”Girls” ends season on powerful note
On last year’s season finale of “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB) Rory’s graduation speech left everybody proud and choked-up. This season, we get to see her mug shot. What a difference a year makes.
At least Rory’s arrest and impending trial gives Lorelai something to talk about. Not that she ever needed an excuse.
At it’s frequent best, “Girls” evoked the overheated atmosphere of bygone Hollywood films. This season’s class struggle between Rory and her boyfriend Logan’s snooty family are straight out of “Love Story.” Logan comes from the “best people” with all of the worst traits.
Needing advice, a shoulder to cry on and a lawyer, Lorelai breaks tradition and goes straight to her parents for help – never a good move. But rest assured, she finds solace from a source nearer and dearer to her heart.
In a parallel subplot, Lane (Keiko Agena) has a heart-to-heart conversation about her slacker rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle with her religious mother, who reacts in ways no one could predict.
It would be a crime to reveal much more here, but suffice it to say that things among Lorelai, Luke (Scott Patterson), Rory, Richard and Emily will change utterly by episode’s end. Now that’s the way to end a season with a bang.
Now if they could only do something about all of that icky music.
While Bo Bice, Vonzell Solomon and Carrie Underwood strive to survive on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox), musicians with more than a few auditions under their rhinestone belts can be seen on the 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards (8 p.m., CBS). Scheduled performers include Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.
There is a perverse side of me that would love to discuss the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle with Britney Spears. The famous scientist Werner Heisenberg taught us that the very act of measuring and observing phenomena (in his case, subatomic particles) disturbs and alters that phenomena.
Now class – I mean Britney – the same goes for reality TV. In the debut episode of “Britney and Kevin: Chaotic” (9 p.m., UPN), Britney promises to show us clips of videos of her “document(ing) (her) first romantic moments with Kevin (Federline).” But Britney, how romantic could these moments have been if you were “documenting” them? Wouldn’t the presence of cameras and or camera crews alter your behavior and perceptions?
Indeed, Britney, since you’ve lived your entire life under media scrutiny, how “real” can you be? Do you really exist at all? What would Heisenberg say? Britney, are you listening?
The ratings winners on basic cable are always surprising. One year it’s “Trading Spaces” and then “American Choppers.” Discovery has hooked a good number of viewers with its documentary series “Deadliest Catch” (9 p.m., Discovery) following the hard, dangerous work of crab fisherman in icy waters.
“Deadliest” does a credible job of capturing the alternating moments of excitement, danger, exhaustion and tedium. You can almost smell the diesel fuel from the ship’s engine room.
Tonight: The ship takes on water as the Opilio crab season begins.
Season finales
Jay asks a favor of Michael on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC).
Hard-nosed negotiations on “George Lopez” (8:40 p.m., ABC).
Jim upsets Dana’s wedding on “According to Jim” (9:40 p.m., ABC).
Other highlights
Sela Ward guest-stars as House’s ex on “House” (9 p.m., Fox)
On back-to-back episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC) guaranteed to leave you completely bummed-out about human nature, a woman alleges rape and then kills herself (9 p.m), and a dumped, dismembered woman’s corpse appears to be missing some vital organs (10 p.m.).
Dunbar counsels an old man losing his sight on “Blind Justice” (10 p.m., ABC).
“Independent Lens” (10 p.m., KSPS) presents “Vietnam: The Next Generation.” The documentary offers profiles of eight young Vietnamese who have all been born since the end of the war in 1975.
Series notes
Recycled clips on “The Most Outrageous Live TV Moments 3” (8 p.m., NBC) … A clip show recap on “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN) … Null & void on “One Tree Hill” (9 p.m., WB).