“Cash Cab”
Weekdays 10 & 10:30pm, Discovery Channel
Oh, I love this stupid show! Ben Bailey is a comedian and, for the purposes of this show, a taxi driver. He picks up “unsuspecting” (on this part, I’m dubious) passengers, and as soon as the car doors close the interior roof turns into a laser light show and the fun begins. As Bailey drives people from Point A to Point B he bombards them with general-knowledge trivia questions, and the more correct answers they give, the more money the passengers make. If they’re stumped, passengers can call a friend or holler out the window at passersby for advice. It’s insanely goofy, but the people involved all seem to have a blast. I’m seriously considering booking a Big Apple trip for the sole purpose of hailing that taxi.
“Top Chef: 4-Star All-Stars”
Wednesday 10pm, Bravo
Before Season 3 of the top-rated cooking challenge begins next week, the producers bring back eight of the toughest competitors from the first two seasons to duke it out for charity. Season 1’s Harold, Stephen, Dave and Tiffani will face off against Season 2’s Ilan, Elia, Sam and Marcel. Given how much these eight people hated each other during their respective seasons—and considering the smack S2 winner Ilan talked about S1 victor Harold —this could quickly devolve into drama overload. Frankly, I’m uninterested in that. The most compelling part of “Top Chef” is seeing what these folks can do with some random ingredients and a little bit of time. The petty squabbles get old fast.
“John from Cincinnati”
Sunday 10pm, HBO
HBO has picked this new drama from David “Deadwood” Milch to fill the sizable cement shoes of “The Sopranos,” which wraps its run immediately prior to this series premiere. Details on the plot are sketchy, which may be intentional. Here’s what we know: It involves a SoCal surfing family and the titular stranger, who comes to them looking for surfing lessons. He is, of course, not what he seems. There also appears to be levitation involved, and I’m hearing rumors about aliens. Pretty whack, but HBO had so much faith that it fast-tracked production so that it could take advantage of the post-“Sopranos” berth. The cast alone should make the first episode worth watching: Bruce Greenwood, Luke Perry, Ed O’Neill and the always-welcome Rebecca De Mornay. It’s been too long, lady.
