‘Run’s House’ diverges from reality
In the tradition of “The Osbournes,” “Run’s House” (10:30 p.m., MTV) follows the domestic shenanigans of Rev Run (born Joey Simmons) of the legendary rap band Run DMC as he prepares to record and release his first solo album while raising five kids with his wife Justine.
Run’s spirited brood ranges in age from 9 to 22. Should he need help or a cup of sugar, he can always turn to his brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Kimora Simmons, who dwell only a few doors down.
The “Rev” in Rev Run is more than a moniker. Simmons works as a preacher and is seen composing a sermon on a PDA while lounging in an expansive and expensive bathtub.
“Run” begins almost like an offshoot of MTV’s “Sweet 16” franchise when Run’s teenage daughter plans on celebrating her high school graduation in the style of P. Diddy, complete with a glass dance floor laid (at a cost exceeding $10,000) over the Rev’s huge built-in pool, a professional DJ, fireworks display and “goody” bags for 200 guests, with each containing an iPod.
Rev disabuses her of such ostentatious notions and seems proud when the party sets him back “only” $6,000 or so.
“The Osbournes” was supposed to prove that the reality genre had killed the sitcom. But “Run” demonstrates how scripted comedy has returned the favor.
Despite several promises to “keep it real,” the scenes between Simmons and his wife are as genuine (or as fake) as in any episode of “According to Jim.” With Run’s habit of composing sermons and dispensing wisdom, “Run’s House” presents a 21st century variation on “Father Knows Best,” except that “Father” was funny and “House” is strenuously laugh-free.
Get ready for something completely different on TLC. The new two-episode series “Dead Tenants” (10 p.m., TLC) explores the world of owners whose homes come with a little extra something.
“Dead Tenants” presents interviews with experts and “landlords” about haunted houses and offers advice on ways to communicate with the intransigent spectral squatters and methods for “cleansing” homes of unhappy, malingering poltergeists.
Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) hosts the fifth annual “Taurus World Stunt Awards” (8 p.m., E!), honoring the “extreme athletes” whose gravity-defying and death-defying feats have become essential to Hollywood (and Hong Kong) action thrillers.
Director Quentin Tarantino will receive the Action Movie Director of the Year Award for his “Kill Bill” series. Those two films have received five stunt award nominations over the past two years.
Must-see show
Chris and the school bully come to blows on “Everybody Hates Chris” (8 p.m., UPN).
Other highlights
Jeff Probst hosts “Survivor: Guatemala” (8 p.m., CBS).
St. Louis and Houston meet in Game 2 of the National League championship series (5 p.m., Fox).
Sidney teams up with Thomas Grace (Balthazar Getty) on “Alias” (8 p.m., ABC)
Staying above water on “Will & Grace” (8:30 p.m., NBC).
A suicide cult commandeers an abandoned military base on “CSI” (9 p.m., CBS).
Donald Trump hosts “The Apprentice” (9 p.m., NBC).
A student’s death may be the result of a secret society’s grim ritual on “Night Stalker” (9 p.m., ABC).
Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Steven Culp, James Denton, Mark Moses and Doug Savant get to play cards for two hours on the season premiere of “Celebrity Poker Showdown” (9 p.m., Bravo).
A prostitute vanishes on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).
A patient wakes up after nine years in a coma, on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).
Scheduled on “Primetime” (10 p.m., ABC): security concerns at nuclear reactors run by universities.
Cult choice
A Coney Island gang must cross an urban battleground before returning to its home turf in the violent 1979 fantasy “The Warriors” (9 p.m., Spike), directed by Walter Hill.
Series notes
House hunting on “Joey” (8 p.m., NBC) … Chloe uncovers an evil plot on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) … Joey McIntyre guest-stars on “Love, Inc.” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … Shelly “borrows” a gown on “Eve” (9 p.m., UPN) … Amy learns about Ephram’s living arrangements on “Everwood” (9 p.m., WB) … Corbin Bernsen guest-stars on “Cuts (9:30 p.m., UPN)