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The Real Exorcist (7pm-11pm, SCI-FI) - If your appetite runs toward the devilish this night before Halloween, the Sci-Fi Channel has 4 episodes in a row of something called The Real Exorcist. I don't have the nerve to watch this, but if you do, tell me what it was like.
The Office (9pm, NBC) - Is this the end of Michael and Holly? Lorenzo insists Amy Ryan has a "real" acting career to get back to. Also, Pam is the only person at Corporate who wears a Halloween costume to work. That just happened on Boston Legal Monday night, but we're sure it'll be funnier on The Office.
30 Rock (9:30, NBC) - Tina Fey has worked her behind off playing Sarah Palin on SNL, and hopefully the big payoff will be much deserved higher ratings for 30 Rock. On tonight's season premiere, Liz Lemon wants to adopt a baby and begs her coworkers to act "normal" (we've all been there) while the adoption official visits. Jack (Alec Baldwin) is demoted and must fight his way back up the corporate ladder.
Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew 2 (10pm, VH1) - Happiness loves this show. And also Steven Adler. This is the second episode (ep. 1 replays at 9pm). If you miss this, VH1 will show repeats many many times over the weekend. It's better than you think it'll be.
American Gangster (10pm, BET) - American Gangster profiles Monster Kody Scott of the South Central L.A. Monster Scotts.
The Barack Obama Show (8pm CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, BET, UNIVISION) - This is a first -- a politcal candidate buys up a whole half hour of primetime. What can he possibly say that he hasn't already said? Will he play it safe?
Pushing Daisies (8pm, ABC) - Obama isn't on ABC, so if you don't like the Obama/Biden ticket, then watch Pushing Daisies. Now's your chance!! A whole hour of sweet, whimsical escapism. It's the antidote for political stress.
World Series Game 5 (8:30pm, FOX) - Maybe.
Dirty Sexy Money (10pm, ABC) - Patrick wants to introduce his tranny lover to the world, which would probably risk his run for Senate. Or hey, maybe not. And I remember from last week's previews that Trip collapses -- he was all splayed out on the floor. Maybe he fakes fainting to shut Patrick up.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (8pm, ABC) - It's a classic. You kinda have to watch it.
World Series Game 5, Take 2 (8pm, FOX) - The rained out game will resume tonight (tied 2-2 in the 6th inning). That is, if it doesn't rain again. And there's rain in the forecast...BREAKING NEWS! MLB has announced they will not attempt Game 5 till at least Wednesday.
The Shield (10pm, F/X) - This season has been a little confusing, perhaps because of the long break after season 6. But even if you can't keep all the bad guys straight or follow all of Vic's schemes, you still have to see this show through to the conclusion because Vic's going down. Right? Maybe. The series finale is just around the corner, and it's described on spoiler sites as "shocking."
The Late Show with David Letterman (11:35, CBS) - Hometown boy James Taylor is on the show, and also Regis Philbin. You can't miss.
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (12:35, NBC) - The current "It Girl" Tina Fey is Conan's guest.
World Series (8pm, FOX) - Philly could cinch it tonight and win their second World Series in 125 years. Philly is leading Tampa Bay 3 games to 1, and they are at home.
How I Met Your Mother (8:30pm, CBS) - Barney gets his shot at Robin tonight, when an old flame from her past crushes her again. It sounds like all the elements of Barney's seduction theory are in place: "Vulnerable, Booze, Nostalgia, Insecure." Lily shines in this episode. (Re-run).
American Experience: LBJ (9pm, PBS) - The Lyndon Johnson biography series concludes tonight with "Great Society" achievements and Vietnam war.
Boston Legal (10pm, ABC) - Betty White returns to Boston Legal after she accidentally blows up her doctor and needs Shirley (Candice Bergen) to defend her. That makes how any people White's character has killed on this show? If you count her character's beginnings on The Practice, that's three bodies. Plus the armed robberies and a kidnapping charges. Maybe it's time she winds up in the pokey.
Gangland (HIST) - The History Channel docu-series that looks at the most violent and most influential criminal gangs of our time has a marathon today from 1pm-7pm. Scary stuff.
My Fake Baby (8pm, BBC America) - I don't know quite what to make of this. BBC has a documentary about women who collect and care for "shockingly lifelike baby dolls" called "Re-Borns." The realistic dolls have "beating hearts," and the women treat them just like living babies. I just realized the whole time I have been typing this, my face has been scrunched up. If you want to feel "normal" tonight, tune in to this.
Nature (8pm, PBS) - Nature opens its 26th season with an episode called "White Falcon, White Wolf."
Frontline (10pm, PBS) - Also premiering tonight is the new season of Frontline, with "The Choice: 2008." Profiles of McCain and Obama.
Mad Men (10pm, AMC) - Season two's finale promises to be amazing (unlike SNL's Mad Men spoof last night). This has been a fantastic season, and tonight's show could wrap up a few loose ends. Or maybe not. All we know is Sterling Cooper is being sold, Don is still AWOL, and Betty gets some unsettling news. This is the best show on television. If you've missed it, catch up on DVD before Season 3 begins.
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew 2 (VH1) - The repeat of this past week's season premiere is running at various times over the weekend. So if you wanna hop on this train wreck with me, hit your DVR (4pm, 9:30pm; 5:30pm Sunday). Here's a taste. This is one of the few reality shows I watch (save your lectures). TIP: set the timer to record a couple minutes over because VH1 is bad for starting shows late so you miss the ending -- which is good. Scary Gary Busey. That's all I'm saying.
Psycho (8pm, TCM) - Hitchcock's classic thriller sounds just about right for the week before Halloween. "Mother isn't quite herself today..."
College football is on all over the place today. For one, Boston College at UNC at noon (WRAL). Also Hurricanes at NY Islanders at 7pm (FSN), and World Series game 3 at 8pm (FOX)
Saturday Night Live (NBC) - The past three weeks of "Update" shows (normally airing on Thursday nights) are rerunning tonight in prime time starting at 9:30pm. Then at 11:30 there's a new show with Mad Men's Jon Hamm (!!) and Coldplay (!!).
Tonight you could watch some live music for a good cause, watch some messed up celebrities start rehab, and see how you make cuckoo clocks...
Who exactly is watching Knight Rider? I want to know right now. Pushing Daisies is on at 8pm, and so is New Adventures of Old Christine. Heck, so is Grizzly Man Diaries. And MonsterQuest. I don't even know what those last two shows are but I bet they are better than Knight Rider. So who is watching this show to cause it to get better ratings than our beloved Daisies? It's 12-year-old boys, right? Stop the madness, folks. Watch Pushing Daisies at 8pm, ABC. If perfection isn't your cup of tea, Christine on CBS is a darn funny substitute. Or any of those other shows I mentioned. Seriously. Anything.
And while we're talking ratings help, let's all watch Dirty Sexy Money at 10pm, ABC. Dan Rather moderates Patrick's senatorial debate, and there's a "shocking" witness at Letitia's murder trial. I watch mostly for Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh, who are outstanding.
We also recommend Chocolate News at 10:30pm on Comedy Central.
Extreme Home Makeover (8pm, ABC) - The Makeover Team takes on another North Carolina family. The King family from the Queen city has a home and daycare center infected with hazardous mold. Cue the spooky mold music.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (8pm, TBS) - Well, the Sox evened it up last night so I guess the real drama happens tonight. They've done it before (come back from 3 games down) so I wouldn't bet against them.
Dirty Jobs (9pm, Discovery) - We're almost afraid to know what is so dirty about making potato chips. Dirty Jobs airs original episodes on Tuesdays at 9 (this Tuesday - sheep castrators!) but I missed the chip show and I'm curious. I've been to a pickle factory ... it can't be worse than that, can it?
Mad Men (10pm, AMC) - Who the heck is Don supposed to be meeting? Well, whoever it is, we know he will look good doing it.
You should be at the State Fair, but you're not, so you might as well watch some television.
North Carolina at Virginia (3:30pm, ABC) - Carolina plays on "regular tv" today, so scoot over to Whole Foods now and get your wine and cheese so you can be all ready to see if the Heels finally break their losing streak in Charlottesville. We think this is the year, so get the good stuff. ALSO NOTE: Wake Forest at Maryland (12pm, CBS) and Miami at Duke (3:30pm, ESPNU).
Law & Order:SVU - This week's new episode reruns tonight on NBC at 10pm, but USA is playing 2008 episodes today from 3pm to midnight. And it's not even a holiday!
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (8pm, TBS) - Will Boston pull out another miracle comeback, or will the Rays of Sunshine close it out tonight? Big game, big drama, Big Papi ... I think you should tune in.
Saturday Night Live (11:30pm, NBC) - You've heard the buzz ... Sarah Palin is scheduled to make a cameo appearance on SNL tonight. SNL is leaking nothing about what she may do on the show, but we're guessing she'll try to field dress Josh Brolin (star of "W"). If you can't stay up, set your DVR, because everyone in your office will be talking about this on Monday.