TV Jots

Better Off Ted Runs Again

The Superstars | 8pm

Episode 101: A new six-episode reality competition based on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and featuring eight pro athletes teamed with eight mostly non-famous celebrities: Jennifer Capriati and David Charvet, Brandi Chastain and Julio Iglesias, Jr., Robert Horry and Estella Warren, Jeff Kent and Ali Landry, Kristi Leskinen and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Lisa Leslie and Dan Cortese, Bode Miller and Paige Hemmis, and Terrell Owens and Joanna Krupa.
[ABC, Series Premiere, 90 minutes]

America’s Got Talent | 9pm

Audition Show #1: Season Four begins with host Nick Cannon (also known as Mr. Mariah Carey to some) and judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne, and Piers Morgan. Will America discover its own Susan Boyle this time around?
[NBC, Season Premiere, 120 minutes]

HawthoRNe | 9pm

Healing Time: Jada Pinkett Smith‘s head nurse Christina Hawthorne deals with a patient suffering from dementia who mistakes her for his wife, as well as an elderly battleaxe giving one of her greener nurses hell. Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner plays the first hospital visitor and 83-year-old in-demand actress Cloris Leachman plays the second. I was able to watch the episode in advance, and I don’t care what others say — TNT’s latest original drama has potential among viewers who appreciate characters with realistic personalities and issues. Go, Jada!
[TNT, 60 minutes]

Better Off Ted | 9:30pm

You Are the Boss of Me: One of TV’s funnier rookie sitcoms returns with fresh summer episodes. Up first: Ted hangs out with Lem and Phil’s Medieval Fight Club (yep, you read that correctly) and makes the scientists feel like they’re still at work instead of off the clock. Meanwhile, Linda tries to buddy up with Veronica for some reason I can’t wait to learn.
[ABC, Back from Hiatus, 30 minutes, Jay Harrington Interview]

The Cleaner | 10pm

Hello America: Whoopi Goldberg (The View) guest stars on the second-season premiere of the Benjamin Bratt drama, which features Gary Cole (The West Wing) as a national news anchor and former addict battling booze and narcotics again now that his wife has cancer.
[A&E, Season Premiere, 60 minutes, Premiere Review]

NYC Prep | 10pm

Top Half of 1%: A new documentary series all about — and I quote — “privileged teenagers who are key players in Manhattan’s elite high school scene.” Because those are the kind of people who benefit the world the most, ya know.[/snark] Guess who won’t be watching.
[Bravo, Series Premiere, 60 minutes]

Rescue Me | 10pm

Disease: The current fifth season is shaping up to be brilliant thus far and totally worth the 18-month wait since the fourth run. Next, Lou and Tommy compete to remain the last one single and poor cancer-stricken Sean Garrity gives the guys a scare when they see how bad he looks. If only they could step inside his surreal head. Example: the hilarious anesthesia music sequence on the last episode “Mickey.”
[FX, 60 minutes]

Saving Grace | 10pm

She’s a Lump: There’s nothing but (more) trouble ahead for Grace and her BFF Rhetta. While the team handles the case of a murdered court reporter fixed up to look like a suicide, the detective tries to connect with comatose meth addict Neely, who shares Grace’s last-chance angel Earl, and the forensics expert deals with the possibility of losing the farm her family has owned for a century.
[TNT, 60 minutes]