RP: 1/21 Blue by you

The Remote Patrol for Wednesday, January 21, 2009
by Thomas Allen Heald, Inaugie Doggie
All times Eastern, for PBS programs, check local listings

TOM’S TOTALLY TWISTED TV TRIVIA THINGY
His name is Vince Offer. What is he trying to offer you?
A) An opinion on why Obama sucks, as the first new guest host on “Hannity.”
B) He wants you to call him within the next 20 minutes and give him $19.95, plus shipping and handling.
C) Movies about “a world without hope.”
D) Surgery at MacNamara / Troy
E) The “official” Obama coin.
—
The correct answer and some pretzels will be making you Thursday.

8 p.m.
“AMERICAN IDOL” (Fox) (in)breeds contempt in Louisville, Kentucky.

“MAKE ‘EM LAUGH: THE FUNNY BUSINESS OF AMERICA” (PBS) wraps things up with pies in the face and a “Slip on a Banana Peel,” and the filth and the fury of “The Groundbreakers: When I’m Bad, I’m Better.”

Last week “KNIGHT RIDER” (NBC) knocked off Bruce Davison’s character. The body count may continue as the reboot continues. But first, a faceoff between KITT and KARR.

9 P.M.
“SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH . . .” (Sundance) has a full house with Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, and John Mellencamp.

TELE-GEBRA
“The Mentalist” + “Moment of Truth” + actual quality = “LIE TO ME” (FOX), with Tim Roth in an early candidate for Best New Show of 2008.

Will Locke live? When is the island? And what about Naomi? “LOST” (ABC) gets back to where it once belonged.

10 p.m.
TELE-GEBRA
Indiana Jones – the budget = “RELICQUEST” (Sci Fi) .

The most anticipated episode of each season: “TOP CHEF: RESTAURANT WARS” (Bravo) .

Patty’s got a secret on “DAMAGES” (FX). Well, about 976. But Ellen learns at least one.

Did a bipolar biologist bash her baby to bits? Probably not, but it sounds as good as the real plot on “LAW & ORDER” (NBC).

A wrestling coach’s body is pinned all over the city on “CSI: NY” (CBS).

NIGHT LIGHTS
* Liam Neeson’s time is taken by Jon.
* It’s all about you as Jon Meacham visits Stephen.
* Tavis can’t escape Akon.
* Jimmy pencils in Brendan Fraser, Jonathan Goodwin, and Blake Shelton.
* Howie Mandel, Jerome Bettis, and Lady Antebellum deal with Jay.
* Craig reads the phone book to James Earl Jones.
* Conan wills himself to speak with Ron Howard and Eric McCormack.

But the conversation has just begun, add your own suggestions or discuss mine on the “TV or Not TV” Google list or at tvornottv.net. “The Remote Patrol” is copyright© 2008 Thomas Allen Heald and Gigantic Rear Projection, Ltd.