poker

(S01E06) The people who don't like this show anymore (after the pilot) don't know what they're talking about. Are they expecting some sort of big conspiracy plotline? Something supernatural? A big mystery to be unveiled at the end? Do they expect something darker because of the bank robbery/flashback device the show is using? Do they expect the entire show to be set in the bank? They're watching the wrong show. This is a character-driven drama, period, and a damn good one.

They're into hour two of the hostage drama (in the flashbacks), and we get to see how they came to decide who should be the hostage released from the bank...

• At 7:30, ESPN has coverage of the Western & Southern Financial tennis tournament.
• At 8, FOX has the two hour season finale of So You Think You Can Dance.
• CBS has a new Rock Star: Supernova at 8.
• NBC has a new, two hour America's Got Talent at 8, with the final performances.
• ABC Family has the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at 8.
• At 9, Discovery has a new Mythbusters.
• HGTV has a new I Want That! Tech Toys at 9, followed by a new Urban Outsiders.
• The Travel Channel has a new episode of the Professional Poker Tour, also at 9.
• At 10, A&E has a new Criss Angel Mindfreak.
• FX has a new 30 Days at 10.
• There's a new Blade on Spike at 10.
• Also at 10: Bravo has a new Project Runway.

(S01E10) The two anchors that do the 2am West Coast update are stuck in Pittsburgh because of a snowstorm, which means Dan and Casey have to give up their night in Atlantic City to do the show. So they put together a staff poker game.

Meanwhile, Natalie is mad at Jeremy for ditching her the other night and playing tennis with a movie star, and she plans on making him pay when they play poker. Dana confronts Sally about the way she's going to produce the 2am update, and Isaac thinks he's shrinking.

If you're like me, you go through these phases where you get obsessed with a certain TV show. Maybe it's because you've never seen it before, maybe you haven't seen it in years, or maybe it's summer and you're looking for good things to watch. Below are five shows that I currently cannot get enough of, and why.

1. Lingo (GSN). Like Joel and Rich, I'm a game show geek. And while I watched this one here and there a few years ago, I've been watching it every single night lately. It's not a great show, but I like the simplicity of it, and Chuck Woolery is a quirky host. I still don't get the co-host though (Stacey a couple of years ago, now it's Shandi). Oh, she's hot and friendly, but what exactly is her job? She sits in front with a keyboard and controls the board? I doubt it. Many times you'll see her say something like "let's start with an N..." and she'll press a key, but the letter has already shown up on the board! So what exactly is her purpose? At least Vanna actually turns letters.

I do like the way Shandi says "Lingo balls" though.

1. Baseball: This sport was really made for television. It's slower than other team sports, perfect for those warm summer nights, a cold drink in your hand, maybe a breeze coming in the window as you watch. And unlike other team sports, the pace gives the viewer time to figure out their own strategies for the game (hockey and basketball are too fast, and football has too many players doing too many things at once for the average Joe).

• At 8, ABC repeats the two hour premiere of The One, then has a new episode.
• CBS has a new Rock Star: Supernova at 8.
• NBC has a new, two hour America's Got Talent at 8.
• FOX has a new, two hour So You Think You Can Dance at 8.
• Also at 8: TCM has two suspense movies: On Dangerous Ground, with Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino, followed by Killer's Kiss.
• At 9 on CNN, Larry King has another hard-hitting interview, this time with Jon Bon Jovi.
• Discovery has a new Mythbusters at 9.
• The Travel Channel has a new episode of Professional Poker Tour at 9.
• Also at 9: A&E has two new eps of Inked.
• At 10, Food Network has a new Good Eats.
• Spike has a new Blade at 10.
• Also at 10: Bravo has a new Project Runway.

• EW picks the 100 Top Entertainment Sites. TV Squad isn't listed, but I'm sure that's just because they lost some of the info in a computer glitch, or maybe one writer thought another was already covering it. Right? Yeah, that's the reason.
• James Woods, starring in a new CBS show this fall, is also a very serious poker player.
• Who is the best actor when it comes to guest star roles on TV? Ken Tucker picks Charles Durning. Who would you pick?
• This sounds like a topic for The Five: The Most Annoying TV Catchphrases of All-Time!
• EW readers would love to see Homefront on DVD.

• Lots of new stuff tonight. FOX has a new Bernie Mac at 8pm, followed by new eps of Malcolm in the Middle and Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy (ugh).
• ABC has the results show of Dancing With The Stars, followed by new eps of Hope and Faith, In Justice, and 20/20.
• CBS has a new Ghost Whisperer at 8, a new Close To Home, and then a new Numb3rs.
• NBC has two new eps of Most Outrageous Moments at 8, and then the premiere ep of The Book of Daniel at 9.
• There are two repeats of Beauty and the Geek on the WB at 8, while UPN has a new WWE Friday Night Smackdown.
• TNT has Remember The Titans at 8, while AMC has the original Halloween and Bravo has Backdraft.
• Emeril cooks Vietnamese food on a new ep of Emeril Live. It's on Food Network at 8.
• Sci-fi fans rejoice! The new seasons of both Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica start tonight at 8.
• At 9, HGTV has a new Double Take, followed by a new FreeStyle.
• On a new ep of Discovery Channels Egypt Untold, they investigate "The Curse of King Tut."
• Also at 9: Lifetime has The Test of Love, with Roma Downey and William Russ.
• Starz has Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30. It's on at 9 too.
• At 10, the Travel Channel has a new Bigfoot ep of Weird Travels. 
• Also at 10: GSN has a new Poker Royale: Celebrities vs. Poker Pros. Players include Mimi Rogers, Paul Darden, Kathy Liebert, and Partrick Warburton.  
• At 10:30, there's a repeat Dinner For Five, with guests Bonnie Hunt, Jason Bateman, Tracey Morgan, and Jeffrey Tambor joining host Jon Favreau.
• At 11, A&E has a new episode of Random 1, while Showtime has boxing.