“Big Brother 11”
Tuesday 9pm, Thursday & Sunday 8pm, CBS
The twist for “BB11” is that the 12 original housemates were divided into four groups based on traditional high school cliques: The Brains, The Athletes, The Populars, The Offbeats. Some of the sorting is specious—I don’t think Braden is popular with anyone, and for a “brain” Ronnie is astoundingly stupid—but I guess it works as a theme. Alas, the producers also introduced another twist, bringing in a player from a previous season, specifically muscle-bound pinhead Jessie from “BB10,” who somehow is even less likable now than he was last year. Still, there’s enough potential here to warrant checking in a couple times a week—I can’t wait until the house inevitably turns on grotesque bikini model Laura; I hope Russell’s apparent shirt allergy doesn’t clear up anytime soon—so I’m in again.
“Samantha Who?”
Thursday 8pm & 8:30pm, ABC
Tonight’s two episodes will be the last for this charming sophomore sitcom, cancelled after falling victim to schedule shuffling and studio budget cuts. While star Christina Applegate (adore her) is petitioning for another network to pick it up, at this point things look bleak. For those out of the loop, the series tells the story of Samantha Newly, a woman who comes out of a coma with retrograde amnesia and discovers that prior to her accident she was kind of a hateful bitch. So she sets out to make herself a better person and right her various wrongs. If it sounds similar to “My Name Is Earl,” that’s because it is. And ironically, that show got the unexpected axe this past season, too. I guess no good deed really does go unpunished…
“Being Human”
Saturday 9pm, BBC America
Vampires: so hot right now. So throw in a ghost and a werewolf and this show should be blazing. This British import is a drama/comedy with a heavy supernatural bent. Mitchell is a reluctant vampire who lives with his friend George, a werewolf in denial, and Annie, the ghost of a young woman who died in the house they now share. George and Mitchell also work at a local hospital, where they are reminded of their special natures and of the importance of humanity. Don’t worry, there are also all kinds of soapy elements for you “True Blood” and Twilight fans.
