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What to Watch on Friday: 'Nikita' and 'Shark Tank' take season bows

PBS NewsHour (7pm, UNC-TV) - In this special report, Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer look back at the Watergate scandal that began in the summer of 1973, transforming American politics and journalism and ultimately ending a presidency. MacNeil and Lehrer led PBS coverage of the Watergate hearings, co-anchoring all 250 hours of the proceedings. They share their memories and talk about how the experience forged their friendship and their journalistic partnership.

How Nature Works (8pm, National Geographic Channel) - A documentary looking at the interconnectivity of the millions of plant and animal species on Earth.

Nikita (8pm, CW) - Amanda puts her final plan into effect as the third season ends. Her diabolical plot places Nikita (Maggie Q, left) in a life-threatening situation and forces her to choose between saving Michael or herself.

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - The fourth season ends with two new back-to-back episodes. In the first, sharks hear about a jewelry line created by women with military experience and we get an update on the Scrub Daddy investment. At 9, two business school grads have an idea for a translation app, and an 11-year-old pitches his all-natural dog treats.

Fatal Justice (8pm, Lifetime) - A woman seeks justice for her family after her niece is seriously injured during a robbery. When the police fail to help, she takes matters into her own hands and learns that the men involved in the crime may also be responsible for her brother's murder 10 years earlier..

Real Time With Bill Maher (10pm, HBO) - Zach Galifianakis is Maher's mid-show interview guest tonight. Other guests include Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, S.E. Cupp, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore and journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Merlin (10pm, Syfy) - An old flame reenters Mondred's life and tests his loyalty to Arthur.

What to Watch on Saturday: Kristin Wiig hosts SNL, plus a Galifianakis SNL rerun

Dangerous Intuition (8pm, Lifetime) - A woman is forced to share custody of her daughter with her ex-husband's new wife, but she soon fears that her daughter is in mortal danger from the new stepmother.

Smash (8pm, NBC) - A tribute night is held to honor Tom and Julia's work, which pleases Tom, but Julia is preoccupied with "Hit List." Elsewhere, Ivy is hesitant to perform a risque number, and the cast of "Hit List" deal with a devastating betrayal.

Rise of the Dinosaurs (9pm, Syfy) - A military commando unit fight for survival against dinosaurs they encounter after crash-landing in a remote tropical jungle.

My Cat From Hell (8pm, Animal Planet) - A cat pees everywhere, including on the couch, beds and countertops. Jackson Galaxy to the rescue! Jackson also helps a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia who constantly attacks its owner's other cat.

Orphan Black (9pm, BBC America) - Sarah confronts the conspiracy head-on, while the trust between herself and Paul weakens. Meanwhile, Cosima grows closer to Delphine and the mysterious Dr. Leekie.

Saturday Night Live (10pm, NBC) - A repackaged one-hour repeat of last weekend's live show starring Zach Galifianakis with Of Monsters and Men.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Former SNL cast member Kristen Wiig (pictured above as Target Lady) hosts, with Vampire Weekend as musical guest.

Watch 'Kanish' -- the Zach Galifiankis SNL sketch cut from Saturday's show

I don't know why this sketch was cut from this weekend's "Saturday Night Live." I love it. It's Zach Galifianakis as Mac Bradkaw as Kanish and Bill Hader as Judd Hirsch as Sgt. Polack. Poorly timed freeze-frames have never been so funny. Enjoy.

What to Watch on Saturday: Zach Galifianakis three-peats as SNL host

Cops (8pm, Fox) - Season 25 ends with officers from Las Vegas Metro Police dealing with an unruly suspect. (I hope I didn't give away any plot surprises!)

Smash (8pm, NBC) - A surprising incident occurs and connects "Bombshell" and "Hit List."

Doctor Who (8pm, BBC America) - Bodies are found in Victorian Yorkshire with skin that is waxy and glowing red.

My Cat From Hell (8pm, Animal Planet) - Jackson helps out when a cat who pees on everything comes between two roommates who have lived together for five years. Later, a cat is constantly bullying another cat int he same household.

Life with La Toya (10:30pm, OWN) - La Toya Jackson goes on a date with a firefighter in tonight's installment of this bizarre reality show. (Yes, it's a scrimpy night of TV.)

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Zach Galifianakis (Can I say too many times that Zach is from North Carolina? Zach is from North Carolina.) hosts SNL for the third time. His musical guest is Of Monsters and Men.

Raleigh tries to recruit Zach Galifianakis on Twitter

Hundreds of Raleigh residents and fans of the city have sent Twitter posts to actor Zach Galifianakis in the past day or so.

The tweets direct the former N.C. State University student and "Hangover" star to the Raleigh Economic Development website, where the city's boosters have a simple favor to ask: Make a sign with a "saying of your choice as to why you think Raleigh is the place to be" and pose with it in a photo.

Economic Development director James Sauls wants to bring some star power to the city's booth at the South by Southwest Conference next month in Austin. He'd like to have a life-size cutout of the actor holding the sign.

Former NFL players and Raleigh residents Terrence and Torry Holt are already on board with the project, offering Galifianakis a signed football if he participates.

Meanwhile, the Twitter trend continues to build under the hashtag #zachraleigh, with each post offering a unique plea to the actor.

The best one I've seen so far came from Raleigh City Councilman Russ Stephenson:

"Zack @Galifianakisz You served me @ Amedeos & I served you @ Sadlacks. Now lets serve #Raleigh"

Here's the link to the Raleigh Economic Development page explaining the request: http://www.raleigh4u.com/connect/zach-galifianakis.

Are North Carolina writers and comedians redefining American humor?

Slate.com has an interesting essay asserting that North Carolina comedians are redefining American humor. It's a flattering premise, and the author (Evan Smith Rakoff, a Manhattan writer who as far as I can tell, isn't a closet Tar Heel is from Asheboro and graduated from UNC-Greensboro) makes his point by tracing North Carolina comedy influences from Andy Griffith to David Sedaris and Zach Galifianakis. And it's not just about those guys, who are pretty much household names, but lots and lots of other actors and writers and directors and producers with North Carolina ties who are plenty current and influential.

It's definitely worth checking out.

Zach Galifianakis, super hero!


In honor of tonight's "Bored to Death" season finale (9 p.m., HBO), which prominantely features some Super Ray comic fans, we're attaching here a PDF of an actual "Super Ray" comic book: "The Birth of Super Ray."

Zach Galifianakis plays cartoonist Ray on the show, and the comic book super hero is drawn in his likeness.

Enjoy.

What to Watch on Monday: HBO wants you 'Bored' but "Enlightened'

How I Met Your Mother (8pm, CBS) - Ted takes his class out on a field trip, but it ends badly. Also, Marshall thinks his boss is too weak in a settlement with a million-dollar company, and he decides to take action.

Terra Nova (8pm, Fox) - Radio silence at a nearby scientific outpost prompts an investigation that reveals the outbreak of a deadly virus that causes memory loss and paranoia -- and which poses a risk to Terra Nova.

Bored to Death (9pm, HBO) - In the Season 3 premiere, Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) marks the release of his new book but must process some alarming family news. Meanwhile, George (Ted Danson) is reunited with his daughter and meets her new boyfriend, and Ray (Zach Galifianakis) spends a day with his biological son.

Enlightened (9:30pm, HBO) - In the series premiere, a corporate executive (Laura Dern, left) suffers a public breakdown at work but hopes to get her job back after reinventing herself at a mental-health retreat. Unfortunately, her transformation doesn't go over well with her loved ones and coworkers, who don't always share her new outlook on life. Also stars Luke Wilson (left) and Diane Ladd. You can watch the trailer here.

House (9pm, Fox) - House returns to the hospital -- with conditions -- after his stint in prison, and gets a cold reception from Wilson. There's also a new doctor on the diagnostic team: a bright but shy resident played by Charlyne Yi.

Hart of Dixie (9pm, CW) - Zoe enters a gumbo contest in yet another attempt to prove she can fit in as a Bluebell resident. Meanwhile, Zoe and Brick must look past their differences to save someone's life.

Five (9pm, Lifetime) - An anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on the lives of women diagnosed and their loved ones. Featured: Rosario Dawson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. Directors include Jennifer Anniston, Demi Moore, and Alicia Keys. Check out Adrienne's review.

Zach Galifianakis talks to Conan about his dad

Zach Galifianakis was on "Conan" last night and talked about what it was like growing up in a small North Carolina town with a dad who was very "kissy" and who liked to skip. Funny interview. The stuff about his dad comes nearer the end.

Zach Galifianakis signs new series deal with HBO

Zach Galifianakis has signed a deal with HBO to produce a new comedy series for the network.

Galifianakis, who already co-stars on HBO's 'Bored to Death' with Ted Danson and Jason Schwartzman, has created (along with Mike Gibbons) a new comedy show starring comedian Brody Stevens to be directed by Jonathan Krisel ('Saturday Night Live,' 'Portlandia').

According to Deadline.com, the new show has already wrapped production.

Deadline describes the new show as a mocumentary starring Stevens as himself,  which chronicles one day in the life of the comedian. Galifianakis is expected to guest star on the series.

Galifianakis, a Wilkesboro native who attended NCSU, has had two great guest hosting spots on 'SNL' and stole many scenes in the hit film 'The Hangover.'  The sequel, 'The Hangover Part II,' is scheduled for a May 26 release. 

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