Week In Sloth: “Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena” Brings The Blood; Ricky Gervais Is “An Idiot Abroad”; And President Obama Stars In The State Of The Union Address

The Week In Sloth

\ Jan 20, 2011

3 min read

Thursday 20

“Perfect Couples” (KOB-4 7:30 p.m.) I’m putting this new sitcom on my “must see” list because it features alluring former “Attack of the Show” host Olivia Munn. Your reasons may differ.

“Masters of Survival” (Discovery 7 p.m.) If, somehow, you’ve missed every other survival expert show on TV and are still wondering how to live through a night in the woods (or the mountains or the desert or the jungle), here’s another opportunity for you to learn.

“Fairly Legal” (USA 8 p.m.) Sarah Shahi (“The L Word”) stars as a perky corporate lawyer who starts a new job as a mediator, handling everything from divorces to Fortune 500 mergers by finding a fair and balanced middle ground. Sounds … overtly reasonable.

Friday 21

“Medium” (KRQE-13 7 p.m.) CBS’ talking-to-ghosts drama fades into the Great Hereafter with tonight’s series finale.

“Onion News Network” (IFC 8 p.m.) Satirical newspaper The Onion expands its empire to television.

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” (Starz 8 p.m.) Andy Whitfield, the star of “Spartacus,” got diagnosed with cancer. (Major bummer.) That kinda put a crimp in Season 2 of the sex-and-blood-filled gladiator series. Starz compensated by greenlighting this “prequel” starring … some other well-oiled dude.

“Portlandia” (IFC 8:30 p.m.) “SNL” comedian Fred Armisen and vocalist for Sleater-Kinney Carrie Brownstein are the odd duo behind (and in front of) this sketch comedy series about hipster-filled Portland, Ore.

Saturday 22

“An Idiot Abroad” (Science 8 p.m.) On “The Ricky Gervais Show,” Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant spend all their time harassing their “special” friend Karl Pilkington. Here, they put the poor, hapless dude on a plane and ship him off to exotic locales like China and India. Hijinks ensue.

Sunday 23

“Apocalypse How” (Discovery 9 p.m.) Scientists and theologians discuss the various ways in which the world might come to an end. We sleep well.

Mean Girls 2 (ABC Family 6 p.m.) Hey, at least Tim Meadows gets to reprise his role as Principal Duvall. Guy deserves more work.

“Mongo Wrestling Alliance” (Cartoon Network 1 a.m.) From the co-creator of “Metalocalypse” comes this toon about the world of wrasslin’.

Monday 24

“My Life is a Zoo” (National Geographic Wild 8 p.m.) Owning a zoo: awesome, dream-come-true job or way more trouble than you could ever imagine? Find out in NGW’s new docureality series.

Tuesday 25

“State of the Union Address” (KASA-2/KOB-4/KNME-5/KRQE-13, 7 p.m.) Why do certain networks get higher ratings than others during a Presidential Address? Better font on the chyron?

Wednesday 26

“Face Off” (Syfy 8 p.m.) In this “incredible makeup reality show,” aspiring special effects artists battle one another in such challenges as creating monsters or applying full-body paint jobs. Pros in the industry serve as judges. In the end, somebody wins a job. Sounds slightly more interesting than “Next Great Baker.”