Washington, D.C.
(January 18, 2007)
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Click
Best Shows
to see Part Three, Shows #6-10.
5. Dan Rather Reports
The veteran journalist's return to TV has been an unqualified success. Using the high-def cameras to tell more of the story, Rather seems more comfortable than he ever did at CBS. The result is a no-nonsense look at the day's most pressing issues and controversies. Last month's expose of the drug wars on the Mexican border was Peabody-worthy.
HDNet, Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ____________________________________________
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4. ESPN's Monday Night Football
The primetime NFL broadcast lost something when it switched from Michaels/Madden to Tony, Tony and Joe. But the images are just as good and the earlier start time doesn't hurt, either.
ESPN, Mondays, 8:30 p.m. (During football season.)
3. American Idol
I'll be frank -- I hate this show. But the high-def broadcast offers an equally frank view of the contestants as they reach for stardom. In HD, you can see every lip quiver; eye twitch; and cosmetic enhancement. And that's just Paula Abdul. Wait until you see the contestants.
Fox, Wednesdays 8 p.m.
2. Lost
Okay, the show's taking a beating among the press corps for its meandering plot turns. But it's still a high-def looker and I still have faith that creator J.J. Abrams will find a way out of his own personal jungle.
ABC, Wednesdays, 10 p.m. (Returns Feb. 7)
1. 24
Wow. The counter-terrorism drama premiered its sixth season last Sunday and I was ready to hide under a bed when it was over -- or give away every civil liberty the government needs to stop a future terrorist act. The HD 24 brings the drama into your living room. In high-def, you can see the tension in the faces of the characters; the muscles in their cheeks are clenching so hard that I'm afraid that Kiefer Sutherland is going to pop a vein. Particularly when he yells, "Put the weapon down! Now!!"
I can hardly wait until next week!
Fox, Mondays, 9 p.m.
5. Dan Rather Reports
The veteran journalist's return to TV has been an unqualified success. Using the high-def cameras to tell more of the story, Rather seems more comfortable than he ever did at CBS. The result is a no-nonsense look at the day's most pressing issues and controversies. Last month's expose of the drug wars on the Mexican border was Peabody-worthy.
HDNet, Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
4. ESPN's Monday Night Football
The primetime NFL broadcast lost something when it switched from Michaels/Madden to Tony, Tony and Joe. But the images are just as good and the earlier start time doesn't hurt, either.
ESPN, Mondays, 8:30 p.m. (During football season.)
3. American Idol
I'll be frank -- I hate this show. But the high-def broadcast offers an equally frank view of the contestants as they reach for stardom. In HD, you can see every lip quiver; eye twitch; and cosmetic enhancement. And that's just Paula Abdul. Wait until you see the contestants.
Fox, Wednesdays 8 p.m.
2. Lost
Okay, the show's taking a beating among the press corps for its meandering plot turns. But it's still a high-def looker and I still have faith that creator J.J. Abrams will find a way out of his own personal jungle.
ABC, Wednesdays, 10 p.m. (Returns Feb. 7)
1. 24
Wow. The counter-terrorism drama premiered its sixth season last Sunday and I was ready to hide under a bed when it was over -- or give away every civil liberty the government needs to stop a future terrorist act. The HD 24 brings the drama into your living room. In high-def, you can see the tension in the faces of the characters; the muscles in their cheeks are clenching so hard that I'm afraid that Kiefer Sutherland is going to pop a vein. Particularly when he yells, "Put the weapon down! Now!!"
I can hardly wait until next week!
Fox, Mondays, 9 p.m.