Well, I would certainly be remiss if I didn't mention all the Inauguration coverage on TV tonight! Not that I'll be watching ...

So here goes: ABC presents A Moment in History at 10; NBC's Dateline is all about the festivities, also at 10; Larry King joins in the fun at 9 on CNN; CBS presents Change & Challenge/Inauguration of Barack Obama at 9, and so on. You get the picture. If you, like me, had to work today and couldn't sit home watching, there'll be plenty on TV tonight to satisfy your curiosity!

Me, if I'm not watching either Saw V or Repo: The Genetic Opera, which I'm expecting from Netflix today, I'll be tuning in to more shallow fare ...



Like American Idol, which tones the auditions down to only an hour tonight on Fox at 8, followed at 9 by the return of Fringe. I lost interest a little in J.J. Abrahms latest thriller last year, but think I might tune in tonight to see what's going on ...
For info on Fringe visit http://www.fox.com/fringe/

At 10 p.m. the Food Network offers up the second episode of Ted Allen's new foodie competition Chopped. Sorry guys, totally forgot about this one last week, but I'm gonna try to check it out tonight.



Of course, also at 10 p.m. Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County will continue their decedant debauchery with the aftermath of last week's alleged hook-up between a drunken Gretchen and Tamra's son Ryan -- ooooohhh, you know I'll have to get to the bottom of that one!!
For info visit http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/season/3/

The Biggest Losers continue to, ah, lose over on NBC from 8-10. Might have to take a peek just to see of trainer Bob loses it again this week. Anyone catch his expletive-filled tirade last week? It was one of the higlights of E!'s The Soup last weekend. Sorry Bob, no matter how many f's you let fly, you're still not too intimidating ...
For info visit http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/



TLC offers up a Duggar Family marathon tonight, beginning at 7. If you don't know the Duggars, the best I can tell you is that Mrs. Duggar is about 40 years old and has been pregnant, literally half her life. The Duggars have 18 children ... and counting ... again. Tonight's line-up includes 16 Children and Moving In (about the big new house the family built), Raising 16 Children and 17 Kids and Counting (about the impending birth of baby 18). Mr. Duggar, please give that woman a rest...



And for those of you just looking for shallow entertainment to pass the time, FX is airing 2004's beefcake supreme Troy. Oh yeah baby, or as I like to call it -- Baywatch for Women. Not the greatest retelling of Helen of Troy, but man, oh man, it's hard to top the masculine bravado in this flick (unless you break out your DVD of 300 and you know you have one). Starring Brad Pitt as the warrior Achilles, this film also boasts the talents of Eric Bana, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom (as the whimp Prince Paris), some young Brad Pitt look-alike and, oh yeah, Diane Kruger as the famed most beautiful woman in the world, Helen.

In other News: Everyone keeping up with 24? Last night's episode was, again, action-packed, just they way we like it. I can't wait to see how they're going to get away with killing the Prez' husband. Anyone else have any thoughts?
I won't go into details, because Fox's comprehensive episode guide does a far better job. See it here http://www.fox.com/24/recaps/season7/index.htm

Good News for Mad Men fans: AMC has renewed the show for its third season (hard to believe there was ever any doubt), and has pumped up production so it can be back for summer.

Also, someone asked in the comments about TNT's Raising the Bar. It should be back for a second season sometime this summer. For info or to watch last season visit http://www.tnt.tv/series/raisingthebar/

And back to American Idol for a moment, the final 12 contestants will be living together a la Real World-style with producers hoping to catch some compromising and/or backstabbing moments. They also reveal there will be a big surprise coming when the final 12 are decided that will catch the contestants off guard (whatever that means).

Till tomorrow ...

To all you Top Chef fans who've been asking and wondering -- Where is the affable guest judge Ted Allen? I found him -- quite by accident on New Year's Eve.



While watching a marathon of the Next Food Network Star (on the Food Network, of course), I couldn't escape the myriad of self-promotional commercials for the network's new food competition show -- Chopped.

And guess who happens to be the host -- Yes, our fave food-luving Queer Eye guy Ted Allen. So I guess that means we won't be seeing him on Top Chef anytime soon. Which is a shame, I like to see him mix it up with the other judges. However, since Gail's gone for the rest of the season too, here's wishing good luck to Ted on his new venture.

According to their web site, "Passion and expertise rule the kitchen on the fast-paced new series, Chopped. Hosted by Ted Allen (Food Detectives), the series challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets 'chopped' until the last man or woman left standing claims victory. Each week, a rotating panel of culinary elite judges including Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, and Geoffrey Zakarian (who???) will decide whose dishes shine the brightest and award the winner $10,000."
Hey, sounds a lot like the Top Chef Holiday Special from last year ...



Anyway, the new reality-based show comes with its own soon-to-be imitated catch phrase --- "You Are Chopped." Not quite as good as "Please Pack Your Knives and Go," "You Are Out," "You're Fired," "The Tribe Has Spoken" ... or, my personal favorite from Flava of Love -- "Will You Take This Clock?"

I'll be tuning in on January 13 and 10 p.m. to check it out. For more information visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/index.html