Normality elusive for ‘Joan of Arcadia’
OK, so Amber Tamblyn didn’t win Best Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmys the other night. But consider the fact that she was nominated a pretty good signpost of how good our Family Fare favorite “Joan of Arcadia” can be.
The show’s season premiere, on CBS tonight at 8, finds Joan returning home after a summer in therapy.
She went to deal with her “hallucinations” of godly visits, which she’d marked down as a symptom of her Lyme disease. Now she’d just like everything to be normal and wishes boyfriend Adam would let the topic drop.
But, of course, that’s not going to happen. And all her attempts to avoid the subject won’t make God leave her alone.
Mom, Dad and brother Luke are all having issues of their own. But it’s Tamblyn’s portrayal of the goodhearted, struggling Joan that makes this show very much worth a look.
Highlights
“8 Simple Rules,” ABC at 8: Season premiere. Knowing that Kerry is delaying her breakup with Kyle, Bridget does it for her.
Meanwhile, Mom is offered the position of school nurse by the principal, but she’s not ready to date him.
“The Complex: Malibu,” Fox at 8: The final four couples begin work on their units.
“What I Like About You,” WB at 8: Holly and Ben move in with Vince to avoid Val’s rules.
“Grounded for Life,” WB at 8:30: Lily and Brad go their separate ways.
“Complete Savages,” ABC at 8:30 Premiere. Mel Gibson and a couple of “Simpsons” producers are behind this new family sitcom, which stars Keith Carradine as a single dad raising five teenage boys, the most familiar of whom is Erik von Detten.
Expect plenty of jokes about dirty laundry, poor housekeeping and girls.
Tonight’s premiere finds that the most recent housekeeper has quit, so Dad decides it’s time the boys took care of themselves.
“JAG,” CBS at 9: Season premiere. A hit man is after everyone connected to the late Webb. Why?
“Hope & Faith,” ABC at 9: Season premiere finds Faith back from her summer away and trying one more time to fit into Hope’s normal family life.
“Third Watch,” NBC at 9: Detective Cruz adjusts the crime scene after Yokas guns down a bad guy amid dubious circumstances.
“Reba,” WB at 9: Kyra’s time becomes an issue between Reba and Barbra Jean.
“Less Than Perfect,” ABC at 9:30: Season premiere. After co-worker Caleb (Will Friedle) tells Claude he’s not ready for a relationship, she and Ramona see him with another woman. Bad Caleb!
“Dr. Vegas,” CBS at 10: Premiere. Rob Lowe and Joe Pantoliano seem like one of the odder couples on TV. It’s hard to picture their acting styles meshing. But we’ll, um, roll the dice.
Lowe is the in-house doc at Pantoliano’s casino, and tonight’s issues include a show room headliner who must stop performing for health reasons.
“Medical Investigation,” NBC at 10: Guests at a tropical family resort begin dropping like flies due to respiratory problems, and Dr. Connor quarantines the entire island.
“20/20,” ABC at 10: Wasn’t it only last week we had that valedictory tribute to Barbara Walters’ decades on this show?
But she’s back tonight with another “good get,” an exclusive interview with Mary Kay Letourneau.
Cable Cast
Baseball, ESPN at 4: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox.
“Office Space” (1999), Bravo at 8: Mike Judge’s cult fave comedy about cubicle culture, with Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston. Repeats at 10.
“Stargate SG-1,” Sci Fi at 9: The team tries to free O’Neill. Repeat. Followed by a repeat of the first episode of “Stargate Atlantis.”
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Julianne Moore and Tom Dreesen.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: Patti Scialfa, aka Mrs. Springsteen, is on a solo tour behind her own fine new album.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: George Lopez and reality-show millionaire Mark Cuban.
“Late, Late Show,” CBS at 12:35: Angela Bassett and musical guests the Thrills. Guest host.
“Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35: Rob Lowe, Jill Hennessy and Elvis Costello.