C-SPAN, 12:00 p.m. ET
Forecast: Completely cloudy. With tropical storm Isaac waiting until the dramatic last minute to build to hurricane-wind status as it approached the Gulf Coast, the planners of the Republican National Convention decided to play it safe and cancel all Monday proceedings. The fact that the TV broadcast networks already had announced their plans to ignore Monday’s events in prime time (see my related
Bianculli’s Blog) had nothing to do with this decision, I’m sure. But it leaves some other networks, including PBS and C-SPAN, with huge holes to fill. Tune in early to C-SPAN, starting around noon ET, to watch the roll call – and the vamping. Could be dull. Could be fascinating. Or, like the Muscular Dystrophy telethons in the Jerry Lewis era, could be a little of both.
Showtime, 7:30 p.m. ET
The 1989 TV miniseries Traffik, on which this 2000 movie was based, is even better and more detailed, but this movie version is no slouch. Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, starring Michael Douglas, won an Oscar, and its interwoven tale about drug trafficking remains tense and surprising, even in a condensed-for-cinema narrative.
Syfy, 8:00 p.m. ET
Among tonight’s guest stars is a genre favorite: Summer Glau, who made a strong first impression in Joss Whedon’s Firefly, and has starred, or been featured, in sci-fi and fantasy shows ever since. Tonight, she returns as a powerful “Alpha” whom the team is trying to find – and finding it easy. Just follow the trail of fire and devastation.
Syfy, 9:00 p.m. ET
In a new episode that also features recurring guest star Lindsay Wagner, tonight’s Warehouse is big enough to also make room for a plot involving the magical artifact of Lewis Carroll’s mirror – and a very haunted, angry Alice, who wreaks havoc when, once again, she steps through the looking-glass.
Showtime, 11:00 p.m. ET
This episode of Web Therapy is a repeat of the season premiere, which is a good point for late-comers to dive in and see what kind of clever, sometimes improvised comedy Lisa Kudrow and her guests are doing here. In this episode, Kudrow, as self-obsessed (and self-deluded) web “therapist” Fiona, has her book manuscript passed on to, and judged harshly by, ex-nun editor Maxine DeMaine, played by Rosie O’Donnell.