Friday, May 22, 2009

Don't Forget the Lyrics' worth remembering to see tonight

Summertime Fridays are a dead zone for most networks, but Fox is trying. Tonight, it launches the summer run of "Lyrics." Rock star Meat Loaf teams with his daughter, Pearl Aday, as contestants. A week later, a new scripted show ("Mental") will follow at 8 p.m. Filling the spot tonight, Fox inserts a rerun of the terrific "House" season-opener. When the previous season ended, Amber (Wilson's loved one) had died. It was partly House's fault; now Wilson has quit his job and his friendship. Tonight's patient is the assistant to a hard-driving female executive. House spouts some nonsense (as he tends to) against feminism, while diagnosing her. Tonight's Might-See: "Everybody Hates Chris," 7 and 8 p.m., CW. This clever series -- with Chris Rock narrating a comic version of his boyhood -- has spent its fourth season buried in Friday obscurity. Here's a second chance to catch the start of the season. In the first episode, Chris starts high school in an all-white home room with a bigoted teacher. In the second, he'll help a classmate with home-ec skills, in exchange for being hooked up with a hot girl. Meanwhile, Chris' younger sister Tonya has trouble. In the first episode, she's too blunt while helping at the salon; in the second, she's supposed to take care of a neighbor's fish. Also, their mom is annoyed by the return of Tasha's mother, a talkative ex-con. Other choices include: "Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. This rerun offers a fresh worry for online users: A ghost is stalking young women who use a gaming site. Isn't there some sort of anti-virus for that? "Howie Do It," 7 and 7:30 p.m., NBC. In the first episode, a man with no singing or dancing talent is told he's competing in "Unisexy 5000," to form a new pop group; also, Howie Mandel plays an uncooperative concierge. The second includes a botched magic trick; Criss Angel guests. "Fred Claus" (2007), 7 p.m., HBO. Who knew that Santa Claus had a self-centered brother named Fred? He's played convincingly by Vince Vaughn, in a pleasant-enough comedy that has Paul Giamatti as Santa. "Unforgiven" (1992), 7-10 p.m., History Channel. Clint Eastwood directed this cowboy classic and plays a former gunman, trying one last job. The film is slow at times, but beautifully crafted. It won four Oscars (best picture, director and editing, plus Gene Hackman in support) and was nominated for five more. There's great work from Morgan Freeman, Frances Fisher, Richard Harris and more. "Flashpoint," 8 p.m., CBS. This rerun sees a man hold a courtroom captive, while trying to prove he was wrongly convicted."Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. Expensive things are being stolen from a shipping service, in this rerun. Meanwhile, Don loses confidence in the FBI, after a colleague is killed.