TV Barn's TV Picks for July 14

Jack Shephard, "Lost's" doctor, was originally intended to die in the first episode. Who did they want to play the character, when it wasn't a full series commitment?

* George Clooney
* Michael Keaton
* Val Kilmer
* Leslie Nielsen
* Brandon Routh

TV Barn's TV Picks for Friday, July 14, 2006
by Tom Heald with Jon Delfin
All times Eastern
For PBS programs, check local listings

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7 p.m.
"Squirrel Boy" (Cartoon)
"Ultimate Dog Championships" (Animal Planet)

7:30 p.m.
"Hotwyred" (BET)

8 p.m.
"TV Game Shows" get the "Biography" (A&E), since GSN won't do it.

"Dateline" (NBC) investigates myths about sex and marriage. You mean such things exist in America? I'm writing my congressman!

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" (Nickelodeon; also 8:30)
"Summerfest" (CMT): Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Friday Night SmackDown!" (UPN)
"Meerkat Manor" (Animal Planet)
"Take Home Chef" (TLC; also 8:30)
"I Love the '70s Volume II" (VH1; also 9): 1978 & 1979

8:30 p.m.
"Beyond the Break" (Noggin)

9 p.m.
The truth is revealed on "Whistler" (Noggin). Or ... is it?

UNNECESSARY MASCARA PATROL
"Monk" (USA): Alice Cooper. Case: The garbage man is on strike. Mr. Monk wishes he could be as well.

"Stargate SG-1" (Sci Fi; season premiere) recovers from a ferocious Ori defeat. (A catch-up hour of "Science of Stargate SG-1" airs at 8.)

"NOW" (PBS) learns more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to cut ties with Halliburton, and questions the role of medical personnel in state executions.

"Country Fried Home Videos" (CMT)
"Pink Floyd Pulse Concert" (VH1 Classic)
"W.I.T.C.H." (Toon Disney)
"What Not to Wear" (TLC)
"The Dog Whisperer" (National Geographic)

9:30 p.m.
"A.T.O.M." (Toon Disney)

10 p.m.
"20/20" (ABC) tests fraudulent "gas-saving" devices, reconsiders breast-feeding, pummels the paparazzi, learns how to trade a paper clip for a house, and boils down the debate on lobster preparation.

The Wraith are on the warpath toward Earth, having hacked the "Stargate Atlantis" (Sci Fi; season premiere) computers.

Anne Provoost and David Grossman join "Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason" (PBS) and modern parallels to Noah and Samson.

The master of a local spelling bee winds up deceesed on "Psych" (USA).

"World Series of Pop Culture" (VH1)
"The Soup" (E!)

10:20 p.m.
"The Catherine Tate Show" (BBC America)

10:30 p.m.
"LA Forensics" (Court)

11 p.m.
"Henry Cho: What's That Clickin' Noise?" (Comedy Central)
"Best Week Ever" (VH1)
"Round Trip Ticket" (Logo)

11:30 p.m.
"Web Junk" (VH1)

midnight
"Action Sports" (USA)

BABY, TALK TO ME
* Charlie accepts "The Foreigner’s Gift: The Americans, the Arabs, and the Iraqis in Iraq" from Fouad Ajami. Also, Dov Charney.
* Tavis convenes with Dr. Frank Page of the Southern Baptists and director-writer-actor Edward Burns.
* Anderson Cooper and John Witherspoon do a 180 with Dave.
* David Hasselhoff, Natalie Morales and Morningwood see if Jay's got talent.
* Brittany Murphy, Danica Patrick and Eagles of Death Metal flap over to Jimmy.
* Nick Cannon, Family Force 5 and Kyle Dunnigan are wild 'n' out with Craig.
* Owen Wilson and Kerry Washington make a few Franklins from Conan.

Answer to quiz: Michael Keaton turned down Hawaii for "Who are you?"

TV Barn's TV Picks are online anytime at http://tv.yahoo.com/news/tvb/