TvPicks

'House' (Monday, 8 pm, Global/Fox)

I understand why 'House' is so popular, really I do. Hugh Laurie is a great actor, and House is a great character. The supporting cast is fantastic. The writing is decent. But I'm still sort of amazed that the enthusiasm has brought us to a sixth season. Six years of watching the same essential plot line play out episode after episode. But tonight might just be different. In this 2-hour premiere, House is in the loony bin, matching wits with his attending physician, played by Andre Braugher ('Homicide'), who isn't inclined to let House out.

This week on TV: 'Melrose Place' gets a makeover, 'Glee' returns and 'True Blood' takes one last bite. -- By Kimberly Potts

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' (8PM, ABC Family) 2nd summer finale
It's the summer finale and that likely means a cliffhanger or two, especially since everyone is experiencing relationship woes. Grace and Jack seem to be at an impasse when they can't agree on some major decisions, while Amy and Ben are also struggling and Adrian and Ricky go to counseling. And then there's Amy's mom Anne, who goes into labor, and may not have enough time to make it to the hospital. Grace and Jack hit a roadblock; Amy and Ben try to work on their relationship.

This week on TV: The students of 'Greek' go back to school, FX puts out 'Rescue Me' and 'So You Think You Can Dance' celebrates its best pieces ever. -- By Kimberly Potts

MONDAY, AUGUST 31

'Greek' (9PM, ABC Family) 3rd season premiere
When last we left the Cyprus-Rhodes gang, Casey had finally 'fessed up to her feelings for ex-boyfriend Cappie, only to have him turn her down. When we meet up with them in the season premiere, Casey's still trying to deal with the sting of Cappie's rejection, while Cappie is just finding out that Max isn't on campus. Rusty, meanwhile, has bigger issues on his plate, as his failing grade in organic chemistry puts him at risk of being kicked out of the honors program.

'Weeds' – 5th season finale (10PM, Showtime)
'Dance Your Ass Off' – 1st season finale (10PM, Oxygen)
'The T.O. Show' – Everyone heads to Vegas to celebrate Mo's upcoming wedding (10PM, VH1)
'CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock' – Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Brad Paisley perform (8PM, ABC)
'The Soup Presents: Duck! TV's Most Dysfunctional Couples' – Surprise – not – the Gosselins are among the couples (10PM, E!)

'XXIX Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremonies'
(8PM, NBC)
NBC is planning more than 3,000 hours of coverage of the XXIX Summer Olympics on the tube and Internet, and it all begins with tonight's opening ceremonies -- featuring more than 10,000 performers -- at the National Stadium in Beijing.

Everything, in fact, is souped up for these international games, from the amount of coverage and the quality of the technology NBC will use to capture it (mini HD cams will be strapped to athletes for up close and personal shots, for example) to new events (BMX racing and the women's steeplechase among them) and the line-up of superstars competing, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the U.S. men's basketball team; U.S. swimmer Dara Torres, who's already won nine medals as she heads into her fifth Olympics; and American swimmer Michael Phelps, who earned six gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens.

All in all, this is one stretch of reality programming worthy of your coach potato hours this summer.

'Secret Life of the American Teenager'
(8PM, ABC Family)
It happens tonight: While pregnant teen Amy has been dealing with her impending unplanned parenthood for weeks now, she finally lets Mama Juergens, aka '80s teen queen Molly Ringwald, in on the news.

Ringwald has prior on-screen experience with the unplanned pregnancy thang: she starred as a teen mom in the 1988 flick 'For Keeps.' But whether or not she'll be understanding about band geek daughter Amy's sitch remains to be seen. After all, Anne's got problems of her own, namely her wandering hubby, and she's not likely to be pleased about the fact that Amy has taken five episodes -- er, several weeks -- to let her know she's gonna be a grandma.

Fans of ABC Family's surprise summer hit should be pleased, however, about the network's decision to order 13 more episodes of the show. The mama drama, uh, drama, will continue to air new episodes through September, with the newly-ordered batch of installments set to kick off in January.

'Pam: Girl on the Loose'
(Sun., 10PM, E!) series premiere
Girl? That ship sailed a while ago. Loose? Well ...

Anyway, Pam Anderson insists in the set-up of her new series that it's a "documentary," not a "reality" show, but those who regularly tune in for the celebreality fare that populates much of the line-up on networks like E! and VH1 will certainly not find 'Pam' out of place. In other words, it is so a reality show.

In the opener, Anderson plans a massive yard sale to get rid of years of clutter, and sets a couple of ground rules, including the one about viewers never seeing her childrens' faces on the air (a deal the paparazzi have not agreed to, clearly).

We're guessing that's not why most viewers would watch the show, anyway, as the Playboy and 'Baywatch' star isn't nearly as modest about showing off her own face, as well as various body parts south of that.

'Doctor Who'
(9PM, SCI FI) 4th season finale
Enjoy this appointment viewing with the Doctor, for it's the last regular season episode we'll see until 2010.

Oh, there'll be specials -- the annual Christmas installment this year, as well as four specials in 2009. But star David Tennant has kept fans guessing about his future as the titular time traveler, with rumors suggesting the 2010 season may be his last.

Again, all the more reason to savor this season ender, the second of a two-parter, in which the Doctor and the TARDIS are in Dalek-driven jeopardy.

Former companion Rose (Billie Piper), her ex-boyfriend Mickey and 'Torchwood' hero Jack Harkness are on the scene to help, but their presence isn't going to be enough to keep the good Doctor unscathed in the end ...

'Hopkins'
(10PM, ABC)
You say you want some real-life drama?

It's doesn't get any more real or dramatic than this series, conceived as a reality TV companion to 'Grey's Anatomy,' which closes out its six-episode summer run with a episode packed with 911 excitement.

First up, a first-year surgical resident is reeling from a mistake that ended with serious consequences, while a mother worries about the possible consequences of her especially complicated heart surgery.

Meanwhile, in the neonatal unit, a young mother and the staff keep vigil over the mom's premature baby, and, in the finale's most incredible case, the staff works overtime to secure a new kidney for one patient, leading to a wild, bi-coastal organ swap that will involve three couples and three organs.

'Eureka'
(9PM, SCI FI) 3rd season premiere
A crazed robot has just escaped, while the citizens of Eureka are still trying to deal with that metal-eating bacteria that was floating through the town's air at the end of last season. As Sheriff Jack Carter would say, that can't be good.

Then again, when are things ever calm in Eureka, that quirky little hamlet populated by genius -- and some might say "mad" -- scientists? With Jack busily trying to maintain law and some semblance of order in the face of the on-the-lam robot and the weird germs, a woman known as "The Fixer" is sent in to help clean up the Global Dynamics mess.

Of course, Eureka being Eureka, anyone known as a 'fixer' is probably going to end up creating a few new messes along the way.

Here are AOL Television's top picks for the week.

Heroes (Mon., 9PM ET, NBC) 1st season finale
A drama about heroes needs one super ending; this one goes "boom." All the characters, who started the year spread out across the world, come together in New York City to try to stop Sylar from wreaking nuclear havoc. Is anyone else geeking out over a possible X-Men-style showdown between the good guys and the villain? And no doubt this season will end with a cliffhanger that'll keep us drooling until fall.

Dancing With the Stars (Tue., 9PM ET, ABC) 4th season finale
It's no surprise that two of the final three contestants are athletes. You really need stamina and strength to get through so many weeks of waltzing, jiving and cha-cha-cha-ing. My pick to win, though, has to be Apolo Ohno. Who knew an Olympic speed skater would be such a passionate dancer? His performances always exhibit flair and youth. He and his cute-as-a-button partner Julianne Hough should sail away with the trophy.

Here are AOL Television's top picks of the week.

The King of Queens (Mon., 9PM ET, CBS) series finale
Another "fat husband, hot wife" sitcom bites the dust. What, does that only leave According to Jim? Guess the genre wore itself out. The King of Queens was probably the best of the lot, thanks to a genuinely funny cast. In the finale, Doug (Kevin James) wants a divorce after nine years, but Carrie (Leah Remini) thinks they can still save their marriage by adopting a child. Meanwhile, dad Arthur's wedding to Ava doesn't go as planned.

Gilmore Girls (Tue., 8PM ET, The CW) series finale
Two best friends who happen to be mother and daughter: that was the premise of this show when it first premiered and it still holds true seven years later. I'm sad to see the Gilmores go, but ending with Rory's graduation from Yale seems only fitting. Our Girls have truly grown up. The finale sees Rory getting an intriguing job offer -- and meeting hero Christiane Amanpour. Luke goes into overdrive to organize a celebration, which provokes Lorelai to do something unexpected.

Here are AOL Television's top picks for every day of the week. Get more TV recommendations here.

Thank God You're Here (Mon., 9PM ET, NBC) series premiere
Confession: I miss Whose Line Is It Anyway? What can I say, I like improv. That's why I'm excited for the premiere of this new improv show, hosted by David Alan Grier. Four celebs don costumes and play out scenes they know nothing about. In the first episode, Wayne Knight is a medical quack, Bryan Cranston a randy rock star, Joel McHale a clueless archaelogist and Jennifer Coolidge a ditzy pageant queen. Then, judge Dave Foley crowns one the best performer of the night.

Dog the Bounty Hunter (Tue., 9PM ET, A&E) 4th season premiere
Much happened to Duane "Dog" Chapman in 2006. Last May, he married business partner Beth a day after daughter Barbara died in a car crash. In September, he was arrested for bounty hunting in Mexico, where it is illegal. His request not to be extradited was denied, so he too will have his day in court. Despite all of this, Dog is back and better than ever. In the premiere, he personally takes on the case of a female fugitive after learning she shares the same birthdate as his late daughter.

Before American Idol totally takes over the landscape next week when the top 24 start "singing," lots of stuff is happening on, you know, the rest of television. Jack Bauer's on for two hours tonight, while a new season of The Amazing Race revs up Sunday. Here are AOL Television's picks of the week.

24 (Mon., 8PM, Fox)
Seriously, where do 24 presidents find their awful advisors? Monster.com? In particular, the Palmer brothers need a better headhunter. In season two, David Palmer's chief of staff, Mike Novick, organized the Cabinet to use the 25th amendment and declare him unfit for office. Now, Wayne Palmer's chief of staff, Tom Lennox, and vice president, Noah Daniels, are conspiring to enact tougher security measures -- without Palmer's approval. Just goes to show, only Jack Bauer can be trusted.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Tue., 8PM, USA)
Maybe dogs get stressed out, just like us. They have to replace children and spouses for many owners, look good as celebrities' accessories and perform well at dog shows like Westminster. Next thing you know, we'll want them to attend college. It must be overwhelming. Consider the award-winning whippet named Bohem C'est La Vie, who escaped from her cage after Westminster last year. The police, psychics and group prayers couldn't find her. Hey, even pups need vacation time, too

Maui Fever (8PM, MTV)
I love 'Laguna Beach.' So much so, I even love its spawn. The ditzy models of '8th and Ocean' grew on me, and I fully expect to become completely addicted to this sun and surf reality drama. The show will follow seven young Maui residents who, according to MTV, spend "their days sunning and their nights partying with no rules and no one to answer to." Can TV really get any better than that?