‘Summerland’ returns with usual suds
Most of us may still rue the wrath of winter, but on The WB it’s endless summer. A soapy combination of family angst, teenage hormones and bathing suits, “Summerland” (9 p.m., WB) returns for a second season.
For the uninitiated, “Summerland” stars Lori Loughlin (“Full House”) as Ava, a pretty career gal who finds parenthood thrust upon her after the death of her sister and brother-in-law. This marks at least the 9,000th such plot since John Forsythe starred in “Bachelor Father” during the Eisenhower years.
And Ava’s story isn’t the only aspect of “Summerland” that harks back to television’s past. Teen TV stars have been crossing over to pop stardom since the days when Ricky Nelson warbled “Lonely Town” on “Ozzie and Harriet.”
With his safe and approachable image, some think Nelson did more to popularize rock ‘n’ roll than Elvis.
Jesse McCarthy, who plays Ava’s nephew on “Summerland” and who soap fans may recognize from “All My Children,” scored a top 10 single with “Beautiful Soul,” the title track from his debut album. The song was recently tracked at No. 5 on MTV’s “TRL” countdown.
Speaking of television musical crossovers, tonight’s “Half & Half” (9:30 p.m., UPN) combines elements of “reality” and sitcom as Mona (Rachel True) picks the winner of a talent contest. While the show concerns the fictional record label Delicious Records, the very real talent search was conducted by award-winning music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who selected the five finalists from tape submissions received from all over the United States.
Meanwhile, the competition continues on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox). I know the producers are always tweaking things to make the show stronger. Is there any way they can outlaw the use of ballads by Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton?
And add Phil Collins to that list for good measure.
For all of its cowboy action and derring-do, has “24” (9 p.m., Fox) become “Revenge of the Nerds”? Let’s hope so. Jack may get to drive the big, fast SUVs and shoot the bad guys, but it was Edgar (Louis Lombardi), the social misfit with no one but his mother in his life, who saved most of the country from living under a radioactive plume.
He also tipped off the brass to the real mole (Aisha Tyler) in their midst. And I’m just biding my time for Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) to return.
Sure, she’s a cranky misfit, but don’t they need a little competence and focus around the CTU?
Other highlights
Jen makes her choice known, and the producers have two hours to let us know, on the season finale of “The Bachelorette” (8 p.m., ABC). Followed by another hour (10 p.m.) in which Jen appears with her beau and greets her rejects.
Evidence of modern pirates on “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m., CBS).
Revealing dreams run in the family on “Medium” (10 p.m., NBC).
A second 13-episode season of “Dr. 90210” (10 p.m., E!) chronicles the private lives of cosmetic surgeons, as well as their wives, husbands, lovers and patients. An hour of this “reality” seems more than enough. “Dr.” could use a little nipping and tucking from its editors.
Cult choice
A rash of “accidental” deaths follows in a little girl’s (Patty McCormack) wake in the 1956 shocker “The Bad Seed” (5 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).
Series notes
Tara Lipinski guest-stars on “Still Standing” (8 p.m., CBS) … Joe Rogan hosts a two-hour “Fear Factor” (8 p.m., NBC) … A state of shock on “One on One” (8 p.m., UPN) … Simon’s girl has something extra on “7th Heaven” (8 p.m., WB).
The show reaches an unexpected market on “Listen Up” (8:30 p.m., CBS) … Good publicity on “Cuts” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Viewers chose tonight’s episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” (9 p.m., CBS) … A big flack attack on “Girlfriends” (9 p.m., UPN) … Charlie’s ex (Denise Richards) has a surprise on “Two and a Half Men” (9:30 p.m., CBS).