“Jericho”
Tuesday 10pm, CBS
“Jericho” had one of the coolest premises of the 2006-07 season: small Midwestern townspeople struggle in postapocalyptic America while trying to figure out what the hell happened. Unfortunately, the execution was uneven and the ratings reflected that. CBS canceled the drama at the end of Season 1, which prompted a fierce petition campaign in which fans sent in tons of peanuts (yes, peanuts) to the network, which prompted CBS to bring it back for a truncated second season (just eight episodes). “Jericho” fans should know that the show has changed: Gerald “Major Dad” McRaney is indeed dead, and gone from the cast. Boo! But if you want “Jericho” to live for Season 3, you’ll have to swallow your disappointment and tune in.
“Knight Rider”
Sunday 9pm, NBC
Proof that Hollywood is, indeed, out of ideas: NBC is bringing back cheesetastic ’80s action show “Knight Rider” in this made-for-TV movie. It’s a ballsy move, given the Peacock net’s floundering remake of “Bionic Woman.” But with nearly nothing else but reality fare on the air, I guess it makes sense to turn to really hot, talking cars. This flick actually continues the original series, and yes, The Hoff makes an appearance as Michael Knight, the original KITT pilot. The new guy comes from “The Young and the Restless” (not the best pedigree), and he drives not one, but three hot talking cars. Goodness! Two things can make this work: It’s produced by Doug Limon (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), and Val “Ice Man” Kilmer provides the vaguely gay-ish voice for the wheels this time around.
“Dexter”
Sunday 10pm, CBS
The strike has made for some fascinating programming choices, and this is the smartest one I’ve seen. Scrambling for content, CBS has plundered sister net Showtime’s surprise smash hit about a serial killer. Expect more of this type of creative re-use in the coming months (NBC is planning to “borrow” from USA, and possibly Bravo). However, this particular decision hasn’t been without controversy; there’s a campaign to get “Dexter” taken off the “public” airwaves before it even airs. Meanwhile, hardcore fans of the show remain skeptical, arguing that the heavy editing required to make it CBS-appropriate will strip away what makes the show special. I say, poppycock. What makes the show great isn’t the blood and guts, it’s the writing and the amazingness that is Michael C. Hall (“Six Feet Under”). This is a great opportunity to catch up on one of premium cable’s best shows.
