Week In Sloth: David Cross Finally Gets His Own Sitcom, Tony Danza’s Career Change (Sort Of), “Law & Order” Washes Up On The River Thames

The Week In Sloth

\ Sep 30, 2010

3 min read

Thursday 30

“Undercover Ops” (A&E 8 p.m.) Basically, it’s “COPS,” but more dangerous. Because they’re undercover. And in Detroit.

Friday 1

“WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (Syfy 7 p.m.) SmackDown makes the flying turnbuckle leap from MyNetworkTV to Syfy.

“Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss” (TLC 7 p.m.) In today’s world of “reality”-based TV, there are only three types of humans: celebrities, fat people and little people. There are four activities in which they may engage: baking/cooking, having too many kids, running blue-collar family businesses and getting married. Hence, we have this “new” show in which fat people buy wedding dresses.

“The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” (IFC 8 p.m.) Everybody knows David Cross is awesomely funny, but he rarely gets used to his best advantage. ( Alvin and the Chipmunks ? Really?) Here, he creates his own starring vehicle, a sitcom “mini-series” about a lovable loser who lies his way into a job trying to market an energy drink in England.

“Teach: Tony Danza” (A&E 8 p.m.) At the height of his fame (or within roughly 20 years of it), actor Tony Danza gave it all up to teach 10 th grade English in Philadelphia. … And get a reality show out of it.

Saturday 2

“NASCAR Smarts” (Speed 9:30 p.m.) For once, I shall refrain from editorial comment.

Sunday 3

“The Next Iron Chef” (Food 7 p.m.) The third season gets underway. … Hey, at least we’re not replacing them as fast as we are “America’s Next Top Model.”

“Law & Order: UK” (BBC America 8:30 p.m.) Wait. What? I knew we were going to Los Angeles this season, but when did we hop the pond on this show?

Monday 4

“The Arrangement” (LOGO 12 a.m.) Is the world ready for a flower-arrangement reality show competition? … Of course not. Dumb question. Are LOGO viewers ready for a flower-arrangement reality show competition?

“American Masters: A Letter to Elia” (KNME-5 9 p.m.) Between this and “Boardwalk Empire,” Martin Scorsese has been all over TV this season. Here, he pays tribute to his favorite director with a short documentary about filmmaker Elia Kazan.

Tuesday 5

“House of Glam” (Oxygen 12 a.m.) Apparently, the subjects of this docu-reality series are “the hottest image agency in the entertainment business.” I’m guessing they pick out the jewelry for your bail hearing.

Wednesday 6

“Harry Loves Lisa” (TV Land 8 p.m.) I don’t deny the veracity of this show’s titular statement, but I think “Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna Need a Reality Show to Stay in the Spotlight” would be more accurate.

“Hole in the Wall” (Cartoon Network 8:30 p.m.) FOX tried airing this remake of a Japanese gameshow, but it was too dumb or something and never caught on. Perfect for kids, though, as the second season makes the leap to Cartoon Network.