‘Stargate: Atlantis’ debuts on Sci Fi
An actual new series rolls out tonight, puncturing the summer rerun doldrums. It’s a spinoff, but still. “Stargate: Atlantis,” debuting on Sci Fi with a two-hour episode at 9, features an elite “Stargate” team probing the Lost City and, tonight, dealing with a scary alien posse called the Wraith. All systems normal, in other words.
Turns out there’s an ancient underwater base beneath the Antarctic polar ice cap that contains a portal to the Pegasus galaxy — which has something to do with the genesis of the myth of Atlantis. So the new team locks, loads and heads out into the unknown.
You won’t have heard of any of the actors, who include Torri Higginson and Joe Flanigan. But advance buzz suggests this offspring may be more nervy and more fun than the parent show, “Stargate SG-1,” which repeats the kick off of its season at 7 p.m. with a two-hour episode of its own, focused on rescuing Richard Dean Anderson’s O’Neill.
Highlights
Sitcom reruns, ABC at 8: “George Lopez” (with guest Paris Hilton), “Married to the Kellys,” “Hope & Faith,” “Life with Bonnie.”
“Joan of Arcadia,” CBS at 8: God wants Joan to get into makeup. Repeat.
“Bernie Mac Show,” Fox at 8: Jordan tries comedy, just like Uncle Bernie. Repeat.
“Dateline,” NBC at 8.
“What I Like About You,” WB at 8: Holly gets Gary to arrange a meeting with Henry. Repeat.
“Method & Red,” Fox at 8:30: Red must win over an investor played by guest Carmen Electra. Repeat.
“Grounded for Life,” WB at 8:30: Sean finds out his little girl has done the deed. What’s he going to do? Repeat.
“JAG,” CBS at 9: A pilot crashes on a carrier. Accident or not? Repeat.
“Reba,” WB at 9: Back-to-back repeats that find Barbra Jean and Reba bonding, sort of, over men.
“48 Hours Investigates,” CBS at 10: Eating healthy and diet disorders. Repeat.
“Las Vegas,” NBC at 10: Diamond heist victimizes a hotel guest. Repeat.
Family Fare
“Stuck in the Suburbs,” DIS at 8: Another one of those tweener-audience faves in which some teenage friends have wacky adventures involving a cute pop star. Danielle Panabaker and Brenda Song are the girls, and Taran Killam is the singer in this premiere. Repeats at 9:30.
Cable Cast
“28 Days Later” (2002), HBO at 8: The best zombie-apocalypse movie since “Dawn of the Dead” (1978) is set in present-day England. Not for the little ones.
“Ghost World” (2000), IFC at 8: Thora Birch is the Daria-esque teen outcast who finds a new friend in oddball Steve Buscemi. Based on a graphic novel.
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Julianna Margulies, comedian Bob Sarlatte and musical guest Ashlee Simpson.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: Maria Sharapova and Velvet Revolver.