What to Watch 8-2 to 8-8
By Casey Gillis on Aug. 06, 2007
Thursday, Aug. 2
7 p.m. — Two Hands (Cinemax): This 2006 Oscar-nominated short subject is about pianist Leon Fleisher, who learned to play the piano with one hand after mysteriously losing the use of his right hand. Then, suddenly, he regained the use of it and had to learn to play all over again.
8:30 p.m. — Hey Paula (Bravo): So have you been watching this show? Yeah, we haven’t been either. The season finale airs tonight, just in case you want to get a final fix of Ms. Abdul’s craziness.
9 p.m. — Shark Tribe (Discovery Channel): Shark Week alert! Observing “shark whisperers,” who call to fish from their canoes and catch them by hand.
Friday, Aug. 3
8 p.m. — Fallen (ABC Family): This is a repeat airing of last summer’s two-hour movie about a teen angel. Catch this tonight, and then tune in Saturday night and Sunday night — same time, same place — when it picks back up with two new two-hour installments.
10 p.m. — Summerfest: Sugarland (CMT): For the next three nights, CMT is airing concerts from Summerfest, Wisconsin’s annual music festival. Tonight is Sugarland, followed by Sara Evans on Saturday night and Big and Rich on Sunday.
Saturday, Aug. 4
8 p.m. — Jekyll (BBC America): This new series is an updated take of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Here, we’ve got Dr. Tom Jackman, a descendant of Jekyll, who tries to maintain a normal life despite his alter ego, Mr. Hyde.
9 p.m. — Sharkman (Discovery Channel): Shark Week alert, part two! Here, a shark researcher from South Africa tries to hypnotize a great white shark in open water, believing he can put it into a sleep-like state called “tonic immobility.”
10 p.m. — Masters of Science Fiction (ABC): Judy Davis and Sam Waterston star in part one of this new sci fi anthology series featuring adaptations of works by writers in the genre. First up: John Kessel’s 1986 tale, “A Clean Escape,” in which a psychiatrist (Davis) counsels a man (Waterston) with a memory lapse — he thinks it’s 2007 when it’s really 2031.
Sunday, Aug. 5
8 p.m. — The Company (TNT): This new three-part miniseries chronicles the beginnings of the CIA, seen through the eyes of three college graduates who are recruited as spies. Chris O’Donnell stars as one of them, Jack McAuliffe, who is mentored by a master spy (Alfred Molina). Michael Keaton also stars.
9 & 10 p.m. — Taboo (National Geographic Channel): In the second season premiere, more odd customs from around the world are looked at. First up: rights of passage and tattooing.
Monday, Aug. 6
8 p.m. — Schooled (CW): Not sure what the point is, but 50 students at New Jersey’s New Milford High School are duped into believing their music program will be shut down unless they pass several tests. Later, they’re treated to a performance by the All-American Rejects.
10 p.m. — Ice Road Truckers (History Channel): This reality series chronicles one of the world’s most dangerous jobs: ice road trucking. These truckers risk their lives transporting vital supplies to diamond mines in Canada’s Northwest Territory over frozen lakes that double as roads. As the lakes freeze over in the region, engineers build an ice road over them that can hold the weight of tractor-trailers — hopefully. It’s a lucrative business, but it’s also one that has taken the lives of dozens of men over the years.
Tuesday, Aug. 7
8 p.m. — Power of 10 (CBS): Before taking over the reigns of “The Price is Right,” Drew Carey whets his game show-hosting chops with this new one, in which contestants predict the results of a national survey to win $10 million for five correct answers. The first question is worth $1,000, and the amount increases by 10 times in value for each correct response. Another episode airs Wednesday night in the same time slot.
10 p.m. — Damages (FX): If you haven’t seen this fabulous new series, now is the time to drop everything and watch. Tonight, Ellen learns the demands of her new job as Patty’s resolve is tested when a mysterious threat arrives at her office that puts the entire case in jeopardy.
Wednesday, Aug. 8
9 p.m. — Last Comic Standing (NBC): The remaining eight comics must become jesters in a medieval tournament. Later, they face off in the second head-to-head showdown.
10 p.m. — Cash Cab: After Dark (Discovery Channel): The third season begins with a new focus: nighttime cab rides, double the prize money. Still the same, however, is the format, which has driver and host Ben Bailey quizzing taxi passengers on a wide range of topics.
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