Thursday 19
“Trailer Park Boys” (BBC America, 9 p.m.) Who knew that trailer trash was an international phenomenon? Canadian hockey players embraced the mullet, so why not the accompanying lifestyle? This north-of-the-border import follows two ex-cons who return to their home trailer park and engage in assorted nefarious schemes. Nasty, but funny stuff. Second season kicks off tonight.
Escape from New York/Escape from Alcatraz (AMC 6 p.m./8 p.m.) I don't know. It's a tough call. But, in the end, I gotta give the edge to Kurt Russell in Escape from New York. Sure, Eastwood has to deal with evil Patrick McGoohan, but Russell tangles with evil Isaac Hayes.
Friday 20
“Ren & Stimpy” (Spike TV midnight) The newly revived cartoon returns from hiatus with new episodes. Eh. It just doesn’t feel as cool as it did back in the MTV days. Maybe because TV is filled with weird, edgy cartoons these days. Still, it’s a damn sight better than “Stripperella.”
Saturday 21
This Girl's Life (Showtime 10 p.m.) This surprisingly candid portrait of the adult film industry (hey, full frontal nudity!) is undercut by a decidedly melodramatic plot line. Story has our porn star heroine (Juliet Marquis) juggling romance, contemplating a career change and caring for her poor old dad (James Woods of all people!), who's dying of Parkinson's disease.
Sunday 22
“Ninjas” (Discovery 9 p.m.) As anyone who’s seen Napoleon Dynamite or logged on to realultimatepower.net knows, ninjas are sweet!
“Insomniac with Dave Attell: Sloshed in Translation” (Comedy Central 11 p.m.) Hey, I gotta give props for the title alone. Comedian/drunkard Dave Attell prowls the late night streets of Tokyo. And if there’s one thing those Japanese businessmen know how to do, it's get stupid drunk.
Monday 23
“History Detectives” (KNME-5 8 p.m.) I'm addicted to the summer reruns of this “Antiques Roadshow” spin-off. It's like “Scooby-Doo,” but with history nerds instead of stoners and credenzas instead of ghosts. … Man, I'm not selling it very well, but I love it.
Tuesday 24
Speedo (KNME-5 9 p.m.) PBS' “P.O.V.” documentary series brings this weird, entertaining doc to the airwaves. I caught a tiny screening at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. The film concentrates on the title character, one Earl “Speedo” Jagger, a legend on the demolition derby circuit. Earl's crazy quest to be the king of “redneck wreckin'” is counterpointed by his wretched home life and his eventual love affair with a groupie who shares his passion for the trailer park arts. Funny, surprisingly touching and filled with great car crashes. What more could you ask?
Wednesday 25
“The Family Guy” (KASA-2 7 p.m.) Confession time: I didn't dig this crude animated sitcom when it debuted on FOX years ago. I tried again when it became a cult hit on Cartoon Network. Still didn’t get it. Now that it's back on FOX, courtesy of some mini-marathons, I've got to admit … still not a fan. Sorry.
