Blogs

newsobserver.com blogs

What to Watch on Friday: Paula Deen closes out 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

Who Do You Think You Are? (8pm, NBC) - Paula Deen visits her aunt in Georgia, who provides her with information that takes her back 150 years in her family’s history. As she digs deeper into her heritage she uncovers her ancestor’s political ties and his connection to a dark time in America’s history. Further exploration reveals a heartbreaking event that deeply impacted her ancestors during the Civil War. Unfortunately, this is the final episode of "Who Do You Think You Are," because NBC declined to renew for next season. Sadness.

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - The Season 3 finale includes an update on a site that sells VIP treatment at nightclubs and special events.

Nikita (8pm, CW) - The second season ends with Nikita and Michael invading Division to capture Percy.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - The search for mysterious gold coins intensifies as the body count rises in Portland, and the arrival of a woman in black complicates matters for Nick and Hank in the Season 1 finale.

Supernatural (9pm, CW) - Season 7 concludes with Sam and Dean battling Leviathan Dick Roman and trying to stop him from carrying out his evil plans.

What to Watch on Friday: Season 3 premiere of 'Ricky Gervais Show'

The Finder (8pm, Fox) - Walter's search for a missing husband and father, who is also sought by an FBI agent, hinges on a partial voice-mail recording of his last message to his family. Meanwhile, the case conjures up painful memories for Leo of his deceased wife and daughter.

The Ricky Gervais Show (9pm, HBO) - Topics for the third season premiere of this animated podcast include Karl's theory on museum collections, an invention for a mug coaster, and a fashion trend disappointment. Also, Karl's movie idea about a man whose brain is transplanted into Tom Cruise's body.

Supernatural (9pm, CW) - Sam and Dean reconnect with an old hunter friend who suddenly disappears in an abandoned house that is haunted by a powerful ghost.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - Monroe and Rosalee hide a suspect in a string of murders from a creature bounty hunter.

In Plain Sight (10pm, USA) - Mary's fugitive father surfaces, putting Jinx and Brandi in danger and leaving Mary to wonder whom she can trust.

What to Watch on Friday: Travel to 'Magic City' requires Starz passport

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Good luck, Edie Falco, in topping last week's incredible family history episode featuring Rita Wilson.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - Nick's romantic getaway with Juliette turns problematic when he meets the unsettling neighbors and learns that the troubled wife has valuable treasure to protect.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - Lincoln goes to the alternate universe to help Fauxlivia and his own doppelganger hunt for a vigilante who may be linked to shape-shifters.

Magic City (10pm, Starz) - For the nine of you who have Starz, a new series chronicling life in and around a luxury hotel in Miami Beach circa 1959. In the first episode, Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) must enlist the help of local mobsters to ensure the hotel's New Year's Eve concert goes well. Adrienne has a review.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - Danny reopens a closed case in which a fireman's death was ruled a suicide. The decision causes upheaval in the department, but Danny pursues the investigation at the insistence of the dead man's 12-year-old son.

In Plain Sight (10pm, USA) - Mary looks after a bigamist, who is hiding from his former employer and his two wives.

What to Watch on Friday: Nick gets a hand on 'Grimm'

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Rita Wilson takes a big fat Greek journey to trace the highs and lows of her father's life. Her travels also take her to Bulgaria.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - Nick (Dave Giuntoli) and Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) investigate the murder of a spice-shop owner and the victim's sister may prove to be an ally for Nick. Also, Capt. Renard recruits Adalind to hex Hank and Sgt. Wu gets caught up in Adalind's scheme.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - A case is familiar to Peter but brand new to the rest of the team.

Fairly Legal (9pm, USA) - Kate mediates a dispute between a fishing boat captain and an injured deckhand. Elsewhere, Nicastro encourages Lauren to date.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - Danny faces a moral dilemma over whether to arrest a suspect who may be linked to a robbery.

Merlin (10pm, Syfy) - In the Season 4 finale, Camelot is lost and Arthur is unsure that he should be king. Merlin tries to boost Arthur's confidence by leading him to the legendary Excalibur sword and encouraging him to remove it from the stone.

What to Watch on Friday: 'Portlandia' marathon and season finale

ACC Tournament: Quarterfinal Round (WRAL) - Games resume today at noon and continue through tonight. UNC plays first, Virginia plays at 2, and Duke plays at 7. Florida State gets the 9 o'clock game. Regular CBS afternoon and evening programming will either air at the regularly scheduled times on WRAL2 or on WRAL overnight. Go here to try to figure all that out. The Friday night shows you'll want to plan for are "Undercover Boss," "The Mentalist" and "Blue Bloods."

Portlandia (6:30pm, IFC) - A marathon of all episodes from Season 2 leads up to tonight's season finale at 10. In the finale, Peter and Nance wait in an endless line at a new brunch hot spot. Stars Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen (right) and tonight's finale guest stars Ed Begley Jr., Tim Robbins and Kyle McLachlan.

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Retired NFL player Jerome Bettis investigates his family roots. He travels to Kentucky and tracks the triumph and tragedy of his great-great-grandfather's life.

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - Pitches include body jewelry and a "Rent-a-Grandma" business.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - An arson-related homicide investigation brings Nick and Hank to the world of Portland fire dancing, and the case threatens Nick's relationship with Juliette.

What to Watch on Friday: Another NC case on Animal Planet hoarding show

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Marisa Tomei (left) explores her roots and focuses on a possible family murder. Her quest takes her to Italy to uncover the truth about the alleged slaying of her great-grandfather.

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - A new guest shark tonight: QVC personality and inventor Lori Greiner, who holds over 110 patents. Before the panel tonight: a towel designed for modesty while changing out of a bathing suit, a cake mix for dogs, and an update on a class-notes sharing site for college students.

Nikita (8pm, CW) - Nikita tries to save her mentor from being killed by Percy in his attempt to take control of Division. Meanwhile, Amanda tells Alex it is time for her to take back Zetrov.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - A trail of homicides puts Nick and Hank in pursuit of a deadly heartbreaker.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - A wealthy woman dies of an apparent heart attack, but her eccentric daughter claims she received a message from God that the death was actually a murder.

Confessions: Animal Hoarding (10pm, Animal Planet) - Featured tonight, a North Carolina woman with 30+ cats and a recidivist hoarder (not from North Carolina!) who secretly keeps dogs in a junkyard. Read more about the North Carolina case, in which the Wake County SPCA assisted in the removal and placement of the animals involved. Cats Winslow and Winny from this show still need a home!

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook: Lost and Found (10pm, UNC-TV) - Feinstein sets out to authenticate a previously unknown song by one of the giants of American popular music. He also convinces Broadway composer Jerry Herman to share one of his previously unknown tunes. Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole also appears.

What to Watch on Friday: Martin Sheen explores his family tree

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Season 3 of this genealogical reality show kicks off with Martin Sheen delving into his family's history. Sheen travels to Ireland and Spain, and discovers his uncle was also devoted to political activism and that another relative had been allegedly imprisoned in Spain.

Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4 (8pm, Smithsonian Channel) - A repeat of the Smithsonian Channel documentary examing the sit-ins at the Greensboro Woolworth's lunch counter in 1960. More info here.

Supernatural (9pm, CW) - Sam and Dean investigate when bodies branded with a mysterious symbol turn up with their feet and hands severed.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - Nick finds a black market that supplies the creature world with human organs. Also, he and Juliette befriend a pair of homeless siblings whose friends have vanished.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) -  Danny and his family get caught in a crossfire after Danny's car hits a man fleeing from a gunman and Danny returns fire. Meanwhile, Frank deals with the impending loss of a friend he worked with at Ground Zero.

What to Watch on Friday: 'Shark Tank' returns, new series from HBO

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - Mark Cuban, owner of the 2011 NBA champions Dallas Mavericks, returns as a judge for Season 3 of this highly addictive show in which inventors and entrepreneurs pitch ideas to wealthy business people. Cuban, left, did some guest judge spots last season and he's pretty cutthroat. One of the pitches tonight comes from NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton and triathlete Dave Meyer, who have designed a new type of water bottle. There's also an update on the customized speakers venture from Season 2.

Chuck (8pm, NBC) - A mission in Japan gets derailed when Chuck and Sarah face off against menacing evildoer Nicholas Quinn on a speeding bullet train. Elsewhere, Casey must make a monumental decision. Only one more episode left -- next week's two-hour show will be the series finale.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - A gruesome homicide may be linked to a man's troubling childhood. Meanwhile, Monroe receives a disturbing message from the creature community.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - The alternate Fringe division confronts a powerful new adversary during Peter's visit to the other side.

JB Smoove Stand-Up Playlist (9pm, Comedy Central) -  Smoove features performances from his favorite comedians.

On Freddie Roach (9:30pm, HBO) - The first episode in a six-part series looking at the life of Hall of Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach. The series is described as part documentary and part reality show. Roach, right, lives with Parkinson's, an ailment that is likely linked to his life as a boxer.

Portlandia (10pm, IFC) - Irys and Spyke plan an unconventional wedding, and Candace and Toni hold an in-store book signing.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (10:30pm, IFC) - Under the influence of morphine, a hospitalized Todd mistakes a teddy bear for Alice's ex-boyfriend, whom he thinks might be trying to reconcile with her.

What to Watch on Friday: 'Home Makeover' series finale aids families in Joplin

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (8pm, ABC) - For the show's series finale, two hours are devoted to showing the rebuilding of seven homes in Joplin, Missouri, where families suffered great losses during an October 2011 tornado. The Makoever gang also refurbished a local park, created a new playground, and built a memorial site to volunteers who came to the aid of others after the storm.

Chuck (8pm, NBC) - A mission in Vail, Colorado, involves Morgan facing fallout from being the Intersect and the gang receiving help from an unlikely source: Bo Derek, who plays herself.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - A prison escapee seeks revenge against those who put him behind bars, and his strength and tolerance for pain makes Nick suspect the fugitive is a monster.

Fringe (9pm, Fox) - Peter takes a dangerous journey to the alternate universe to confront Walternate, while Olivia hears an ominous prediction from an Observer.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - Danny and Jackie investigate a murder at a diner, and the chief suspect is a fellow officer who was seen fleeing from the crime scene shortly after shots were fired.

America's Most Hated Family (10pm, National Geographic Family) - When I read the title of this show, I was skeptical there could possibly be a broad consensus on this dubious distinction. But yep, I concur. Louis Theroux profiles the Phelps family and the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, infamous for protesting at military funerals (and at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards).

What to Watch on Friday: Rebecca Romijn gets ruthless on 'Chuck'

The Bishop's Wife (8pm, Turner Classic Movies) - I adore this movie. A dapper angel (Cary Grant) tries to solve the social and domestic problems of a  bishop (David Niven) at Christmastime. Loretta Young stars as the bishop's wife.

Chuck (8pm, NBC) - Chuck and Sarah race against time to take down a dangerous computer virus, pitting them against Robyn Cunnings (Rebecca Romijn, right), a ruthless spy who will stop at nothing to get what she needs. Meanwhile, Ellie and Awesome’s date night takes a dangerous turn and Morgan is sent on a special mission to recover Chuck’s P.A.N.T.S.  Adam Baldwin also stars.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - A murder investigation in the woods leads to the reopening of a missing-person case, and Nick asks Monroe to make contact with a feral creature.

The Life and Times of Tim (9pm, HBO) - In the Season 3 premiere, Tim finds work as an assistant to a women's professional-basketball player and decides he needs a haircut for a job interview.

20/20: Million Moms Challenge (10pm, ABC) - A special on ABC's initiative to raise awareness and funds to address pregnancy issues and children's health issues.

Sanctuary (10pm, Syfy) - A quest to capture a legendary Abnormal in Bolivia leaves Will and Magnus injured and trapped in a cave-in, where they confront truths about themselves and their relationship.

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