‘Bedford’ offers little of worth
I’ve been waiting for years for someone to turn college life into a bona fide soap opera, and “The Bedford Diaries” (9 p.m., WB) does just that.
Too bad it’s irredeemably sleazy and often just plain dumb.
Set in a fictional New York university called Bedford, the series centers around a “Sex and the Human Condition” seminar run by Professor Macklin (Matthew Modine).
He asks his students to keep a video diary of their deepest thoughts about their sex lives, past and present. These “confessions” provide a running chorus and commentary throughout the drama.
“Bedford” has its share of melodrama.
A black scholarship student wrestles with his feelings for a girlfriend back in his neighborhood while resisting the temptation of cooing coeds. A student (Corri English) tries to live down the notoriety of her attempted suicide.
If “Bedford” consisted only of these stories, it might be remotely watchable. But the sexual video diaries tip the scales toward smarmy voyeurism and the kind of prurient teen exploitation that has often made the WB more than slightly unseemly.
The votes are tallied on “American Idol” (9 p.m., Fox). Even the greatest and most popular shows reach a point at which they take their audiences for granted and presume that they will sit still for just about anything. I believe “Idol” may have done just that last week when it inflicted Barry Manilow’s version of “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” on 40 million viewers.
Other highlights
Howie Mandel hosts “Deal or No Deal” (8 p.m., NBC).
A skull found in the desert may belong to a friend on “Bones” (8 p.m., Fox).
A celebrity stalker turns deadly on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS).
A bank robber receives help from an unlikely source on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).
The hatch develops a few odd quirks on “Lost” (9 p.m., ABC).
Rhode Island plumbers plunge into the paranormal on a new episode of “Ghost Hunters” (9 p.m., Sci Fi).
A hijacked helicopter was carrying a human liver awaiting transplant on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
Amy extends an invitation on “Heist” (10 p.m., NBC).
A boxer expires soon after a bout on “The Evidence” (10 p.m., ABC).
After seeing what happened to Chef on last week’s “South Park” (10 p.m., Comedy Central), will anyone ever cross Matt Stone and Trey Parker again?
Carrie Underwood hosts the “2006 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year Special” (10 p.m., CMT).
“What’s With That House” (11 p.m., HGTV) profiles homes that stand out.