TV Barn's TV Picks for Dec. 20

IF YOU WANNA BE HAPPY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
Before living "The Surreal Life," Tammy Faye Bakker/Messner appeared as a regular on what series?

A) "The Drew Carey Show"
B) "Life Goes On"
C) "Night Court"
D) "Seventh Heaven"
E) "The Single Guy"

[Bat your eyelashes towards the bottom of the column for the correct answer.]

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TV Barn's TV Picks for Wednesday, December 20, 2006
by Tom Heald with Jon Delfin
All times Eastern
For PBS programs, check local listings


7 p.m.
"After Jesus: The First Christians" (CNN)

7:30 p.m.
"Access Granted" (BET): Scream Tour V

8 p.m.
"The King of Queens" (CBS) adopts The Dog of Queens.

Is this man a comedy writer or a waiter? Find out on "Identity" (NBC). Uh, can we guess both?

"Lance Armstrong: Running for Life" (TLC)
"Next Top Model: British Invasion 2" (CW; two hours): "The Wraps of Cannes"
"Countdown: Best of Oddball" part 2 (MSNBC)
"Not Your Average Travel Guide" (Travel): California

9 p.m.
A packing plant employee packs heat on "Dateline" (NBC).

Why is it that the best documentary series all too often appear right after most critics have assembled their top ten lists? "One Punk Under God" (Sundance) captures the struggles of "Revolution" founder Jay Bakker's efforts to break free from his parents' evangelical legacy and make a name for himself.
     In the pilot last week, the junior Bakker, who looks like either a carnival sideshow act or a member of blink-182, revealed that he and his father, Jim, haven't spoken in two years (it takes two weeks just to get a return phone call from his dad's assistant), and his mother Tammy Faye is in fourth-stage cancer. While a raging Democrat, he's primarily funded by the conservatives who fell under the spell of his parents. Bakker's evangelical message reaches his flock of the "unchurched" on Sunday mornings in Atlanta, not via satellite but in an incense (if not smoke) filled bar. His pink-Play-Doh-haired wife just wishes they could skip the sermons-for-money scheme and live a normal life. (Whatever that is.)
     Where his mom and dad built their Liberty USA resort/theme park on love offerings for odd collector plates and prayer books, Bakker's Web site offers bumper stickers and T-shirts with the slogan "Religion Kills." Says Bakker, "Religion is a false perception of holiness that focuses on law and kills the true message of Christ." Tonight, after a visit with his mom, the punk preacher questions whether he should specifically reach out to the gay and lesbian community even if it means losing many of his financial supporters.

"Dealing With Dickinson" (BBC America)
"Timeless" (BET): Whitney Houston
"MythBusters" (Discovery)
"Christmas Out of the Box" (National Geographic)
"Forensic Files" (Court)
"Modern Marvels" (History)

9:30 p.m.
"Under Investigation" (Court): "Washed Away"
"Influences" (BET): Lalah Hathaway

10 p.m.
"PrimeTime: Basic Instincts 3: Still No Royalties for Sharon Stone" (ABC)
"Sweet Tooth" (National Geographic)
"Weapons Races: The Race for the Nuclear Bomb" (Military)
"Stunt Junkies: Go Big or Go Home" (Discovery): "10 Most Extreme"
"Driven to Invent" (Discovery Science)
"Circle of Friends" (MSNBC)
"Bargain Hunt" (BBC America): "Christmas Special 2002"
"Modern Marvels" (History): "O Christmas Tech"
"My Model Looks Better Than Your Model" (BET): "Black Board Room Barbie"
"The Real World: Denver" (MTV)
"Fake Psychic Detectives" (Court)
"Inside the NFL" (HBO)
"Dirty Dancing: Living the Dream" (WE)

10:30 p.m.
"Twentyfourseven" (MTV)

11 p.m.
"Catch Him If You Can" (MSNBC)


OH, I GUEST SO
* Rose: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro
* Ben Stiller has a walk-off with the guy from "Death to Smoochy" on "The Daily Show."
* Sarah Paulson is in the studio with Tavis.
* Stephen prepares for his battle of the bands with the Decemberists with help from Apples in Stereo. Oh, you kids and your rock and/or roll music.
* Renée Zellweger and Taking Back Sunday toy with Dave.
* Will Smith (and/or Pamela Anderson), Richard Roeper and the Blind Boys of Alabama are happi to talk to Jay.
* Adam Carolla, Giovanni Ribisi and OK Go stop by Jimmy's man show.
* Sean Lennon, Andy Samberg and Stuart Scott think Conan's show is on much too late for goodbyes.
* Xzibit and Paula Poundstone tie one on with Craig.
* Michael Rapaport and Ziggy Marley wail with Carson.


NEVER MAKE A PRETTY WOMAN YOUR WIFE
Who else but Tammy Faye could have spawned the equally overdone Mimi Bobek on A) "The Drew Carey Show"?



-- posted by Jon Delfin