“Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country”
Friday 9pm, CMT
Jennie Garth—Kelly Taylor on “Beverly Hills, 90210”—has probably had the most consistent success of all her teen-soap castmates. After that show’s 10-season run she scored another regular gig on the sitcom “What I Like About You,” appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” and then came back to the old zip code to reprise Kelly for the first few seasons of the CW’s “90210” reboot. Now she’s got her own reality show in which she takes her three daughters and ditches L.A. to go back to her farm life roots. The interesting twist: Last month Garth announced her split from husband of 11 years, Peter Facinelli (best known from the Twilight movies and “Nurse Jackie”). Although Facinelli does not appear on the new show, Garth will reportedly deal with the divorce during the run of the series. I know it’s awful, but all I can think is, Brenda Walsh always gets her revenge!
“Fox 25th Anniversary Special”
Sunday 8pm, Fox
It’s hard to imagine a television landscape without Fox. But prior to April 5, 1987, if you didn’t have cable, it was basically ABC, CBS, NBC, or PBS. Then came this upstart network that immediately grabbed attention with ballsy programming like “Married With Children” and “The Simpsons.” In short order the network established itself with some of the most iconic programming of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Ally McBeal,” “American Idol,” “24,” and so on. To celebrate a quarter century the network is bringing back some of its biggest stars from the past, including Calista Flockhart, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny from “The X-Files,” and the entire Bundy family from “Married With Children.” Let’s hope Ed O’Neill sticks his hand down his pants just once, for old time’s sake.
“Veep”
Sunday 10pm, HBO
Of all the “Seinfeld” alums, I’ve always rooted for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ post-show career. The ambitious “Watching Ellie” didn’t catch on and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” had a respectable five-season run, but never fully harnessed her intelligence and wit. I hope this new comedy will do the trick. In “Veep” she stars as Selina Meyers, vice president of the United States, who finds that the job isn’t as exciting as outsiders might think. The cast also includes Anna Chlumsky (Vada Sultenfuss from My Girl lives!) and Tony Hale (Buster from “Arrested Development”), and the previews are very funny.
