Week In Sloth

The Week In Sloth

\ Feb 15, 2007

3 min read

Thursday 15

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It) (IFC 7 p.m.) Indie filmmaking icon Melvin Van Peebles (the writer/director, composer and star behind such ’70s offerings as Watermelon Man and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song ) is explored in this fine documentary. Van Peebles’ appropriation of the blaxploitation genre as a comment on race relations is detailed even better here than in son Mario Van Peebles’ 2003 biopic of his old man Baadasssss!

Friday 16

“McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game” (ESPN 5 p.m.) Among the celebrities lending their amateur talent to this “All-Star” b-ball game are Jamie Foxx, Taye Diggs, Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Donald Faison and Bobby Flay. … Wait. Who let the jerky white guy in?

Saturday 17

The State Within (BBC America 7 p.m.) When a London-bound jet is brought down by a bomb over Washington D.C., a British ambassador (Jason Isaacs, Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter films) uncovers a possible conspiracy involving the U.S. secretary of defense (Sharon Gless, Cagney from “Cagney and Lacey”), who’s trying to stir up another war. This three-night miniseries mixes “24”-style thrills, high-level diplomacy and a timely political atmosphere.

Sunday 18

“Reba” (KWBQ-19 6 p.m.) If you’re a Reba fan, you might want to tune in. Tonight, the singer’s self-titled sitcom signs off with a one-hour series finale.

“The Amazing Race: All-Stars” (KRQE-13 7 p.m.) It’s nice to see fan faves like Danny and Oswald and Charla and Mirna back together again. But do we really need to provide more exposure for spotlight-hogging nobodies Rob and Amber? (Personally speaking, after “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Rob and Amber Get Married,” “Rob and Amber: Against All Odds” and “Sci Fi Investigates,” I’m good and tired of these two.)

Monday 19

“Inside the Actors Studio” (Bravo 6 p.m.) Tonight’s big interview: Diana Ross. She starred in The Wiz and … um … wait … Lady Sings the Blues ! Seriously, James, lemme know if you ever decide to start interviewing actors again.

“Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier” (History 7 p.m.) History Channel, for some reason, pays tribute to the “Star Trek” TV series. I predict flashback footage, interviews with still-breathing castmembers and lots of talk about what a genius Gene Roddenberry was. … It’s been at least a month since basic cable whipped out one of these, so enjoy.

Tuesday 20

“The Agency” (VH1 8 p.m.) Ever wonder what life is like behind the scenes of a modeling agency? (I mean, besides the Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency.) Well, now your prayers are answered.

Wednesday 21

“Jericho” (KRQE-13 7 p.m.) CBS’ post-nuke drama flashes back to the day before the bomb goes off. They’re going all “Lost” on us now.

“Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg” (TV Land 8 p.m.) David kicks off the second season of his humorous chat show with one of the biggies: Jerry Seinfeld.