvey tries to free an innocent man but hits a wall when he goes to the district attorney (Chi McBride), who seems more focused on preserving the system than seeking justice. Also, Trevor causes problems for Mike when he shows up on Mike's doorstep. (I'm personally fine with a 100% Trevor-less Season 2).

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - In the Season 1 finale, Ryan and Wilfred face an existential crisis after the Ryan ignores Wilfred's advice. "Wilfred" has been renewed for a second season. Poor Bear...

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - Louie has a rough time in this Season 2 finale, titled "Airport." FX has picked up the show for a third season.

What to Watch on Thursday: Discovery looks at rebuilding at Ground Zero

NFL Exhibition: Panthers vs. Bengals (7pm, WTVD) - This exhibition game, which features the Carolina Panthers at the Cincinnati Bengals, preempts the season finale of ABC's "Expedition Impossible." WTVD will re-air that finale at 2 a.m. Thursday night/Friday morning. Set your DVR!

Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero (8pm, Discovery) - A three-hour documentary series chronicling the construction of a 16-acre complext at the site of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City. All three parts air tonight from 8 to 11 p.m. Here's more information and some clips from the series, including a time lapse video of construction progress.

Project Runway (9pm, Lifetime) - The designers work a challenge with a track-and-field theme. They must create garments inspired by sneakers and sportswear and also participate in a race. Someone goes down. Hard. Model Erin Wasson is a guest judge.

Suits (10pm, USA) - Mike questions the firing of an executive, whom Harvey dismissed at the request of a client.

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Ryan finally begins to suspect that his friendship with Wilfred might  not be in his best interests. Then he meets a guy (played by Dwight Yoakam) who confirms that suspicion.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - Louie has an adventure in Afghanistan.

What to Watch on Thursday: Scared straight in Charlotte

Project Runway (9pm, Lifetime) - The designers must create outfits for series judge Nina Garcia, who will then sport the winning look at a big industry function. Fashion editor Joanna Coles and actress Kerry Washington are guest judges.

Do Something Awards (9pm, VH1) - Jane Lynch hosts the awards ceremony honoring social activism. Demi Lovato, Foster the People, and OneRepublic are slated to perform.

Burn Notice (9pm, USA) - A pharmaceuticals mogul hires Fiona and Jesse to do surveillance work for him, but he's hiding something about his business dealings. Elsewhere, Michael and Sam question a bomb maker tied to Max's murder.

Beyond Scared Straight (10pm, A&E) - In the show's second season opener, teens visit Mecklenberg County Jail in Charlotte. Teen troublemaker Jose goes head-to-head with terrifying inmates and Sgt. Garrett, one of the toughest female jail deputies in the show's history. When Jose refuses to follow an order, Sgt. Garrett makes it her mission to break him down. Here's a video sneak peek.

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - Swarek runs a stakeout to keep an Asian gang from killing an informant, and Dov and Gail are assigned to assist him. Meanwhile, Andy and Chris join the Division 27 rookies in an equine competition.

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Two new back-to-back episodes tonight. Mary Steenburgen guest stars in the first as Ryan's nutty  mother, who moves in with him after spending 20 years in a "wellness center" and bonds with Wilfred immediately.

Louie (11pm. FX) - Louie takes his daughters trick-or-treating and meets a Hollywood mogul.

What to Watch on Thursday: Spotlight on music titan Quincy Jones

Expedition Impossible (9pm, ABC) - Wading through a treacherous river canyon, rappelling down a 300-foot waterfall, and baring all to master the art of henna are among the challenges contestants face in tonight's episode.

Burn Notice (9pm, USA) - Michael takes part in a CIA murder investigation. Elsewhere, the team helps a former Army sniper who's looking to avenge his sister's injury.

Swamp People (9pm, History) - In the second season finale, hunters scramble to fill their remaining traps, and there are rumors of a monster gator in the area. Meanwhile, a storm is blowing in from the Gulf.

CNBC Titans: Quincy Jones (10pm, CNBC) - The financial network profiles Quincy Jones (right), the jazz musician-composer-producer who became the first high-level black executive at a major record company when he signed on with Mercury records in 1961. The profile includes his work with Michael Jackson and his forays into film and TV productions.

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - Dov and Chris get a tip on a meth house that puts them in harm's way. Meanwhile, Jo (evil!) talks Luke into helping her on a surveillance job, which brings up old issues between them).

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Ryan volunteers at a hospice, but it's Wilfred who turns out to have a talent that's much in demand there. This gives Wilfred to make demands of his own.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - Louie (the Emmy-nominated Louis CK) takes his daughters to visit his great aunt.

What to Watch on Thursday: Renewed "Rookie Blue" delivers for summer

Sweet Home Alabama (9pm, CMT) - In the series premiere of thise reality dating series (think countrified "Bachelorette"), Alabama's Devin Grissom meets 20 guys (10 country, 10 city), who try to sweep her off her feet. Four men go home in this first episode.

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - I'll take this Canadian import over the rest of network summer fare any day of the week. Last week's episode (poor Luke!) was gripping. Tonight, expect more on that situation, plus the police investigate a series of arsons, and Andy and a widow wind up trapped in an unstable, burned-out building. ABC and Global TV announced yesterday that they're picking up this series for a third season (hooray!). Filming starts later this summer in Toronto.

Suits (10pm, USA) - Harvey defends a figure from Jessica's past, making it difficult for Jessica to detach herself from the case. Also, Mike is eager to take on a pro bono case, but soon learns it won't be an easy win.

Texas Women (10pm, CMT) - Another new reality series from CMT, this one following the lives and careers of four Texas women (sounds like "Real Housewives of Texas").

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Ryan tries to reconcile with his sister, and Wilfred is sent to doggy day care.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - Louie has a rough show in Atlantic City and gets some career advice from Joan Rivers (playing herself), who is appearing at the same casino.

The Green Room with Paul Provenza (11pm, Showtime) - Comedian Paul Provenza talks about "the craft" with Ray Romano, Garry Shandling, Judd Apatow, and Marc Maron. Didn't Jerry Seinfeld just do this same show on HBO with Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, and Louis CK?

What to Watch on Thursday: 'Big Brother' returns on CBS

Big Brother (9pm, CBS) - In the 13th season opener, eight new house guests are introduced, plus some notorious pairs from previous seasons who will also play the game.

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - A full moon brings the crazies out as Andy and Swarek track a disturbed man while looking into the theft of three severed heads from a medical lab. Andy tries to protect a young woman who may be the next victim, and ends up putting herself and Luke in harm's way.

Suits (10pm, USA) - Harvey goes rogue in order to fix a crisis with a client despite Jessica's desire to reign him in. Elsewhere, Mike turns to Rachel for guidance when he learns he'll be hosting a dinner for rookies, and important tradition at the firm.

Extreme Chef (10pm, Food) - A mountain challenge has three chefs, including Rocky Mount's Chef Jerome Brown, hiking up a steep hill with all their cooking supplies and diving into a frigid lake to catch fish.

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Ryan gets his wallet back from his violent, porn-addicted neighbor (Ethan Suplee), who wants revenge on the thief, but who also wants a pal.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - Louie searches for a new home in New York. Donna Hanover, ex-wife of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, plays Louie's real estate agent.

Ugly Americans (10:30pm, Comedy Central) - Callie reluctantly becomes her baby sister's guardian when their estranged parents' reunion proves to be a short one.

What to Watch on Thursday: 'Extreme Chef' pushes cooks to the limit

So You Think You Can Dance (8pm, Fox) - Two of the 16 remaining dancers are eliminated, after a performance by the AXIS Dance Company. Kristin Chenoweth is a guest judge.

Expedition Impossible (9pm, ABC) - The challenges tonight include riding wild stallions and kayaking a raging river.

Extreme Chef (10pm, Food) - This new show hosted by Marsh Mokhtari challenges chefs to create delicious dishes under extreme circumstances. The ida is to push competitors to their mental and physical limits. Tonight, chefs must cook with unmarked canned goods when they're dropped off in a neighborhood in Newhall, California. Later, they must knock on residents' doors to gather cooking materials, and prepare hot appetizers on the block of a car engine. Heads-up: A local chef will compete in next week's episode, in which chefs must swim across a lake to gather ingredients. We'll have more on that soon!

Suits (10pm, USA) - Love this new show. Tonight, Mike has an ethical dilemma wwhen Louis forces him to make a decision that could hurt his relationship with Harvey. Elsewhere, Harvey's past comes back to haunt him during a case.

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - Andy and Gail go undercover as cocktail waitresses ina club known for drug trafficking. Also, a young woman files a complaint against Dov, and Tracey finds she still has feelings for Det. Barber.

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - Ryan deceives Wilfred to get him to the doggie dentist, and there are repercussions when Wilfred tells Ryan something disturbing about his owner, Jenna.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) -- Louie has an unsettling encounter on the way to a first "non-date," and later receives an intriguing proposition while dropping off Jane at school.

What to Watch on Thursday: A big night of summer premieres

Burn Notice (9pm, USA) - In the Season 5 premiere, Michael works with his old agency to go after the people who burned him in a case that leads the group to Venezuela.

Expedition Impossible (9pm, ABC) - The debut of an ambitious new reality competition show hosted by adventurer Dave Salmoni (you may have seen him living with lions on Animal Planet). The new show is part "Survivor" and part "Amazing Race," featuring 13 three-person teams of ordinary people who go on grueling missions in Morocco. In tonight's opener, the teams tackle the Sahara desert and the cliffs of Todra Gorge before one team is eliminated. The eventual winning team gets $150,000 to split three ways, which I have to admit sounds a little cheap on the part of ABC.

Shotgun Red Variety Hour (9:30pm, RFD) - Don't forget to tune in for Garner's Gerald Goodwin!

Rookie Blue (10pm, ABC) - In the Season 2 premiere of this Canadian police drama, a shooting at a concert rattles Andy and causes conflict with Det. Jo Rosati. Also, sparks fly between Rosati and her former partner, Luke.

Suits (10pm, USA) - In the premiere of a new legal drama, successful lawyer Harvey Specter hires a brilliant college dropout as a new associate at a top law firm, despite the fact that the associate doesn't have a law degree. Both men must conceal that fact from their coworkers in order to work together. Here's our review.

Wilfred (10pm, FX) - A strange new sitcom about a depressed young man (Elijah Wood) who befriends his neighbor's dog, Wilfred. Wilfred looks like a dog to everyone else, but to Wood's character, he's a gruff Australian man in a dog suit. It's funny and crude. Check out our review.

Louie (10:30pm, FX) - In the second season premiere of Louis C.K.'s sharp semi-autobiographical comedy series, Louie's sister shows up unexpectedly with some unexpected news.

Kings of Pastry (2am, UNC-TV) - The 24th season of the Point of View documentary series premieres with the Chris Hegedus-D.A. Pennebaker film about the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France pastry competition in Lyons. It will also air Friday night at 11pm on UNC-MX.

FX introduces 'Wilfred': A very, very bad dog

A lot of what you need to know about FX's new sitcom about a man and a dog can be deduced from the show's explanation of their TV-MA rating. "Wilfred," FX explains, is not suitable for people under the age of 17 and episodes may carry one of the following ratings: V for graphic violence, S for explicit sexual activity, or L for crude or indecent language.

You also need to know that the show, while incredibly crude, is also incredibly funny.

The premise of "Wilfred" is that a depressed man, played by Elijah Wood, forms an unusual friendship with his neighbor's dog, Wilfred (Jason Gann). Except while the rest of the world sees Wilfred as a regular dog, Wood's character, Ryan, sees and interacts with a gruff Australian man in a dog suit.

Wilfred, it turns out, is a bad dog. A very bad dog. Wilfred steals, vandalizes, manipulates, smokes pot, and abuses stuffed animals. He gets Ryan into all kinds of trouble, but is he really getting Ryan into trouble, or is Ryan imagining these interactions and self-sabotaging his own life?

Cars View All
Find a Car
Go
Jobs View All
Find a Job
Go
Homes View All
Find a Home
Go

Want to post a comment?

In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. Click here to register or to log in.
Advertisements