”Joan” ends season with a cliffhanger
God tells Joan she’s only just begun on the second-season finale of “Joan of Arcadia” (8 p.m., CBS). The Almighty informs our plucky high schooler that her first two years have been a kind of spiritual boot camp, mere training for the battle to come with a mysterious man with an unholy agenda.
But will Joan get her chance to enter battle? God may be on her side, but is Viacom? Tonight’s real cliffhanger involves the fate of the show itself and its uncertain prospects for a third season as the networks prepare to announce their new schedules.
“Joan” had a strong first year but saw its ratings weaken in its sophomore outing, despite much talk of the need for more “faith-based” programming. “Joan” may be prepared to battle the forces of darkness, but she might not be able to stem the flight of Friday-night viewers.
“Joan” seems to be following the ratings trend of NBC’s “Providence,” another family-friendly, Friday-night, supernatural drama that started strong and petered out after a couple of seasons.
Speaking of shows on the renewal fence, a fan Web site has been organized to demand that Fox renew “Arrested Development.” But according to published reports, the site, www.getarrested.com, is owned, organized and promoted by Fox itself.
That’s rather odd, since Fox has the power to renew the show.
While the fate of “Arrested Development” is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, this move by Fox reminds me of ways that big media corporations co-opt the illusion of dissent and democracy to promote their products.
Scottish geologist Iain Stewart hosts the six-part series “Hot Rocks” (9 p.m., Science), unfolding in two-hour installments nightly through Sunday. Stewart offers informed theories of how volcanoes and earthquakes and the hot rocks, steaming water and minerals they produce have changed and shaped history and myth and may even explain tales from the Old Testament.
Fran attends Riley’s reunion on “Living with Fran” (9:30 p.m., WB). For the record, it has taken only three weeks for the writers of “Fran” to rely on the hackneyed high school reunion plot.
What’s next, amnesia? Will she wake up in bed, “Newhart”-like, with Mr. Sheffield? Is this season just a dream? Or is the whole show a nightmare?
Other highlights
A rising political star (Ralph Fiennes) falls for a hotel domestic (Jennifer Lopez) in the 2002 Cinderella tale “Maid in Manhattan” (8 p.m., Fox).
The crew meet their evil twins in a dark parallel universe on “Star Trek: Enterprise” (8 p.m., UPN).
Harm and Vukovic come to the defense of a seaman accused of murder on “JAG” (9 p.m., CBS).
A traffic delay turns deadly on “Third Watch” (9 p.m., NBC).
Terrorists cobble together a “dirty bomb” on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS).
Released on a technicality, a creep faces a controversial second trial on “Law & Order: Trial By Jury” (10 p.m., NBC).
Scheduled on “20/20” (10 p.m., ABC): lies and myths about food and nutrition.
Cult choice
Tori Spelling stars in the 1996 TV shocker “Coed Call Girl” (9 p.m., Lifetime).
Series notes
Tom Bergeron hosts “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (8 p.m., ABC) … Female archetypes are cast away after a three-hour tour on “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB).
On back-to-back episodes of “Reba” (WB), puttering around (8:30 p.m.), and a canine conundrum (9 p.m.).
On back-to-back episodes of “Hope & Faith” (ABC), weather girls (9 p.m.), and mountain climbing (9:30 p.m.) … Tyra Banks hosts “America’s Next Top Model” (9 p.m., UPN).
Late night
Sandra Bullock and Gwen Stefani appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Amanda Peet, Randy Jackson and Alan Jackson on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Ashton Kutcher, Matt Johnston, Jon Douglas and Killswitch Engage appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).
Alec Baldwin, Jason Biggs and Guided by Voices chat on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Thomas Haden Church, Don King and Maria Bamford on “The Late, Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS).