TONIGHT'S MIGHT-TRY: “Melrose Place”
debut, 9 p.m.,CW.
In some ways, this is the same
“Melrose” that left the air a decade ago.
It's the same apartment complex, with a
central courtyard and a pool where (tonight) a body is found. Sydney
Andrews (Laura Leighton), from the old days, owns it; Michael Mancini
(Thomas Calabro), her former lover, is keeping an eye on a wayward
son there.
Most of the residents are young,
attractive and ambitious. One extreme is an overwrought publicist,
well-played by Katie Cassidy (David's daughter); even the newcomer
(played by pop singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz) seems shaky.
Much of the opener involves overheated
storylines. Fortunately, two people – a grade-school teacher and an
aspiring filmmaker – give “Melrose” some gentle counterbalance.
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-TRY II: “90210”
season-opener, 8 p.m., CW.
Annie's world crumbled after the prom.
She was in a hit-and-run accident; she also reported Naomi's party to
police, leaving her classmates bitter.
Now she feels isolated, while others –
Naomi, Silver, Adrianna – enjoy a sunny summer at the Beverly Hills
Beach Club. Meanwhile, her adoptive brother Dixon may end his
relationship with Silver.
Other choices include:
– “America's Got Talent,” 8 and
9-11 p.m., NBC. First is a rerun of the hour that sent four acts to
the finals. Then 10 more perform and viewers vote.
– “Shark Tank,” 8 p.m., ABC. In a
change, ABC is tucking “Shark Tank” reruns into this Tuesday
spot. This fall, will have new episodes there, up to the Oct. 27
season finale. Tonight reruns the Aug. 30 episode, with ideas ranging
from a graffiti-removal service to a child-care product.
– “Get Schooled,” 8 p.m., cable.
This half-hour discusses education with Kelly Clarkson, LeBron James
and others; it also looks at an education effort by Bill and Melinda
Gates. The special runs simultaneously on BET, CMT, Comedy Central,
MTV, Nickdelodeon, Spike, TV Land and VH1.
– “Shaq Vs.,” 9 p.m., ABC.
Whatever happened to weight categories? Tonight, Shaquille O'Neal –
7-foot-1 and 320 pounds prepares to fight boxing champion Oscar De La
Hoya, 5-10 and 160.
– “More to Love,” 9 p.m., Fox.
Luke takes the final three women on a Hawaiian vacation.
– “P.O.V.: The English Surgeon,”
10 p.m., PBS (check local listings). Big things happen in this
documentary, as a British brain surgeon continues his 15-year
practice of going to the Ukraine to try life-saving operations.
Still, the approach is so slow and dry that viewers will rarely feel
the drama.
– “Sons of Anarchy”
season-opener, 10 p.m., FX. This motorcycle-gang drama remains tough,
taut, well-acted – and, if anything, more brutal than ever. A
white-supremacist is trying to take over, with Adam Arkin as its
chillingly smooth spokesman; the violence and torture build on both
sides.