“Parenthood”
Tuesday 10pm, NBC
Loosely based on the 1989 film of the same name, and unrelated to the original NBC adaptation of the movie from the ’90s, “Parenthood” follows the many offshoots of the Braverman family as they try to figure out their screwed-up lives without further screwing up their children. The cast is great: Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) stepped into the lead role of a harried single mother after the originally cast Maura Tierney was diagnosed with cancer; Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”) plays her older brother dealing with his son’s recent Asperger’s diagnosis; butterface Dax Shepard (When In Rome) is their slacker brother reeling from the discovery that he’s a dad; Erika Christensen (Traffic) is the workaholic sister; and Craig T. Nelson (“Coach”) and Bonnie Bedelia (Die Hard) play their parents. Most exciting: Ann from “Arrested Development” is getting work!
“The Barbara Walters Special”
Sunday 7pm, ABC
After 29 years, pioneering journalist Barbara Walters has elected to retire her annual pre-Oscars special, following this year’s sitdown with nominees Sandra Bullock and Mo’Nique. Bullock has been a Hollywood staple since Speed, but she’s never exactly been considered a great actress. That changed this year with her feel-good flick The Blind Side, which has her going up against Meryl “T-Bone” Streep and Helen Mirren in the Best Actress category. (Rumor has it that Streep and Bullock have been playfully sending each other death threats leading up to the ceremony. I hope that’s true.) Meanwhile, Mo’Nique was chilling in Precious, and has been totally delightful in her gaspy, soulful acceptance speeches this awards season. Also expect a retrospective of Babs’ greatest Oscar night interviews, and stay tuned for the Oscars themselves following the show.
“The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding”
Monday 8pm, ABC
Last year Hausfrau Nation lost its collective shit when the 2009 “Bachelor,” Jason Mesnick, dumped his original choice, Melissa Rycroft, and instead went with his runner-up, Molly Malaney. Ultimately things have worked out pretty well for all parties, as Rycroft has created quite the reality TV career for herself via “Dancing With the Stars” and other appearances, and she got married to a former boyfriend, and Mesnick and Malaney will become the first “Bachelor” couple to actually walk down the aisle in this TV special. Yes, it’s gross to pimp their big day like this, but when you consider how they met, it’s only natural.
