|  When
a program has a touch of originality to it, but still has trouble
gaining ground in the ratings race, what can a network do? The
answer is simple. Either cancel it immediately or strip it of
any originality. In the case of the Julia Louis-Dreyfus show,
Watching Ellie, NBC has decided to bring it
Back for a short run, removing the real-time structure of last
season and replacing it with a more conventional sitcom format,
complete with an added laugh track. The season premiere airs tonight.
Elsewhere
Buffy and Smallville are back with new episodes,
Sandra Bullock investigates murder on HBO, and President Palmer
is still waiting for a Jack Bauer miracle on 24.
8:00pm
Buffy The Vampire Slayer – UPN – The countdown
to the end has begun as only five original episodes remain until
May’s series finale. Tonight’s episode features Faith’s (Eliza
Dushku) return to Sunnydale to help battle an evil cleric named
Caleb, played by Nathan Fillion from the cancelled Firefly.
Murder By Numbers – HBO – No, Sandra Bullock.
You are not even remotely convincing as a “tough” homicide detective.
9:00pm
Smallville – WB – What’s this? A new episode
of Smallville? I don’t think we’re worthy. Tonight Clark begins
to investigate a student who he thinks could be an alien. Wouldn’t
that make them like brothers or something?
24 – FOX – The President continues his struggle
between wanting to attack the Middle East and his desire to wait
for Jack to save the day.
9:30pm
Watching Ellie – NBC – On tonight’s episode,
Ellie doesn’t mind her boyfriend (Darren Boyd) renting an apartment
in her building, until she finds out her neighbor, played by guest-star
Fred Willard, has his attractive niece visiting from Iceland.
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