‘Modern Men’ faces dim future
The new comedy “Modern Men” (9:30 p.m., WB) appears destined to become a footnote in TV history. It happens to be the first comedy produced by the prolific Jerry Bruckheimer and quite possibly the last sitcom to debut on the soon-to-depart WB network.
Like a million comedies before it, “Modern Men” concerns three single perpetual adolescents who sit around a huge loft that none of them could possibly afford. Kyle (Max Greenfield) is a handsome lady’s man, prone to one-night stands. Divorced Doug (Eric Lively) pines for his ex-wife and says a lot of dimwitted things. Tim (Josh Braaten) can’t hold onto a girlfriend.
Afraid that he and his pals are becoming sad, slacker losers, Tim takes the harsh advice of his brainy sister Molly (Marla Sokoloff) and agrees to take himself and his friends to a therapist, or life coach, Dr. Stangel (Jane Seymour).
“Dr. Quinn” fans should avert their eyes. And Seymour isn’t the only actor to attempt a return here. George Wendt (“Cheers”) stars as Tim and Molly’s dad, Tug Clark, a glib restaurant owner who laughs at Tim’s “girly” problems and jokes about dumping his wife (their mother) and never looking back. If you find that funny, you’ll love the undistinguished characters, throwaway gags and predictable situations in “Modern Men.”
For all of his success, Bruckheimer (“CSI,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) isn’t bulletproof. His drama “Just Legal” was the first show to be canceled last fall. “Modern Men” might be the last show to be yanked from the WB schedule. Now that’s a fearful symmetry.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a great day for the Irish and normally an excuse to air silly movies about shamrocks, wee ones, pots of gold and other crocks.
The History Channel challenges that tradition with “Paddy Whacked” (8 p.m., History), a captivating survey course in Irish-American mobster history.
The brazenly zany, deliriously tasteless and aggressively incorrect sketch comedy series “Little Britain” ( 6:40 p.m., BBC America) returns for a third season.
A former daytime-TV host and self-proclaimed psychic-medium scours the nation to speak to the living about their relationships with the dead in the eight-part series “John Edward Cross Country” (7 and 8 p.m., WE).
Other highlights
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament continues (4 p.m., CBS).
An Earth Kingdom general proves quite demanding on a new episode of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (8 p.m., Nickelodeon).
After a young girl’s suicide, an autopsy reveals a life of deception on “Conviction” (10 p.m., NBC).
Adrian finds jury duty captivating on “Monk” (10 p.m., USA).