Actors give boost to ‘Still Standing’
Except for football, CBS owns Monday night.
On “Still Standing,” at 8, Judy’s addled sister Linda is having man issues — nothing new.
But Mark Addy and Jami Gertz as parents Bill and Judy make this very conventional family sitcom funnier than it deserves to be.
A merciful god would have canceled “Listen Up” by now. The Jason Alexander sitcom, at 8:30, is one more sign of the power of the “Seinfeld” curse. And this is painfully unimaginative, compared to the oddball failures of his former co-stars Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Tonight, Alexander’s blustering sportswriter is upset when he’s upstaged at a school assembly. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young makes a cameo appearance.
“Everybody Loves Raymond,” at 9, no doubt will be dealing with the comic consequences of having Frank and Marie living under the same roof with Robert and Amy. Why that took two whole episodes to set up is another question.
Tonight’s episode is called “Angry Sex” and finds Ray worried that Debra’s fight with Marie will ruin his plans.
“Two and a Half Men,” at 9:30, is funniest when Charlie’s party-hearty lifestyle conflicts with his attempts to do right by straight brother Alan and nephew Jake. Tonight, he sleeps with Jake’s teacher.
Finally, on “CSI: Miami,” at 10, someone is thrown under a bus. Unfortunately, on this show, that’s a literal expression.
Highlights
“The Benefactor,” ABC at 10: Basketball is the game — no surprise since the titular millionaire, Mark Cuban, owns an NBA team.
“Renovate My Family,” Fox at 8: Last week the makeover team surprised the Blankenships, an Atlanta-based family of five who lost their house in a fire. This week they get to see the new home that the team built for them in seven days.
“Fear Factor,” NBC at 8: Six women have to escape from restraints attached to a helicopter speeding over a lake, as well as eat something from the ‘“Fear Factor’s Road Kill Cafe.”
“Monday Night Football,” ABC at 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens.
“Las Vegas,” NBC at 9: Sam chases after “replacement lobsters” when a truckload for a very important wedding is stolen. Meanwhile Danny and Mike try to solve the crime.
“American Experience,” KSPS at 9: Filmmaker David Grubin’s documentary “RFK” explores how Robert Kennedy’s older brother’s assassination changed him into a leader.
“Everwood,” WB at 9: OK, we’re taking this one out of Family Fare tonight, because, well the title is “The Birds and the Batteries.” Dr. Andy finds himself at a loss over what to do when young Delia finds Nina’s vibrator and starts asking questions.
Meanwhile, Ephram attempts to write Amy a love letter.
“LAX,” NBC at 10: Homeland Security reports a “credible threat” that puts the airport staff on high alert, so Harley and Roger must decide whether to notify the public.
Family Fare
“7th Heaven,” WB at 8: Eric is approached by a young pregnant girl for help in finding a family to adopt her baby. And Lucy teaches her first sex-education class.
There may be some kind of point to this episode, perhaps.
Cable Cast
“American Splendor” (2003), HBO at 8: Paul Giamatti and comic book creator Harvey Pekar star in the arthouse favorite about — Harvey Pekar.
“Plain Truth,” Lifetime at 9: Mariska Hargitay of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” plays a lawyer defending an Amish girl accused of murder.
“Growing Up Gotti,” A&E at 9:30: Matchmaker makes her a match. (A repeat airs at 9.)
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Hot band Franz Ferdinand.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: David Arquette, Michael Phelps and Cake.