Thursday 9
“Build a Better Burger” (Food Network 7 p.m.) You ask, Food Network, for the nigh impossible! What innovations are left for that humble hallmark of our fast food nation, the hamburger? Tonight, a group of cook-off contestants will answer that question as they vie for a $50,000 prize.
Friday 10
“Battlestar Galactica” (Sci-Fi 8 p.m.) Who would have guessed that this season would end on a “West Wing”-inspired cliffhanger? Will President Roslin fix the vote or will she allow crazy Cylon puppet-boy Balthar to take over the space fleet's highest office? At least Sci-Fi is giving us a 90-minute finale in which to wrestle with such thorny political issues.
Saturday 11
Minotaur (Sci-Fi 7 p.m.) Sci-Fi tries a little fantasy for a change with this tale of ancient Greeks battling a giant man-monster. Now the past is filled with as much inane dialogue, bad actors and cheap CGI as the far-flung future.
Sunday 12
“How William Shatner Changed the World” (History 7 p.m.) OK, that wins “Title of the Week,” hands-down, with no challengers to the crown. This documentary is actually more about the lingering effect that “Star Trek” has had on modern technology. But it sounds so much cooler when you slap Shatner's name on it and have him narrate the whole thing. Plus, it leaves room for the lingering effect that “T.J. Hooker” has had on modern technology.
“Cheerleader Nation” (Lifetime 8 p.m.) In all honesty, I'm pretty sure we're now a nation of cheerfollowers, but this new reality series about girls trying out for assorted pep squads around the country could prove me wrong.
“The Sopranos” (HBO 10 p.m.) Oh, sweet glory of the cathode ray tube. “The Sopranos” is back for another season! Now, this is definitely the last season, so savor all the whackings while you can.
“Big Love” (HBO 11 p.m.) HBO unveils its newest series, a controversial drama/comedy about a Mormon polygamist (Bill Paxton) married to three women (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chlöe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin). … The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would like to take this opportunity to remind you that its members no longer practice polygamy.
Monday 13
“Inside Polygamy” (A&E 7 p.m.) … On the other hand, this timely documentary examines the roughly 50,000 Mormons who do still practice it.
“Prison Break” (KASA-2 7 p.m.) When we last left our protagonists, they were in the middle of … well, the title still pretty much says it all.
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (KRQE-13 7:30 p.m.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as a newly divorced mom who must deal with her ex-husband and his new girlfriend (also named Christine). Here's hoping it sticks around longer than Julia's last sitcom outing, “Watching Ellie.”
Tuesday 14
“An Alien History of Planet Earth” (History 7 p.m.) British aerospace journalist Nick Cook looks at alien visitation, abduction and UFO sightings from a historical perspective.
Wednesday 15
“The Loop” (KASA-2 8:30 p.m.) In FOX's newest sitcom, a twentysomething dude (Bret Harrison, “Grounded for Life”) gets a job as an airline executive. His friends are all slackers, though. .. Yeah, just like FOX executives, I remember back in the early '90s when slackers were funny.
