therealhousewivesofatlanta

If you've been watching the current season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, you've seen an uptick in the nastiness. Wig-pulling, sniping, one wife referring to another as a monster, bad singing ... It's been a wallow in bad behavior. As shocking as what's been on the air, this news yesterday was shockingly real: A.J. Jewell, the fiance of Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kandi Burruss, died after a parking lot brawl Friday night.

On the show, Kandi is the newest wife (although she was not presently married), and the successful singer/songwriter in the course of this season, she's been struggling with her engagement to A.J. He had six children from a previous relationship, and Kandi's mother has been against her daughter marrying him. Mama even refused to have a picture taken with A.J.

The news that this man has died is truly surprising and sad.

American Idol's choice of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge replacement threw everyone for a loop, even schlubs like me who don't watch the show.

It's not that she's not talented, successful or funny. It's just an odd choice, putting a comedian on the show that takes its goal of crushing losers' dreams on live television so seriously. It would evoke the same reaction from me if they picked Andrew "Dice" Clay as the new judge, if the Diceman was talented, successful or funny.

And besides, why do they need humor and comedy on such an otherwise serious show? There are lots of humorless, vapid and downright boring shows that are crying out for comedic interjection.

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!)

ABC is close to picking up 'Romantically Challenged,' a new comedy series starring Alyssa Mliano.

Also in the news today: Fox confirms Kara DioGuardi will return to 'American Idol,' while CBS reveals its plan for 'Flashpoint.'

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.

The ladies of The Real Housewives of New York City are, needless to say, a colorful bunch. The Bravo franchise seems to have hit its stride, with each cast of Housewives providing their own flavor. But in comparison to Orange County and Atlanta, the ladies of New York seem especially weird. Perhaps it's apropos to their all living in a city with crazy people at every corner, but whatever the case may be, these gals are bonkers.

Sure, the show may just be a well-delivered product of sneaky producers and menacing editors, but somebody's doing something right in bringing out the bizarre nuances of Jill, LuAnn, Alex, Ramona, and Bethenny - although she, of the whipsmart one-liners and catchphrases, seems to be the crowd favorite (judging by ... conversations I've had with people).

Think you know your showmances?

For reality television, love is always in the air. Some shows set out to find it ('The Bachelor,' 'Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire'); it happens spontaneously on others ('The Real World'; 'Survivor').

Think you know floozy flirtations, "scripted-drama" passion? We've got your reality check right here -- take our reality-TV romances quiz.

'The Shield'
(10PM, FX) series finale
It's the show that earned FX its reputation as the home for edgy dramas -- as the HBO of basic cable -- and tonight, seven gritty, violent, corrupt, fantastic seasons come to an end in an episode that's more shocking and heartbreaking than you'll expect.

The question every 'Shield' fan has wondered about for seven seasons -- what will become of complicated Strike Team leader Vic Mackey? -- is answered, and not in the ambiguous 'Sopranos' finale kinda way.

As much as we might want to continue hanging with Vic and the gang for a few more seasons, the finale is as satisfying a wrap-up as loyal fans could hope for.

'The Real Housewives of Atlanta'
(10PM, Bravo) 1st season finale
Will Kim, Sheree and NeNe make up? Will we finally learn the identity of Kim's sugar daddy, "Big Papa"?

We'll guess, in order: hell to the no and not likely, as the first season with the warring, blinged-out housewives of Atlanta comes to an all-too-soon end. The women plan a little soiree that will be their first get together since a round of gossip and backstabbing ended in hard feelings and pitted them against each other.

It'll be a tension-filled affair for sure, not only because of the Kim/NeNe/Sheree mess, but also because it comes on the heels of Sheree's embarrassing fashion show failure.

'Coolio's Rules'
(10PM, Oxygen)
What's cookin' with Coolio? Actually, the Grammy-winning 'Gangsta's Paradise' rapper is cookin', with his own Internet food series and this new reality show, in which the self-proclaimed 'Ghetto Gourmet' tries to launch a catering business and find a new love.

The divorced dad of six also tries some Cosby-esque tough love, enlisting the kids to work in his catering biz, buying them a hooptie and spreading spaghetti on their beds when they skip clean-up duty.

As for his new career and romantic aspirations, Coolio's multi-tasking: 'If I can get a woman to come to my house and get her to eat some of my food, the panties are comin' off.' That must be some spaghetti.