Fox brings out slew of finales
The networks are mostly easing into the summer doldrums. But a night of season finales on Fox, along with “The Sopranos,” keeps the weekend from being a total washout.
The Fox festivities start Sunday at 7 with a “Simpsons” repeat — the one with “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell as Maggie’s preschool admissions officer.
Then at 7:30 it’s the season’s last “King of the Hill.” Bobby is forced to decide between shop class, where he’ll work with guys and tools, or peer counseling, where he’ll talk to girls about their problems.
Of course, he and Hank have different ideas about which way he should go.
At 8, it’s the “Simpsons” season finale.
After Mr. Burns is falsely reported dead, the Springfield newspapers write nasty things about him, and he tries to clamp down on press freedom in the fair city. But Lisa, bless her, stands up to him.
At 8:30, “Malcolm in the Middle” concludes its two-part season-ender.
Hal’s going nuts under house arrest, but Malcolm has an idea about how to defend him against insider-trading charges. And at boot camp, Reese uses skills he learned at home to succeed.
Finally, and somewhat nauseatingly, Fox closes down the night at 9 with yet another “American Idol” special. This one “will look back at the past three seasons, how it all began and how the show has grown.”
So, you can switch over to HBO for “The Sopranos.” If we’re counting correctly, there are only two episodes left this season, and Tony still has to settle things with Johnny Sack and Carmela.
Plus, Adriana has to figure out what to do with the feds.
We, meanwhile, are still puzzling over last week’s 20-minute dream sequence.
Highlights
Repeat festival tonight: Catch a rerun of “The Nick & Jessica Variety Special” on ABC at 8, then switch over to CBS at 9 for reruns of the recent “Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Carol Burnett Show” reunion specials. Or reorganize your closets.
“The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular,” CBS tonight at 8: Bob Barker’s induction into the TV Hall of Fame is acknowledged as well in this hourlong special.
“The Fast and the Furious” (2001), ABC tonight at 9: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker star in this undercover cop drama notable mainly for some very cool stunt driving.
“MAD TV,” Fox tonight at 11: Season finale with David Alan Grier and Fred Willard.
“Saturday Night Live,” NBC tonight at 11:30: Compilation of Christopher Walken’s sketches.
“60 Minutes,” CBS Sunday at 7.
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“Cold Case,” CBS Sunday at 8: DNA evidence reopens the case of a 15-year-old’s murder.