Celebrity News:

-"The Week the Women Went," an eight-part series kicking off tonight, sees a group of women from the small town of Hardisty, Alta., taking a relaxing trip away from their everyday lives for a week to find out how their spouses cope back at home. Video diaries and candid footage show the men organizing "daddy day cares" and bonding sessions to help each other out. (CBC)

-In the future, he's the saviour of the world. But in tonight's episode of the much buzzed about "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," John is just a regular teenager starting his first day at his new high school. (CTV, Fox)

-Sure, "American Gladiators" is often cheesy, but it's also laugh-out-loud hilarious at times, especially during the elimination round when the final contestants get bloodied and bruised. Perhaps that is what's drawing so many viewers, who tuned in to the first two episodes of the strength and endurance competition in large numbers. Let's see if that trend continues with tonight's new episode. (Citytv)

-Speaking of bloodied and bruised, it looks like the battered inmates at Sona on "Prison Break" won't be getting out any time soon as Michael's escape plan is derailed - yet again - by the demotion of Lechero, the kingpin of the nasty prison in Panama. (Global, Fox)

-Darcy, the cheerleader on the Canadian teen drama "Degrassi: The Next Generation," faces a crisis when after a night with her bad-boy boyfriend, she awakens in a strange bed and can't remember what happened. (CTV)


Tuesday, Jan. 22

-If you only have time for one program tonight, make it "Extras." Ricky Gervais recently won a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of a witty struggling movie extra in this BBC/HBO import comedy that has finally hit regular cable. Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who together created the British series "The Office," are also the brains behind this six-part critical hit. Guest-stars include Ben Stiller, Samuel L. Jackson and Kate Winslet, who hams it up as a sex maniac in this premiere. (The Comedy Network)

-"The Guard" follows four members of the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue team as they save lives in Squamish, B.C. A picturesque setting to be sure, but producers say crews faced tough conditions while filming the episodes. On one shoot, camera operators had to tape hand-warmer packs around the lens to keep it from icing up. Storylines also delve into the lives of the crew. (Global)

-The documentary "Return to Fat Camp" follows five young people as they try to shed pounds in a weight-loss camp in the U.S. (MTV)

-Reality TV continues with the time-honoured "American Idol," featuring the Seattle auditions (CTV, Fox) and "Life of Ryan," about a young skateboarding prodigy. (MTV)


Wednesday, Jan. 23

-"The Moment of Truth," premiering tonight, adds a new, twisted dimension to the American TV game show landscape as contestants are asked personal questions in front of a studio audience - while connected to a lie detector machine. Those who answer 21 questions without fibbing can win up to $500,000. Similar versions of the show have already aired in nearly two dozen countries. It's billed as "the most intense show in the world," and some previews for the American version are cringe-worthy, with questions including "Do fat people repulse you?" as asked by an overweight woman. (CTV, Fox)

-It was put on the backburner earlier this month due to a scheduling change, but the premiere of "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" is finally here. This is the Canadian debut of the reality series that follows laid-back rapper Snoop Dogg and his family. Snoop, a frequent fixture of the celebrity party scene, shows a more grounded side of himself in this series, raising his three kids and taking up yoga, meditation and acupuncture. (E)

-"Marketplace" host Wendy Mesley examines the content of foods that are purported on their labels to be among the healthiest choices at the grocery store. She finds that some health claims on popular foods "could be misleading, and may be motivated by more than just offering healthy choices." (CBC)


Thursday, Jan. 24

-There's no doubt some pet owners in North America are still disturbed by last year's string of dog and cat deaths caused by a harmful ingredient from China that was put in pet food. "A Dog's Breakfast," on "The Doc Zone," says many pet owners still don't know exactly what goes into their furry friends' kibble and canned dishes. (CBC)

-Margaret Trudeau appears on the Canadian genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?" to research her ancestors and make "sense of her place outside of her famous former husband's (Pierre Trudeau's) legacy," says a release. (CBC)

-"Murdoch Mysteries" also goes back in time - to 1895 Toronto, to be exact. The intriguing Canadian mystery series, debuting tonight, stars Yannick Bisson ("Sue Thomas, F. B. Eye") as detective William Murdoch, whose vast knowledge of science and technology helps him solve crimes. The show is based on mystery novels by Canadian writer Maureen Jennings. The first episode sees Murdoch investigating the electrocution of a woman. (Citytv)

-Lightening the mood is "The Celebrity Apprentice," which has so far been a ratings flop. Last week's firing of Gene Simmons, one of the most entertaining personalities on the show, doesn't help. Perhaps tonight's guest-appearance by David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier" fame will draw in more viewers. (Global, NBC)

-In a new episode of "Ugly Betty," the title character has a problem during an interview with a novelist. (Citytv, ABC)

-Also new is tonight's double bill of "Chuck." The first fresh episode airs before "The Celebrity Apprentice," and the other one airs after it. (NBC)


Friday, Jan. 25

-Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston kissing. And that about sums up the salacious hook for tonight's season 1 finale of Cox's tabloid drama "Dirt." The episode has Aniston guest-starring as a longtime rival to Cox's character, Lucy. Despite their bitter history, the two somehow end up in a lip-lock. In other big developments for this closer, Lucy's stalker is revealed and Don's schizophrenia gets much worse. (Bravo)

-Also closing out for the season is "Road Hockey Rumble," which has hosts Calum MacLeod and Mark McGuckin travelling to St. Stephen, N.B. The community sits on the Canada-U.S. border and, fittingly, the road hockey game they play pits Canucks against Americans. (OLN)

-A remote area of northern India is the setting for the season-ender of "Last One Standing," in which athletes compete in an array of tribal games. This closer has them learning the martial art of aki kiti, in which the soles of the feet are the only weapons - and the only defence. (Discovery Channel)

-The new Canadian series "Tow Biz" pays tribute to towing operators, "the unsung heroes of the highways and byways." This first episode of the 13-part series follows Danny (Boss Man) Sanderson and Cindy Stunden as they help people stranded on the roads. (OLN)

-"BravoFact" pays tribute to the Sundance Film Festival by featuring two of the Canadian short films screening at this year's edition - "I Have Seen the Future" and "The Funeral." The festival wraps up next Wednesday. (Bravo)


Saturday, Jan. 26

-The "One X One Gala," hosted by Matt Damon, should provide some respite for those bemoaning the absence of glitzy red carpet awards ceremonies on TV due to the writers strike. The star-studded event, airing tonight, was held in Toronto in September and honoured luminaries who have helped "make the world a better place for children." This year's award recipients included actor Richard Gere, supermodel Petra Nemcova, Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations, entertainer Wyclef Jean and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Jean also performed at the gala, along with Shakira, the African Children's Choir and singing prodigy Nikki Yanofsky. (CTV)

-In a decidedly less glamorous vein is "Red Bull Crashed Ice 2008." The live special covers the quirky sports event that sees competitors skating down a twisting ice track at speeds of over 50 kilometres an hour through the streets of Old Quebec. The event is described as "a combination of hockey, downhill skiing and bordercross." As many as 75,000 spectators are expected to attend. (TSN)

-In its season 3 debut, "What's That About?" explores locations and occupations that are remote or in some cases top-secret. This premiere looks at the beer-making business in Canada with profiles of breweries in Charlottetown, Moncton, N.B., and Toronto. (Discovery Channel)

-Remember that popular commercial of supermodel Cindy Crawford chugging a can of Pepsi in a tight white tank top while two young boys look on in admiration? It's among the spots in the special "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials." (CBS)


Sunday, Jan. 27

-While hockey players impress audiences with their fast skating skills on the "NHL All-Star Game" (CBC), dozens of other athletes - as well as a string of quirky characters - will perform odd and amazing feats in "Guinness World Records: Top 100." The special will include "a death-defying stunt" performed live at the end of the show, says the network. (NBC)

-In a new episode of "The Simpsons" we learn of Marge's university education and Homer's history as a musician. (Fox, Global)

-Tonight's "King of the Hill" storyline sees the Arlen city council banning trans fats. (Fox, Global)

-"Would Be Kings" is a new Canadian miniseries about drug-squad police officers dealing with on-the-job corruption. The drama is loosely based on Shakespeare's "King Henry IV." The first half of the four-hour miniseries airs tonight, and the second half tomorrow. Currie Graham and Ben Bass play the lead characters. (CTV)

-On "The Wire," Joe goes into hiding after paying his last respects to a fallen colleague, and the newspaper is scooped by a TV station on a big story. (The Movie Network, Movie Central)

-James Woods's character, Sebastian, on "Shark" realizes the shooting death of his former law partner was really a failed attempt to kill him. (Global, CBS)

-Speaking of bullet wounds, "Inside a Gunshot Victim" is a special outlining exactly what happens when a bullet hits the body. Profiled is a man who survived getting shot seven times in one incident. (National Geographic Channel)