Monday: The Big Bang Theory
Everyone complains about the lack of decent sitcoms on television right now, but there are a few winners out there: How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, 30 Rock. We aren't totally prepared to bump The Big Bang Theory into the all-star category yet, but with a little more time, it may just get there. Four nerds, a beautiful woman, lots of science puns: it's cute. It's also pure as the driven snow, given that none of the guys seems to have done so much as hold a girl's hand. [CBS, 8pm]
Tuesday: Brokeback Mountain
Many of us loved Heath Leger for his roles in the underrated Ten Things I Hate About You and Lords of Dogtown, among other films.
Monday: The Big Bang Theory
Everyone complains about the lack of decent sitcoms on television right now, but there are a few winners out there: How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, 30 Rock. We aren't totally prepared to bump The Big Bang Theory into the all-star category yet, but with a little more time, it may just get there. Four nerds, a beautiful woman, lots of science puns: it's cute. It's also pure as the driven snow, given that none of the guys seems to have done so much as hold a girl's hand. [CBS, 8pm]
Tuesday: Brokeback Mountain
Many of us loved Heath Leger for his roles in the underrated Ten Things I Hate About You and Lords of Dogtown, among other films. But Brokeback Mountain put him on the map. You've probably seen it before, but watch it again now and compare his sensitive, nearly-silent Ennis Del Mar to his terrifying, delirious Joker in The Dark Knight. Amazing. [HBO 2, 8pm]
Wednesday: Top Chef
The New York season of the Tom and Padma hosted cooking contest has showcased mostly mediocre food, banal personalities, and the Whole Foods on Houston. Still, we can't stop watching. Tonight is super-sized, and superbowl-tastic, with seven star contestants from previous seasons making chili frito pie and the like. We don't care so much about football, but we do like the foods! [Bravo, 10pm]
Thursday: Golden Girls
Did you realize that reruns of the most hilarious, adorable show about old people on television air on Lifetime? We didn't either! If you need to fill up your DVR, start taping at 8pm, and remember why you, your mom and your grandma loved this show in the 80s. [Lifetime, 8pm]
Friday: The New World
Although there is some talking in The New World, we like to call it the best silent movie of the modern age. Clocking in at 150 minutes, Terrence Malick's film about Captain John Smith and Pocahontas features an impressive cast of actors-Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale-few lines are spoken; the movie is as much a tribute to nature as it is a portrait of early America, with long, dreamy shots of the marshy reeds of the Virginia coast and the forests around Jamestown. It's no Days of Heaven, but we'll recommend anything by the incomparably talented Mr. Malick. [IFC, 4pm]