What to Watch 5-31 to 6-6
By Casey Gillis on May. 31, 2007
Thursday, May 31
8 p.m. — Pirate Master (CBS): “Survivor” maestro Mark Burnett takes his winning formula and sets it at sea. In this new reality competition series, 16 contestants set sail for 33 days on a real, functional pirate ship, and search the Caribbean for hidden gold coins and an eventual grand prize of $500,000. Along the way, there are challenges and weekly eliminations, after which the ousted contestant is put on a raft and cut adrift, instead of your standard walking of the plank.
9 p.m. — The Starter Wife (USA): Debra Messing returns to our TV screens in this new series, based on a novel of the same name. And as Hollywood wife Molly Kagan, she’s the complete opposite of Grace Adler. After her movie executive hubby dumps her, Molly finds herself a social outcast, so she moves into a friend’s beachfront home. There, she meets new friends, flirts with a hot new guy and gets on with her life. This six-episode miniseries will air every Thursday through June 28.
Friday, June 1
4 p.m. — Rachael Ray (ABC): Rachael welcomes actress Joan Cusack, and the two ladies make a “not tuna” casserole. There’s also a fashion segment with runway looks for everyday women.
8 p.m. — TV’s Funniest Moments (Fox): The Museum of Television and Radio singles out 30 comedic clips from shows like “I Love Lucy,” “The Honeymooners,” “In Living Color” and “All in the Family.”
Saturday, June 2
3 p.m. — Prankville (CMT): Sounds like the country network’s very own version of MTV’s “Punk’d” — TV Guide describes it as “country-flavored practical jokes captured on hidden cameras.” Yee haw!
6 p.m. — Food Network Challenge (Food Network): In “Build a Better Burger 3,” cooks compete in an annual contest held in California’s Napa Valley. And there are some pretty hefty prizes being handed out: winner of Best Beef Burger is awarded $50,000, and Best Alternative Burger gets $10,000.
9 p.m. — Ocean’s Eleven (TBS): Relive the magic of the original, then go catch the third, Ocean’s Thirteen, in theaters June 8 (CBS is airing the sequel tonight, too, but we urge you to skip it).
Sunday, June 3
8 p.m. — 2007 MTV Movie Awards (MTV): It’s hard to believe, but the outrageous awards show is now in its 16th year. Sarah Silverman hosts tonight, as celebs give out awards for categories like Best Kiss, Fight and Villain, as well as Best Summer Movie You Haven’t Seen Yet (nominees are “Rush Hour 3,” “Transformers,” “Hairspray,” “The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” “Evan Almighty,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” and “The Simpsons Movie” ). They’ve also got two categories for aspiring filmmakers: mtvU Best Filmmaker On Campus award and the Best Movie Spoof award.
9 p.m. — Next Food Network Star (Food Network): The reality show’s third season starts tonight with 11 contestants completing three challenges: to create a dish for a dinner party, decorate a wedding cake and cater a wedding for 100 guests in only six hours.
10 p.m. — Army Wives (Lifetime): A charming new series about devoted wives — and one hubby, whose wife is a Lieutenant Colonel — living on an Army post with their servicemen husbands. For more, check out this week’s Couch Potato review.
Monday, June 4
9 p.m. — Hell’s Kitchen (Fox): Gordon Ramsay, the Simon Cowell of kitchens, judges this cooking competition reality series, now in its third season. In tonight’s opener, the 12 chefs are divided up into teams — guys vs. gals — and must compete in the first elimination challenge. The winner gets a prestigious job as a Las Vegas head chef.
9 p.m. — Write & Wrong (Lifetime): If tyrannical chefs aren’t your thing, check out this made-for-TV movie, which stars Kirstie Alley as a screenwriter who is rejected because of her age. In an effort to beat the system, she comes up with a plan to use her good-looking young nephew (Eric Christian Olsen) to sell her scripts.
11:30 p.m. — Band in a Bubble (MTV): Since May 24, Cartel, a rock band from Georgia, has been living in a 2,000-square-foot bubble — equipped with a recording studio, dining room, lounge, kitchen and spa-like bathroom — on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 in New York City. They’ll remain there for three weeks, during which they’ll make a new CD. Their journey — if you can call it that — will be highlighted on four half-hour specials and will culminate with the band bursting out of the bubble to perform a new song. The first two eps aired on May 24 and June 2, and the last two will air June 9 and 12.
Tuesday, June 5
8:30 p.m. — The Loop (Fox): In the second season premiere, Sam attempts to make inroads with an Icelandic airline.
9 p.m. — 2007 ALMA Awards (ABC): Eva Longoria hosts the 12th Annual American Latino Media Arts Awards. The special was taped June 1 in Pasadena and those scheduled to appear include Jessica Alba, George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Eva Mendes, Carlos Mencia, Prince and Los Lonely Boys.
Wednesday, June 6
8 p.m. — Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator? (NBC): Another new reality competition, this one looking for the best celeb look-a-like. Judges/comedians Jeffrey Ross (“The Aristocrats” ), Lisa Ann Walter (“Shall We Dance?” ) and Elon Gold (“Stacked” ) evaluate the contestants based on how much they look, sound and act like the celebrity in question — everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Tony Soprano to David Letterman.
9 p.m. — One Tree Hill (CW): After experiencing some complications with her pregnancy, Karen is hospitalized. Meanwhile, as graduation approaches, Nathan ponders his future, and Brooke feels guilty about the stolen calculus test.
10 p.m. — Reunited: The Real World Vegas (MTV): How could you forget the memorable 12th season of “The Real World,” which many consider to be the exact moment when the show began to descend rapidly downhill? Now, Trishelle, Steven, Alton, Irulan, Frank, Arissa and Brynn are back for this six-episode miniseries, which has them living together in the same Palms Hotel and Casino suite for three weeks. Let’s hope they’ve all grown up since their first go-round.
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