“58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards”
Sunday 8pm, NBC
SCANDAL: Due to a complicated new voting system, last year’s drama winner, “Lost,” is shut out of every major category. SCANDAL: So is last year’s darling “Desperate Housewives”—but that’s because everyone agrees the show sucks now. SCANDAL: Ellen Burstyn nabbed a Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie nod for a role featuring literally just 14 seconds of screen time. Good job, Academy! With all that controversy, this year’s awards shouldn’t be too boring. Conan O’Brien returns to host, so that’s a good sign. Still, count on sentimental faves like “Will & Grace” and “The West Wing” to collect several trophies for their swan song seasons. Yawn. At least you can amuse yourself by waiting for Teri Hatcher ‘s epiphany that her second 15 minutes are clocking in at about 14:59 and counting…
“Surviving Katrina”
Sunday 9pm, Discovery
This Discovery doc is just one of the many, many programs airing on or around the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (Spike Lee’s two-parter, “When the Levees Broke,” replays in its entirety Tuesday, August 29, on HBO). This two-hour special features an exploration of the meteorology behind the storm, reconstructions of the event, interviews with survivors, and never-before-seen foot-age from inside the Superdome. Pretty gripping stuff, to be sure. Best of all, there’s an interview with former FEMA director Michael Brown, who no doubt has plenty to say on the matter.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Sunday 11 & 11:30pm, FX
It’s almost embarrassing to compare this snarky sitcom to “Seinfeld.” But…how can you not? The situation is four nearly 30-somethings trying to muddle their way into adulthood. The comedy comes from them being misanthropic screw-ups without a clue in the world. Watch as one deals with taking care of the hellacious brat he just found out he accidentally fathered during high school. Laugh as the group instigates and then gets involved in a middle school b’ball rumble. And yet somehow we still root for them. The successful second season is all but wrapped up, but you can still catch a few episodes. Here’s hoping season-long guest star Danny DeVito sticks around for Season 3…if there is one.
