Republicans start in prime time tonight
The Republican National Convention begins tonight as far as the Big Three TV networks are concerned.
ABC, CBS and NBC each will air an hour of convention coverage, live from Madison Square Garden in New York, beginning at 7 p.m.
This follows the networks’ plans to give the Republicans the same three hours of prime time that they gave to the Demmies in Boston last month.
Those who are interested in gavel-to-gavel coverage can tune in to C-SPAN, beginning at 4. There is also coverage on KSPS (5 p.m.) and on the whole universe of cable news channels.
What’s interesting is that NBC has decided to premiere one of its new shows tonight, hoping some of the Olympic viewers still have their sets tuned to the peacock.
“Father of the Pride,” debuting at 10 on NBC, is an animated series about Siegfried and Roy and their Las Vegas menagerie.
Julian Holloway and Dave Herman voice S&R, while tonight Andy Richter voices a panda they import for breeding purposes.
John Goodman, Cheryl Hines, Carl Reiner and Orlando Jones are also in the voice cast.
This is one of the more, um, unconventional shows on the fall schedule.
It’s followed at 9:25 by the season premiere of “Scrubs” (see below).
Highlights
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” ABC at 8: Repeat finds the home of eight orphans getting a redo. Followed at 9 by a repeat of “According to Jim.”
“Big Brother 5,” CBS at 9: It’s like a home video from those relatives you don’t like to visit.
“Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Daddy,” Fox at 8: Two back-to-back hourlong episodes have men from Georgia and New York trading families.
“Last Comic Standing,” NBC at 8: Comics from the first two seasons are back for another shot at glory.
“Amazing Race 5,” CBS at 10: Tactical errors, trouble with a cabbie and shaved heads? Now that’s entertainment.
“One Tree Hill,” WB at 9: Lucas and Nathan have an adventure when they’re thrown off the team bus far from home. Repeat.
“Scrubs,” NBC at 9:25: (Note time.) Season premiere finds Heather Graham joining the cast of this quirky comedy as a new psychiatrist at the hospital.
She enters when relations between J.D. and Elliott and Turk and Carla are at temporary lows.
Family Fare
“Gilmore Girls,” WB at 8: Luke thinks deeply about love, and Lorelai faces the opening of the Dragonfly. Repeat.
Cable Cast
“War of the Worlds” (1953), AMC at 8: Hollywood, not knowing when to leave well enough alone, is about to remake this seminal sci-fi flick based on the H.G. Wells novel.
Gene Barry and Ann Robinson star, along with creepy production design and those alien tripods with the shrieking death rays.
“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” Bravo at 10: Sean K. is a designer, but he needs the Fab Five’s help with his look and his attitude.
“Nip/Tuck,” FX at 10: Christian falls for a blind patient — she can’t see what anyone looks like! No irony there! — plus Sean and Julia wrestle with their shattered relationship.
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” HBO at 10: A look at the life of professional footballers and a family surf camp.
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Farrah Fawcett and musical guests the Clarks.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: Reese Witherspoon, the women’s U.S. Olympic gymnastics team and musical guest Tim McGraw.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.
“Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35: Al Franken and Jason Bateman and music from Breaking Benjamin.