What to Watch on TV this Weekend: Jenn's Guide

May 20 – May 26, 2016

Writing about I Love Lucy in this piece reminded me of how near and dear to our hearts we hold the shows from our childhood. Obviously, we can refer to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, The Electric Company, Captain Kangaroo and Sesame Street. When that theme music started to play, I would literally do a baseball-style slide in front of the television set, excited to watch my favorite shows for the next two hours.

Beyond the shows meant for kids were the shows meant for our parents and grandparents, such as The Carol Burnett Show, All in the Family, and The Jeffersons. And then, we had those everything-in-between programs: Little House on the Prairie, The Brady Bunch and Bewitched. And, who can forget those after-school specials – hard-hitting, eye-opening drama for a fourth grader, to be sure.

The permanent time stamp these shows have left on our hearts is undeniable. Think about it: Is there a single TV program theme song from the ‘70s or ‘80s that you couldn’t totally nail in a spirited game of Name That Tune? I can hear the funky beat of the Sanford and Sons theme song now, and I can almost smell my Granddaddy’s homemade peanut brittle, fried up on a large, rectangular griddle in our South Georgia kitchen. As Archie and Edith would sing, “Those were they days...”

Here are a few suggestions for the upcoming week of May 20 – 26.

I Love Lucy Superstar Special

Friday, May 20 – CBS – 8 p.m.

Talk about a blast from the past! This special I Love Lucy airing is colorized but promises to keep a vintage look, which means it won’t be too creepy. (As an aside, I never could get used to the in-color episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.) I Love Lucy mixes predictable humor with slapstick comedy, and we remember why Lucille Ball was one of Hollywood’s leading funny ladies. In this episode, Lucy visits Grauman's Chinese Theatre. While there, she steals a cement slab bearing John Wayne's footprints, and the John Wayne helps her to return it. This ought to be good.

Undercover Boss

Friday, May 20 – CBS – 9 p.m.

Do you perform your job differently when your boss is standing three feet away from you? Most of us would be minding our P's and Q's, for sure. In this show, the CEO or other bigwig of a large-sized company visits store locations or departments while in disguise. He or she sees the raw performances and attitudes of the employees, revealing the true identity at the end of the show. The jerks get humiliated on national television, and the model employees usually are rewarded with money, a promotion or a vacation. It can be a tear-jerker, so keep the Kleenex handy.

Toy Story

Saturday, May 21 – ABC – 8 p.m.

In the back of every kid’s mind is the thought that his toys come alive at night as he sleeps snuggled in his bed. In this movie, they do, and it’s a fabulous ride for us viewers. This movie was first released in 1995, but the message and entertaining characters are timeless. So, the time is now to introduce it to your kids. Pop some popcorn and settle in for a top-notch family flick on a Saturday night.

My Cat From Hell

Saturday, May 21 – APL – 8 p.m.

If you’re a cat person, you recognize and applaud a cat owner’s unique ability to withstand a fury of scratches, standoffish behavior and general disgust for humans. The show's host Jackson Galaxy enters the homes of people with troubled kitties, guitar case full of cat toys in hand. Galaxy attempts to turn the tumultuous situation around via treats, feathery toys and – sometimes – full-blown, wooden structures where the cats can play and not feel like they’re caged in a tiny San Francisco apartment. In each and every episode, Galaxy provokes the angry cat until blood is drawn, I’d assume for dramatic effect. Still, it’s a pretty great show for us cat lovers.

60 Minutes

Sunday, May 22 – CBS – 8 p.m.

It’s a familiar and comforting Sunday evening sound: the ticking of a clock as a new hour of 60 Minutes begins. The newsmagazine format offers, usually, three stories that will enlighten viewers, prompting them to think differently, dig deeper and really consider a variety of political and cultural issues. When a news personality is hired on as one of the faces of 60 Minutes, he (or she) knows he’s really made it. I have mad respect for this program.

The Dunk King

Sunday, May 22 – TNT – 8:30 p.m.

Whether you like basketball or couldn’t care less about it, this is exciting to watch. The NBA’s finest compete against amateur dunkers from around the world, proving that you don’t have to play for the Celtics to slam dunk the heck out of a basketball. These guys don’t just rush to the goal and slam the ball. Be prepared for acrobatics in the air and leaps over people, cars, and other random objects on their way to the rim. The kids, in particular, will be glued to the tube for this b-ball mastering competition.

This feature is brought to you by Cox Communications.

Check out the new Contour from Cox where you can find your favorite shows and movies after with Smart Search and voice commands, save up to 1,000 hours of programming, watch anywhere in your home and more.

To learn more about the latest in Cox TV offers, click here.

Do you have enough speed to stream movies? Discover your speed with just a click.

Cox is in the Community. See how we support our local communities at www.Cox-Cares.org.