What's on: Friday

New tonight: Set for Life on ABC; Smackdown on CW; Monk and Psych on USA; Best Week Ever on VH1; Dr. Who and Painkiller Jane on Sci-fi; The Soup on E.

Jericho catchup starts at 9 p.m. on CBS. Watch it. It's cool.

What's on: Thursday

No time for all the stuff I'd like to write about... but here's tonight's lineup...

If you're not watching BURN NOTICE (USA/10 p.m.) you probably should be. It's much more entertaining than its ads initially sold it as.

PBS premieres a documentary, GET UP STAND UP: THE STORY OF POP AND PROTEST (8 p.m.). Hosted by Chuck D, it documents the affect pop music has had on social change.

Plus, two Sci-Fi Channel premieres: Season 2 of WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO (9 p.m.) and MIND CONTROL WITH DERREN BROWN (10 p.m.). Brown's a mentalist who in the first episode will experiment with his powers over a PA system in a shopping mall.

BIG BROTHER 8 (CBS/8 p.m.) will oust a third houseguest... probably Kail.

Also new: Don't Forget the Lyrics and So You Think You Can Dance on Fox; First 48 and Detroit Swat on A&E; TNA Impact on Spike; Mad Men on A&E.

What's on: Monday

TNT tacks another show onto its original-series lineup. SAVING GRACE (10 p.m.), starring Holly Hunter as a cop who has a big ol' spiritual awakening. It joins the already popular Monday night lineup of HEARTLAND (8 p.m.) and THE CLOSER (9 p.m.).

If you can stomach it, ABC has a two-hour wrap of the CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL (9 p.m.).

Also new: Age of Love and Dateline on NBC; 5th Grader and Hell's Kitchen on Fox; Big Love on HBO; WWE Raw on USA; Kyle XY and Greek on ABC Family.

What's on: Sunday

New tonight: Big Brother 8 on CBS; Dateline NBC; John from Cincinnati, Entourage and Flight of the Conchords on HBO; Side Order of Life, State of Mind and Army Wives on Lifetime; 4400 and Dead Zone on USA; debut of Hogan Knows Best, Rock of Love and Scott Baio is 45 and Single on VH1.

What's on: Friday

New tonight: Standoff on Fox; the premiere of the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted game show Set for Life on ABC; Smackdown on CW; Monk and Psych on USA; Best Week Ever on VH1; Dr. Who and Painkiller Jane on Sci-fi; The Soup on E.

Jericho catchup starts at 9 p.m. on CBS. Watch it. It's cool.

What's on: Thursday

BIG BROTHER 8 (CBS/8 p.m.) will toss its second house guest tonight -- Joe or Dick.

Also new: 5th Grader and Don't Forget the Lyrics on Fox; First 48 and Detroit Swat on A&E; Burn Notice on USA; World Series of Pop Culture on VH1; TNA Impact on Spike; Hey Paula on Bravo.

I'll go over last night's Rescue Me after work tonight...

What's on: Monday

If you like intelligent entertainment, VICTORIA BECKHAM: COMING TO AMERICA (NBC/8 p.m.) may not be for you. It follows the former pop star as she and soccer star David Beckham settle in to L.A. But if you're normally watching a lot of E! or MTV, go for it.

Also new: Age of Love on NBC; Hell's Kitchen on Fox; Extreme Makeover on ABC; Big Love on HBO; The Closer and Heartland on TNT; Kyle XY and Greek on ABC Family.

What's on: Friday

I'm excited. Not only do I get a new Rescue Me every week, but back tonight is PSYCH (USA/10 p.m.). I can't say enough good stuff about this well acted, cleverly written show. It follows a brand new MONK (9 p.m.). Both will be around for a couple months for the midsummer haves of their seasons.

MSG network has a live performance from OAR (8 p.m.) as part of its concert series. Rock. Seriously.

Also new: Smackdown on CW; Standoff on Fox; 20/20 on ABC; Best Week Ever on VH1; Dr. Who and Painkiller Jane on Sci-fi; The Soup on E.

Also... it's not new, but your weekly Jericho catchup is on from 8 to 10 p.m.

What's on: Wednesday

RESCUE ME (FX/10 p.m.) is back after a long week off for those of us looking to actually enjoy television. I nearly started crying at one point when all my TiVo had for me to choose from was American Body Shop (review still grudgingly to come) three Las Vegas reruns and Big Brother.

Fox's DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS (9:30 p.m.) is your new lyrically based game show du jour.

More sports Matt? Seriously? Yeah, that's right. HBO's got a new documentary: BROOKLYN DODGERS: THE GHOSTS OF FLATBUSH (8 p.m.).

Singing Bee, America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing on NBC; So You Think You Can Dance on Fox; Next Best Thing, American Inventor and Traveler on ABC; Cash Cab premieres on Discovery; Top Chef on Bravo; Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth on Sci-Fi; two episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne on TBS; WWE MSG Classics on MSG.

What's on: Monday

ABC Family, a Disney company that touts itself as a "family" station... right in it's own name... has prepared a college-based, fraternity comedy. GREEK (9 and 10 p.m.) premieres tonight. I'm sure it's good, wholesome entertainment. Meanwhile Ellen couldn't say she was gay on ABC. Gimme a break.

Probably more interesting, ESPN -- not known for its original content being anything special -- premieres an 8-part miniseries: THE BRONX IS BURNING (10 p.m.) based on the Yankees' 1977 season.

New tonight: On the Lot and Hell's Kitchen on Fox; Age of Love on NBC; Extreme Makeover on ABC; Big Love on HBO; Monday Night Raw on USA; The Closer and Heartland on TNT; World Series of Pop Culture on VH1; Kyle XY on ABC Family.

Wanna watch a talk show? The Decemberists are on Leno...

What's on: Sunday

It's not much to look at tonight: American Body Shop premiers on Comedy Central; Big Brother 8 on CBS; John from Cincinnati, Flight of the Conchords and Entourage on HBO; Army Wives on Lifetime; 4400 and Dead Zone on USA.

What's on: Friday

It's not new stuff, but credible nonetheless... JERICHO (CBS/9 p.m.) had been canceled just a month ago. No longer. It's back in rerun form and will be back for real in the spring. Start catching up now, because it's a quality piece of television. Watch. WATCH!

Sci-fi's DOCTOR WHO (8 p.m.) is back for its third season with two episodes.

Also new: Standoff on Fox; Smackdown on CW; Painkiller Jane on Sci-fi.

What's on: Thursday

Voyeurs rejoice. While Real World has gotten way too ridiculous over the past 10 years, network TV doesn't have as much leeway when it comes to showing people living their lives -- the bigoted family values crews will come crying. So, instead of that extra little bit of nudity and drunkenness that you can count on seeing on MTV, you get goofy competitions and public voting. Welcome back, BIG BROTHER (CBS/8 p.m.).

If you missed last week's premiere, you shouldn't have. So watch BURN NOTICE (USA/10 p.m.).

Also new: Pirate Master on CBS; TNA Impact on Spike; Hey Paula on Bravo.

What's on: Tuesday

Seriously, I promise you'll have a full post from me sometime. Eventually. For now, here's your Tuesday....

If you're a film fan, watch ON THE LOT (Fox/8 p.m.). There are talented upcoming filmmakers here. And they're being ignored because it's summertime.

HBO's got a documentary special: COMA (9 p.m.) takes a look at the "explores the mysteries of the injured brain and its ability to heal" according to the network's synopsis. The show will follow four coma survivors over the course of a year.

Also new: Shaq's Big Challenge on ABC; Wide Angle and POV on PBS; Miami Ink on TLC; Dirty Jobs on Discovery; ECW on Sci-Fi.

What's on: Sunday

Please pardon my scarcity recently. I'm going on my 12th straight day of work today. It's not pretty. I've barely looked at my TV in a week. If you do have time to spend on the couch tonight, there's not much to choose from.

Princess Di's sons have organized a charity concert in honor of their late mom's birthday. NBC will air the CONCERT FOR DIANA (8 p.m.), which includes appearances by Elton John, Duran Duran and Kanye West.

THE LOOP (FOX/7, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.) wraps up its rushed second season with three new episodes, that will more than likely be this show's last flight.

Also new: John from Cincinnati, Entourage and Flight of the Conchords on HBO; Army Wives on Lifetime; 4400 and Dead Zone on USA.

What's on: Thursday

OK. I should be leading with something else, but honestly STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC/10 p.m.) wraps up its first and only season tonight after being kicked in the teeth a few times by the network. This was the 2006/07 season's best new show and could be the best written show on TV right now (not that it's actually on TV at this point, but whatever). It's the fourth part in a well done story arc. Aaron Sorkin, please come back soon.

USA comes out firing with a new show tonight -- BURN NOTICE (10 p.m.) is about a spy bounced from the CIA and left with nothing... he takes up private investigating... I think. It's not really clear. That follows the finale of THE STARTER WIFE (9 p.m.), which I never had the energy to pick up.

Oh, and I can't forget HEY PAULA (Bravo/10 p.m.) ... a new reality series about American Idol judge and ex-pop star Paula Abdul. The first two of seven episodes are on tonight. This should play well to the Girls Next Door crowd...

Also new: Pirate Master on CBS; 5th Grader on Fox; TNA Impact on Spike; the NBA draft on ESPN.

What's on: Wednesday

I don't preach wrestling very often because I know it's a mindless fixation of mine, but if you're a fan, you should be aware of WWE's MSG CLASSICS (MSG/8 and 9 p.m.). The WWE opens up its massive video vault to put together hourlong presentations of old events at Madison Square Garden. I'm pretty sure these are new episodes, but it's all old content, so it really doesn't matter. Tonight's main events are Hulk Hogan vs. Kamala and Roddy Piper vs. Rick Rude.

Even more obscure is PBS' presentation of the ceremony awarding Paul Simon the inaugural Library of Congress Gershwin Prize (9 p.m.).

Also new: Last Comic Standing and Dateline on NBC; So You Think You Can Dance on Fox; Next Best Thing, American Inventor and Traveler on ABC; two hours of Hidden Palms on CW; Bear Island on PBS; Lil' Bush on Comedy Central; Rescue Me on FX; Top Chef on Bravo; Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth on Sci-Fi; and two episodes of Tyler Perry's House of Payne on TBS.

What's on: Tuesday

Premiering tonight is SHAQ'S BIG CHALLENGE (ABC/9 p.m.). It's one of those feel-good "reality" shows... this time starring basketball star Shaquille O'Neal who will work with a group of overweight youngsters to get them in shape. It's supposed to be talking viewing kids into being healthy, too, though I think watching TV is probably an unhealthy way to learn...

New tonight: On the Lot on Fox; 48 Hours Mystery on CBS; two hours of America's Got Talent on NBC; Frontline/World and POV on PBS; Miami Ink on TLC; Dirty Jobs on Discovery; Kathy Griffin on Bravo; ECW on Sci-Fi.

What's on: Monday

With the hopes that those watching AGE OF LOVE (9 p.m.) will have nothing important to do for another hour, NBC's got an hourlong special SCIENCE OF LOVE (10 p.m.)... the network describes it as "an eligible bachelor dates two separate women -- one chosen by experts based on his biological and psychological makeup, and the other chosen by him based on raw attraction" -- then they see which one he chooses. I'm not sure what to even say about this.

Also new: Hell's Kitchen on Fox; Big Love on HBO; another three-hour WWE Raw on USA; The Closer and Heartland on TNT; Kyle XY on ABC Family.

What's on: Friday

OK, I can't attest to the quality of the show, since I've never had the pleasure... but the staying power of STARGATE SG-1 (Sci-Fi/8 p.m.) is reason enough for kudos. The series finale tonight is the end of an impressive 10 years.

New tonight: Standoff on Fox; National Bingo Night and 20/20 on ABC; Smackdown on CW; Best Week Ever on VH1; Stargate Atlantis and Painkiller Jane on Sci-Fi.