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Must See HDTV (October 29th - November 4th)
While the fall sports have taken the center stage, there's still plenty of other content to fill the schedule. Assassin's Creed 3 hits consoles this week, as well as the return of Okami in HD, while indie flicks Safety Not Guaranteed and Ruby Sparks are available on Blu-ray. Comedian Louis CK will take the stage on Saturday Night Live, and a collection of Alfred Hitchcock movies comes home in a new boxed set. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. NBA After a whirlwind summer that saw the Heat complete their quest to win an NBA Championship (despite a lockout-shortened season) and the Olympic team bring home basketball gold medals, it's time for NBA action again. The season officially resumes Tuesday night as the Celtics take on the Heat and the Mavericks face the Lakers on TNT. There's a full slate of other interesting games awaiting including the debut of #1 draft pick Anthony Davis on the Hornets and more. We've got plenty of storylines to follow like Linsanity's move to Houston, Miami's quest to repeat and Dwight Howard joining Kobe, Steve and Pau on the Lakers. (October 30th, TNT, 8PM) Saturday Night Live w/ Louis CK Comedian Louis CK has seen his popularity blow up as of late thanks to his cable show and an internet distributed show that set records. Now he's hosting Saturday Night Live, which should go well, and if it doesn't, then it will provide plenty of material for the next season of his show which is scheduled to air in 2014. (November 3rd, NBC, 11:30PM) Alabama/LSU college football Last year Alabama LSU played in the regular season before meeting again in the championship game, and while that seems less likely to occur this time around it's still an SEC matchup worth keeping an eye on. Currently ranked first and fifth, respectively, in the BCS it will be one of the key matchups this season and provides an opportunity for LSU to redeem itself for last year's losses -- not that Nick Saban and Alabama will make doing that easy. (November 3rd, CBS, 8PM)
Must See HDTV (October 22nd - 28th)
While baseball's postseason moves on to its final round, football is just hitting its stride and NBA preseason action is just beginning to get interesting. This week Blade Runner gets yet another HD home release, there's one more presidential debate, and on Friday the maker of Pushing Daisies returns for a one-off / backdoor pilot attempt called Mockingbird Lane -- check out a teaser after the break. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. I, Robot (3D) A 3D Blu-ray release isn't uncommon these days, however I, Robot has a fresh twist: it wasn't in 3D in theaters, ever. Fox has made the interesting decision of converting the flick in post and releasing a 3D version exclusively for the home. Fans of the 2004 Will Smith flick can snag a $24.99 Blu-ray 3D set, but if you pre-ordered at Comic-Con, it comes with a bust of the robot character, Sonny. We'll have to wait and see if this trend takes off (Fox says it has more titles in the pipeline), or if people prefer the standard original releases. ($24.99 on Amazon) Forza Horizon The Forza series has brought its brand of sim racing to Xbox consoles for several generations, but this latest version takes all of its underlying technology on a trip to the arcade side of town. You won't be doing so much tweaking under the hood this time, but there's still a healthy selection of cars plus options for night and off road racing to keep you interested. Joystiq was impressed enough by its "massive toy chest of hyper-accurate Hot Wheels" to give it four out of five stars, racing fans can check out a demo on Xbox Live now. ($59.99 on Amazon) World Series Baseball fans, it all comes down to this. For the championship in 2012 the Detroit Tigers will face TBD in an epic battle that kicks off Wednesday night. Either St. Louis or San Francisco will be representing the National League in the World Series, but we'll have to wait until tonight's game to know which one. The days for the games are already locked in however, so clear your schedule as needed.
Must See HDTV (October 15th - 21st)
We've pretty much exhausted the high profile fall premieres for now, but there still presidential debates and baseball playoff action to be had. Also, while we have not moved so far in the future that we've reached the date Marty McFly went to in Back to the Future Part II (that's in 2015, perhaps by then people will stop reposting photoshopped images), we have reached the data Avatar is available at retail on Blu-ray 3D. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Avatar (3D) It's taken a couple of years, but Avatar is finally widely available on Blu-ray 3D after being tied up as a Panasonic pack-in exclusive. The bad news? It's not the Extended Collector's Edition, so if you want 3D and extras your wait may continue. Otherwise, James Cameron's special effects should be enough to thrill the eyes of anyone that snagged a 3DTV in the last few years and is looking for a good demo disc. ($24.99 on Amazon) MLB Playoffs We have reached the league championship series and, assuming both series need some extra games, should be in for excellent baseball all week. The Yankees have lost Derek Jeter for the postseason, but are by no means done... unless their bats stay as cold as they've been. In the National League the Giants and the Cardinals are duking it out, we'll see if the 2-3-2 home field format plays into the outcome for either team, after the Giants took three on the road in the last round. NBA Preseason It's finally time for hoops again, and after some overseas exhibitions you can watch NBA teams work their way back into shape as they take each other on this week. If you're a basketball fan you probably love TNT's Thursday night broadcasts, and the first preseason one features the Celtics and the Nets at 8PM.
Must See HDTV (October 8th - 14th)
The fall premiere season is hardly over, with CW taking the wraps off of if its new comic book adaptation, Arrow (preview video embedded after the break) while NBC and ABC unveil Chicago Fire and Nashville. Of course, some old favorites are returning too, and web series Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog is making its TV debut Tuesday night. Oh, and some little flick called E.T. is coming home on Blu-ray for the first time. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. The Walking Dead After season two's exciting finale we are once again all in on AMC's zombie apocalypse series. Fans of the comic are looking forward to seeing characters like Michonne and The Governor, but first our ragtag band of survivors will apparently try to take control of a prison. Should be a piece of cake. Check out the season three trailer embedded after the break and set your DVR for Sunday night. (October 14th, AMC, 9PM) Prometheus The sci-fi movie that has produced more divisive opinions than any other in 2012 finally hits Blu-ray this week. Complete with a 3D edition and requisite iPad companion app, the hook is promises of extra scenes and background information that may help fill in this story. Unfortunately, unlike one of director Ridley Scott's other flicks, Blade Runner, the extras aren't smoothly integrated as an XL-sized director's cut, at least not in this edition. Still, if you dig it there should be plenty to keep you watching once the movie is over, and while it's playing the visual effects will entertain. ($24.99 on Amazon) The League Whether you're as obsessed with fantasy football as we are or not (hopefully not, it's just unhealthy at some point) this series about a group of friends and their league is one of the most consistently funny shows of the last few seasons. Last season ended with the Shiva trophy getting a viking funeral at sea, and while we have on idea how they'll top that, we suspect Rafi will be involved somehow. Of course, it's not the only show on FX Thursday night, as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns ahead of it this week, with shows from Russell Brand and W Kamau Bell bringing up the rear. (October 11th, FX, 10:30PM)
Must See HDTV (October 1st - 7th)
We're still trying to clear our DVRs from last week's flood of fall premieres, but luckily there's only a few brand new shows arriving this week. On the other hand, there are a slew of Blu-ray releases and videogames debuting, so plan your time carefully. Find any new favorites among the shows making their debut last week? Let us know in the comments below and check out the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. NBA 2K13 With competitor NBA Live shelved (again) there's only one option for hoops on your console this year, luckily it's a pretty good one. NBA 2K13 has reworked its control scheme (again) and listed Jay-Z as its executive producer to promise some extra flair and a booming soundtrack. We can't wait for the annual rite of popping the game in, taking on our friends online and quickly getting disconnected as the servers get overloaded (again.) ($58.99 on Amazon for PS3 and Xbox 360) 30 Rock One of NBC's best comedies finally returns this week with Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy, Tracy Jordan and all the rest trying to put together their sketch comedy series each week. We have no idea what this season has in store but Tina Fey and the rest of the writers rarely disappoint. Now, just bring back Community and we'll be happy NBC. (October 4th, 8PM, NBC)
Must See HDTV (September 24th - 30th)
We are officially in the fall premiere season. From freshly-minted Emmy winners like Homeland to newbies like Last Resort, 666 Park Avenue and Elementary, the prime time schedule is suddenly full of shows jostling for our attention. Add in a full slate of movie releases, football games and even WNBA playoffs, well, and our DVRs have their work cut out for them. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. The Avengers One of the summer's biggest hits is here on disc, in two discs Blu-ray / DVD combo pack (no digital copy) and four disc Blu-ray 3D edition (with digital copy). We got a chance to check it out early and there's certainly enough extras here to keep the fans happy, along with a slick and fast-loading menu system. We did not get an opportunity to try out the Second Screen app yet, but with the price of the four disc pack down to $25, we figure most fans will getting thier money's worth -- unless of course they're waiting for the delayed Marvel Cinematic Universe edition. (September 25th, $24.99 on Amazon) Last Resort We're sure there's more to this military drama than just trying to be the next Lost, but when you start off stranded on a fictional island then throw in conspiracy theories and a submarine, our magnets start to tingle. From the trailer (embedded after the break)it certainly has an interesting plot, as the crew of a US military vessel is fired upon by its own country, and subsequently goes rogue in an attempt to find out why and get back home, but we've seen many of these mysterious shows come and go very quickly -- it will need to find its own hook, and fast. (September 27th, ABC, 8PM) Louie As we welcome in a slew of new shows, we say goodbye to one for now. Comedian Louis CK's show was also an award winner last night, and it was well deserved. After a Rocky-style take on the late night wars the show wraps up its season this week with what appears to be a New Year's themed episode. If you haven't checked it out yet and are a fan of CK's comedy style, this is probably the time. (September 28th, FX, 10:30PM)
Must See HDTV (September 17th - 23rd)
Football is officially in swing, and this week we've got a couple of big college matchups with LSU taking on Auburn and Michigan vs. Notre Dame. Thursday is also one to keep an eye out for with Cam Newton taking on the Giants in prime time, NBC rolling out its usual slate of shows and a few season finales from FX. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventure After Star Wars last year, Lucasfilm is back with another restored series in HD, this time Indiana Jones. Consisting of all three movies and another, completely unrelated flick plus lots of extras, it should be quite an experience for the fans. Check out the announce post here for more details on the enhancements, or check out the trailer embedded after the break.. ($65 on Amazon) The Mob Doctor Coming in tonight after the season premiere of Bones, we're not sure if this show will stick around any longer than The Chicago Code did, but we'll give it a shot. Centered around a surgeon who somehow ends up paying off a mob debt with some off the books surgery, we're just happy to see PJ from My Boys back on TV -- if Jim Gaffigan drops by we're in for the duration. (September 17th, Fox, 9PM)
Must See HDTV (September 10th - 16th)
With football and new TV series premieres, we're ready to call it officially fall. Keep an eye out for brand news shows like NBC's Go On and The New Normal, as well as returning favorites like Glee on Fox and the various talent show competitions. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Monday Night Football Football is back, and it's Monday night, so you know what that means. Hank Williams Jr. is no longer a part of the festivities but the action hasn't changes. We've got a doubleheader lined up with Bengals/Ravens followed by Raiders/Chargers, so wrap up those bedtime stories and get in front of the TV. Sons of Anarchy It may not rise to the level of Breaking Bad or Justified but Sons of Anarchy is one of our other favorite cable TV series, and its new season gets started this week. SAMCRO is dealing with conflict from within and, judging from the previews, out side the club as well. We'll see how the addition of Jimmy Smits to the cast affects this show. (September 11th, FX, 10PM) Weeds At long last, the Showtime series comes to an end this weekend. Some might say it should've wrapped up a couple of seasons ago, but if you're still following the Botwin clan and their assortment of friends, enemies and drug-dealing associates it's time to say goodbye. (September 16th, Showtime, 10PM)
Must See HDTV (September 3rd - 9th)
After college football got its season under way last week, now it's the professional's turn. But the NFL isn't all we have for you, while a light TV schedule is supplemented by a long list of high profile Blu-ray sets arriving this week. Of course, none of them are bigger than the 32-disc Harry Potter collection pictured above, check after the break for some video of what's inside. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Harry Potter Wizard's Collection Fans of the glasses-wearing kid wizard can invest in the massive Harry Potter Wizard's Collection Blu-ray boxed set this weekend, which arrives packing 31 discs in its collector's edition casing. 3D, never before seen bonus clips, and digital copies -- it's all in there, and all your for the low, low price of $350 or so. Whether or not you're willing to shell out that kind of cash for all eight movies, there's a video look at the set after the break as some of the series' stars take turns unboxing it. ($344.99 on Amazon, September 7th) NFL Our fantasy leagues are drafted, our pick 'em leagues are registered for (you're registered for ours, right?) and the beer is getting cold. It's finally time for the NFL to return to us, and it all starts Wednesday night with kickoff festivities leading up to an NFC East grudge match between the Giants and Cowboys. Of course, that's just a teaser for Sunday's action, and finally the first Monday Night Football of the year next week. It doesn't get better than this. (September 5th, NBC, 8:30PM) 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame For basketball, the Hall of Fame covers both pro and collegiate ranks, and for 2012 it's inducting a class with members like Reggie Miller, Don Nelson, Katrina McClain, Phil Knight, Ralph Sampson, Chet Walker and Jamaal Wilkes. NBA TV is also producing a documentary about Reggie Miller that will air Tuesday night before he joins his sister Cheryl in the hall. The presentation airs Friday night, hoops fans can use it as a crutch between the Olympics / summer league festivities and the regular season which is still several weeks away. (September 7th, NBA TV, 7:30PM)
Must See HDTV (August 27th - September 2nd)
This is it, the crossover where summer and fall programming mix. College football is back in action, and we say good bye to some of our favorite summer TV shows like Breaking Bad. TV fans should also keep an eye out on the disc releases, as many shows boxed sets are hitting shelves before the new season begin airing soon. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Breaking Bad This weekend the first half of the fifth and final season of AMC's Breaking Bad comes to a close, before viewers wait for the second half to air in summer 2013. You won't find any spoilers here, but the path Walter White has taken has certainly arrived at places few would have predicted when the show began. The only question now is how many surprises are left before it all comes to an end. (September 2, AMC, 10PM) Doctor Who Also fresh this weekend is a new series of Doctor Who episodes, kicking off with Asylum of the Daleks. The better news as of late has been BBC America closing the gap in airing new episodes and that DirecTV is carrying the channel in HD at last. If you can't wait for new shows, check out the Pond Life preview clip embedded after the break. (September 1, BBC America, 9PM) College Football While preseason week four of the NFL season is skippable pigskin action, the return of college football this weekend will have us planted firmly in front of our HDTVs. The Hawaii/USC and Michigan/Alabama matchups Saturday night should start the season off with a bang and we can't wait. Looking for your favorite team in the listings? We've got many of the nationwide broadcasts covered, but reader Jose Perez reminds us of this comprehensive TV schedule at LSUFootball.net that should let you know who is playing where all season long. (August 30th - September 1st)
Must See HDTV (August 20th - 26th)
Welcome to the summer doldrums between the Olympics, and later in the fall when new shows premiere and the box office hits get their home releases. There are a few things to keep an eye out for with some premieres and finales, plus a series of Disney combo packs on Blu-ray. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. WarGames The 1983 hit starring Matthew Broderick as a young hacker who takes the US to the brink of World War III is finally here on Blu-ray. Judging by the descriptions we're not seeing a lot in the way of extras above and beyond the 2008 25th Anniversary release on DVD, but we'll take what we can get and hey, it's currently on sale for less than $13. ($12.86 on Amazon) The Newsroom Already renewed for a second season, Aaron Sorkin's drama about the daily life of a fictional cable news channel wraps up season one this week. Whether you think the show's style is smug and self serving or witty and sophisticated, there's at least been plenty of time in the ten episodes to make up your mind. Reportedly internet trolling will play a big part in the season finale, not that we'd at all be familiar with that phenomenon. (August 26th, HBO, 10PM) The Inbetweeners Since Skins did so well in its transition from the UK to the US, MTV is apparently trying again with The Inbetweeners. A series focused on a group of high school boys making the transition to adulthood, it seems hard to see this following the path of The Office and not other ill fated shows. Of course, the US version of Being Human wasn't all bad, so maybe there's a chance? (August 20th, MTV, 10:30PM)
Must See HDTV (August 13th - 19th)
With the Olympics finally concluded, it's back to our regular programming. While that includes a number of premieres this week including such highlights as Oh Sit!, a musical chairs game show (really), Stars Earn Stripes and BBC America's first original series Copper, there's also a long list of anticipated Blu-ray releases like Shaft and this weekend, The Hunger Games. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Jaws Just in time for Shark Week, Steven Spielberg's classic Jaws is here on Blu-ray looking and sounding better than ever. There's a bunch of special features included but the main attraction is that massive reason to never, ever go in the water again. Check out a quick clip about the restoration embedded after the break. ($17.99 on Amazon) The Closer / Major Crimes Tonight as The Closer ends with star Kyra Sedgwick leaving the show, Major Crimes picks up the baton as Mary McDonnell (of Battlestar Galactica)'s Captain Raydor takes over the unit. We'll see if the changeover happens smoothly enough to keep this police procedural humming, but there seems little reason to believe it won't. (9 & 10 PM, TNT, August 13th) The Raid: Redemption This Indonesian martial arts flick contains some of the hardest hitting action sequences we've seen and definitely counts as a must-see for fans of hand to hand combat, currently rocking an 85 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Following a police unit trapped in a criminal-infested building on an ill-fated attempt to capture a gang leader, it doesn't have the largest budget of 2012 or the most plot development, but who needs those anyway? If you're still unsure about this one, check after the break for a featurette on the film's score as well as a claymation remake of many key scenes. ($19.99 on Amazon)
Must See HDTV (August 6th - 12th)
This week continues to be all about the London 2012 Olympics, with most shows diving out of the way of NBC's ratings juggernaut. We do have a few premiers and several season finales though, so give the schedule a close look to make sure you don't miss a favorite's wrap-up. Also on deck is a healthy slate of preseason football, while we've got most of the national broadcasts listed, you'll want to keep an eye out for your local team. Also worth noting? A slew of flicks hitting Blu-ray this week including personal favorites Clue and Adventures in Babysitting. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Olympics For a second week in a row, it's all about the Olympics, in one way or another. Either you're watching and keeping up with early starting schedules from London or you're not watching, and your favorite summer shows are on hiatus. No matter which side you're on, things wrap up this weekend with the Closing Ceremony, although not soon enough for NBC to try to slipstream two sitcom premieres off of the Games' popularity with Go On and Animal Practice. (All Week, NBC & NBCOlympics.com) Shark Week Discovery's Shark Week kicks off its 25th year Sunday night with two specials,including Air Jaws Apocalypse and Impossible Shot. This time around the big hook is internet integration since it's hosted by "internet celebrity" Philip DeFranco, has tie-ins with Discovery's iPad app for second screen info, and encourages voting on the Facebook / Twitter page to determine what the robotic Sharkzilla will crush next. Whatever, as long as they bring the sharks, we'll always be there. (August 12th, Discovery, 9PM) Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell Produced by Chris Rock, this comedy series has been pushed as hard by FC as NBC is pushing its new premieres for the week, but with Chris Rock as a producer and the network's track record (Louie, Wilfred -- we'll forget Brand X and the Charlie Sheen show) we actually might check it out. Six episodes long, its run begins this week broadcasting Bell's commentary and sketch comedy -- check out a quick behind the scenes look embedded after the break.
Must See HDTV (July 31st - August 5th)
London 2012 Olympics If TV broadcast tape delay and streaming restricted to pay-TV subscribers isn't entirely ruining your experience, the first week of the 2012 Games has started off with a bang. There's plenty of sporting action to go around and the world records have already started falling. Live coverage is early in the day for US time zones, while NBC is keeping some of the more anticipated events off TV and only online until its prime time airing later. For viewers we have a few tips, like using Google to search Olympics + [sport] to get a minute by minute schedule of the events in your local time so you don't miss 'em on the live stream. Also, check your cable or satellite provider, most have expanded options to help you catch all the sports, while Cox and DirecTV are doing the multiview thing, Comcast has added Olympics specifics filters to its remote apps, and Time Warner Cable has added more channels to its streaming iPad app. (All week, NBC channels and online) Total Recall (Mind-Bending Edition) The Paul Verhoeven / Arnold Schwarzenegger classic is back on Blu-ray and should be better looking this time around. So, why opt for this one instead of a ticket to the remake this weekend? Beyond the obvious reasons, it's also cheaper, currently listed at $7.99 on Amazon. ($7.99 on Amazon) NFL Preseason It's finally time for football again, and while it's just preseason action, we'll be ready to see the Saints take on the Cardinals Sunday night from Canton Ohio. Also worth checking out, the HOF induction ceremony Saturday night as DB Jack Butler, C Dermontti Dawson, DE Chris Doleman, DT Cortez Kennedy, RB Curtis Martin and T Willie Roaf take their place among the other all-time greats. (August 5th, NFL Network, 8PM)
Must See HDTV (July 23rd - 29th)
2012 London Summer Olympics The Summer Olympics kick off this week in London, and you'll want to have your TV, computer and mobile devices at the ready. This time around NBC has made the laudable step of promising every sport will be available for streaming live on the internet, however the Opening Ceremony TV broadcast on Friday will be tape delayed until the evening. Hit the NBCOlympics.com site to sign in with your pay-TV account for streaming access and grab the necessary apps, as well as see full listings for every sport, the action will actually get started on Wednesday with a slew of soccer matches, so make sure you don't miss anything. (All Week, NBC & Online) Star Trek: The Next Generation Season One The full remastered first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation debuts on Blu-ray this week, and as we've seen from the clips and teaser release earlier this year, the quality is top notch. Whether or not the first season of adventures with Picard, Riker, Worf, LaForge and company is worth buying is your decision, although the current Amazon price of $60 for the six-disc set doesn't seem terribly prohibitive. ($59.99 on Amazon) Alphas Last week we said goodbye to one excellent sci fi series in Eureka, and this week one of our new favorites Alphas comes back on the air. An X-Men-style drama focusing on people granted with super abilities of various types teaming up to take on evil doers the plot is familiar but managed to mix things up a little during the first season, we'll see if season two can keep the excitement going. (July 23rd, Syfy, 10PM)
Must See HDTV (July 16th - 22nd)
Eureka The five season run of Syfy's Eureka ends tonight and while we never know quite what to expect from the quirky show, hopefully will wrap things up nicely for the fans. We've tried to glean hints from the title "Just Another Day", but we're coming up empty on predictions. Drop your best guesses in the comments below, and if you're not a regular viewer, this is your last opportunity to check out one of the better sci fi shows on as of late. (June 16th, Syfy, 9PM) John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show While John Oliver is known by many for his Daily Show correspondent pieces and bit part in Community, we'll be tuning in to his line up of stand up comedians as it kicks off a third season this week. The slate is ever changing but the quality is consistent, if you want to laugh you'll give this one a look. (June 20th, Comedy Central 11PM)
Must See HDTV (July 9th - 15th)
Senna This documentary about the life of legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna finally gets a US release on Blu-ray this week. If you haven't already watched it in theaters or on Netflix Watch Instantly then you should (trailer included after the break), as the combo of voiceovers and archived footage create a flick that should reach you whether you're a racing fan or not. The picture quality probably won't blow you away, since it's largely grainy videograbs from three decades ago One note - the US version reportedly only contains the 106 minute theatrical release, if you want the extended cut then you may want to get the UK version instead. ($19.99 on Amazon US) Breaking Bad Season five kicks off Sunday night (presumably without Dish Network) and should be an exciting one for Walter and Jesse. We'll try to avoid spoilers for those who haven't caught up yet (trailer after the break), but it seems safe to assume that this season will include being pursued by the DEA, cooking lots of meth and dealing with various unsavory characters in the drug underworld. We're still having trouble understanding how this is the guy who played the dad on Malcolm in the Middle. (July 15th, AMC, 10PM) The Closer Brenda & crew come back for their final season on TNT, and there's always more murderers to catch. We've heard talks of a spinoff, but if this is it for The Closer then it's been a good run. There's a mole in the department that still needs to be exposed and the threat of lawsuits continues to hang over the division's head which should keep the storylines fresh for the final six episode run that kicks off tonight. (July 9th, TNT, 9PM)
Must See HDTV (July 2nd - 8th)
UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II This weekend Chael Sonnen gets his wish. Most of our wishes don't include being locked in a cage with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but it's the only way for Sonnen to take the belt he's been chasing for the last few years, including a loss in their first title fight in 2010. While we'll be interested to see if the "best fighter on the planet" Silva can extend his 14-fight winning streak, that's not the only fight on the card as Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin square off for the third time as light heavyweights. Plus, unlike other sports, UFC isn't purely tied to subscription pay-TV, so you can watch on YouTube, Roku, Xbox 360, PC or mobile device if you'd like. Check out a video preview for the fight embedded after the break. (July 7th, PPV, 10PM ET) Tour de France Cycling's biggest race is going on all month on Versus, oops, we mean NBC Sports Network / NBC. While we usually try to avoid getting up early for anything other than Formula 1, fans of the sport can get their stage action at 8AM daily (with a few exceptions). Epic hillclimbs, peloton crashes, inevitable accusations of doping, what's not to love? (All week, NBC Sports Network / NBC) Wimbledon Completing the sports trifecta for this week's highlights, Wimbledon action continues after the early rounds last week. Also broadcasting from Europe, Wimbledon is bringing a morning and daytime schedule finishing up with the men's and women's finals on Saturday and Sunday. ESPN has locked up the entire schedule and will be broadcasting it live, including on ESPN 3D. (All week, ESPN / ESPN 3D)
Must See HDTV (June 25th - July 1st)
Louie Comedian Louis CK's offbeat comedy show returns to FX this week for its third season, and while it's not distributed via a PayPal-supported downloadable honor system, we'll watch anyway. The show's been among the funniest selections out there for the last few seasons and we expect it to remain there. The only difference is the packed lineup FX has arranged around it, with fellow returnee Wilfred and new series premieres from Charlie Sheen in Anger Management and Brand X with Russell Brand. (June 28th, FX, 10:30PM) Weeds Nancy Botwin is back (?). After the up and down last few seasons, that statement isn't at interesting as it used to be, but after the cliffhanger finale, we'll tune in to at least see what's going on. Drugs are bad, kids, mmmkay? (July 1st, Showtime, 10PM) XIII We don't point out that ReelzChannel HD is reairing this French / Canadian thriller series from last year because we think it will be good -- we have no idea. We're just pointing it out because we're in it (well, our source code is). Flattery will get you everywhere. (June 29th, ReelzChannel HD, 9PM)
Must See HDTV (June 18th - 24th)
NBA Finals The NBA Finals rolls into week two with two more games in Miami, and Game six sunday night in Oklahoma, assuming the Thunder can score a win or two to keep the series going. So far both sides have lived up to our expectations in creating a competitive series, with any luck we'll see it extended to all seven games before it closes out next week. (Tuesday / Thursday / Sunday, ABC) Futurama After being cancelled and brought back on the air, Futurama is ready to kick off its seventh season on Comedy Central. The Planet Express crew is up to its usual misadventures, and a quick preview of the premiere episode (embedded after the break) shows Bender playing with his kid, hopefully this turns out better than the last time his mini-me's nearly destroyed the world. (June 20th, 10PM, Comedy Central) The Newsroom Aaron Sorkin is back with a new TV show as The Newsroom premieres Sunday night, taking a peek at the behind the scenes lives of employees at a fictional cable news channel. Jeff Daniels is the lead, an anchor forced to contend with a new team after his co-anchor starts a rival program and takes much of the existing staff with him. Hmm, sounds kind of ridiculous if you ask us. Check out a video trailer after the break, although we're pretty sure Sports Night, The West Wing and Studio 60 fans have already circled their calendars. (June 24th, HBO, 10PM)
