‘Gilmore Girls’ tops ‘Laguna Beach’
“Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County,” debuting tonight at 10:30 on MTV, aims to have it both ways.
It’s a reality show following the social traumas of a bunch of glossy boneheads, just like “The Real World” (which airs at 10). But it’s filmed with the sun-glazed glamour of “The O.C.”
The show won’t have that handheld, cheesy “Real World” look. But it won’t have “The O.C.’s” smart, funny writers, either.
If you want to watch pretty young people with social-life problems, you’re better off with our Family Fare favorite “Gilmore Girls,” at 8 on the WB.
Yale student Rory is so smart in some ways, but she really screwed things up by sleeping with Dean before she left for Europe. She has her mom, Lorelai, pass along a letter to Dean to try to make things right, but Dean’s wife finds it and … you can guess the rest.
Then they all run into each other when Rory returns to the States. It promises to be the kind of scene the producers of “Laguna Beach” can only dream about.
Highlights
“My Wife and Kids,” ABC at 8: Michael fails a child-care class, so Vanessa refuses to let him baby-sit his grandchild.
“NCIS,” CBS at 8: Season premiere involves a kidnapping that reaches the heart of the Pentagon.
And the show has dropped “Navy” from the title, apparently so it will be more easily confused with the hit “CSI” franchise.
“Trading Spouses,” Fox at 8: Mrs. Thibodeaux of Lithonia, Ga., and Mrs. Famiglietti of Peabody, Mass., continue their experiment.
“Last Comic Standing,” NBC at 8: The yuks go on. And on.
“Nova,” KSPS at 8: “Origins” looks at the beginning of life on Earth.
“George Lopez,” ABC at 8:30: Season premiere. The Lopezes are worried about Carmen, who has left home after an argument with her father.
“According to Jim,” ABC at 9: Cheryl plans a romantic evening for Jim. He plans to watch a prizefight.
So what’s a guy to do? Get her drunk, of course. Classy move.
“Clubhouse,” CBS at 9: A corked bat scandal could put Pete’s job and his integrity on the line.
“The Next Great Champ,” Fox at 9: One of the most intimidating boxers may forfeit a competition.
“Father of the Pride,” NBC at 9: Danny DeVito lends his voice as the political prisoner Emerson the lobster. That’ll work.
“One Tree Hill,” WB at 9: With a lot of help, Lucas throws a wedding reception for Nathan and Haley.
“Rodney,” ABC at 9:30: Rodney tells Tina that his new stand-up gig will make him enough to finally pay off their bills. Turns out, it pays much less than he thought.
“Scrubs,” NBC at 9:30: Elliot (Sarah Chalke) takes over the voice-overs as she makes friends with Molly (Heather Graham) and gets the courage to tell Dr. Cox where to get off.
“NYPD Blue,” ABC at 10: A dead pregnant woman leads Sipowicz and Clark to an adoption scam.
“Judging Amy,” CBS at 10: Amy’s demoted after last season’s fatal finale fiasco.
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” NBC at 10: Two mysteriously abandoned Chinese children lead the detectives to an illegal immigrant-smuggling ring that holds human collateral to collect delivery fees.
Cable Cast
WNBA playoffs, ESPN2 at 4:30: First round.
“Nip/Tuck,” FX at 10: Sean continues his public-service work on victims of a serial rapist, but when he gets media attention, the psycho targets him.
“Family Bonds,” HBO at 10:15: The pursuit of a killer is halted.
Late Night Talk
“Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: John Goodman from “Center of the Universe” and the great Tom Waits.
“Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” NBC at 11:35: Heather Graham, “Dog” the Bounty Hunter and Joss Stone.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC at 12:05 a.m.: Keyshawn Johnson.