What's on Tonight

There's pretty much something for everyone tonight on TV. Along with Sunday's usual crop of programming, tonight offers a ton of new choices.


The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

If you have any love or respect for daytime television then you need to be watching tonight because odds are that this will be the last televised Daytime Emmys. When Soaps ruled the world, this was an award show that rivaled the Oscars, but, as the medium has declined so has the viewership for this telecast, despite the inclusion of talk, lifestyle and game shows. CBS is bringing in several big stars such as Criminal Minds lead hottie and once Y&R superstar Shemar Moore to say goodbye to the departing soaps, Oprah's talk show, as well as, Regis and Today's Meredith Vieira. Wayne Brady will be hosting the event, which is set in Vegas for the second year in order to cut down on costs. On a side note, everyone should care about daytime TV and soaps in particular because this a a multi-generational phenomenon that has helped people connect and interact with one another. I'm sad to see what our culture will be like without this programming.

2011 Miss USA Pageant

NBC also offers viewers a Vegas spectacular with the 2011 Miss USA Pageant. Hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen and E! Entertainment's Giuliana Rancic (certainly not my favorite hosting pair as neither resonates as terribly genuine to me) the show will crown the new Miss USA. Hopefully this year won't provide any scandals as I believe the US public is incredibly bored and even, dare I say, embarrassed by what's gone on in previous years. By the way, tonight's presentation will be live so any mishaps will be incredibly visible.

Falling Skies

Can't take another alien show? Well then this is probably NOT for you. This new Sci-Fi show comes from someone who knows quite a bit about aliens, entertainment powerhouse Steven Spielberg. All the reviews seem to echo the same message: Yes, it's full of cliches and predictability, but, there's also something heartfelt and new here. So apparently, it is enjoyable. Look, sometimes a mini-series doesn't have to be life changing; sometimes TV just needs to be fun. My impression - if you liked Jericho or Independence Day then you'll be content to have Falling Skies be your viewing option for the night. Tonight's two hour program is just the start of the 8 part series, so keep in mind that you'll likely be committing to the whole shebang.

Masterpiece Mystery

The new season of Masterpiece Mystery begins this evening with Agatha Christie's lovable Belgian detective working to solve the mystery of why people keep turning up dead at a series of dinner parties. I adore Hercule Poirot, as well as, Masterpiece Mystery host Alan Cumming, so I can guarantee that I'll be DVRing the PBS offering this evening. This summer there will be two more new Poirots, a new Miss Marple, three Zen movies (a new mystery series starring British talent Rufus Sewell ) and a new set of Inspector Lewis films. Though I can't imagine any of these be quite as good as last year's breakout hit Sherlock, I very much believe these mysteries won't disappoint. On a final note, don't fret Sherlock fans - it's coming back. Production on season two has already started and is under a tight deadline with both stars committed to work on The Hobbit.

Also returning tonight, is Lifetime's hit Drop Dead Diva which follows a female model that comes back to life only to find herself in the body of a larger sized attorney. I know this is a fan favorite, however, it's not one of my favs so that's all I really have to say on the show. Finally, TV Land offers the presentation of AFI Lifetime Achievement Award to Morgan Freeman. The film legend will be honored by a ton of celebs like Helen Mirren and Samuel L. Jackson.