I know. Your TV dance card is already full. The TiVo is filling up with episodes of Mad Men and Dexter, while you struggle to track who gets kicked off Survivor and Dancing With the Stars each week before surfing to Hulu or iTunes to catch Tina Fey's latest devastating Sarah Palin sketch. But there are more new shows coming this week — a final burst to complete the new fall schedule. And a lot of them are actually pretty good. So clear space on your favorites list. Here are a few more can't-miss series:
My Own Worst Enemy, 10 p.m. Monday, WFLA-Ch. 8: Yes, this story of a guy with a chip in his head switching personalities between a superspy killer and his office-worker cover identity feels like a Bourne Identity ripoff. But you won't care much, given NBC's lush production values and Christian Slater's lean, focused take on spy Edward and normal guy Henry. Just ignore the huge Chevrolet commercial embedded in the show's middle.
Eli Stone, 10 p.m. Tuesday, WFTS-Ch. 28: Last year, I couldn't believe a show about a guy with a brain growth giving him prophetic visions could be so entertaining. Now, after an operation to remove the growth, San Francisco lawyer Eli Stone finds he liked the delusions — including surprise appearances by George Michael — more than he knew. And so did his friends. Extra points for an inspired turn by Sigourney Weaver as his therapist.
Chocolate News, 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Comedy Central: David Alan Grier leads this side-splitting take on a black-centered news network, kicking off with a screed on the death of hip-hop by dissing 50 Cent for selling vitamin water and ridiculing DMX's arrest for parking in a handicapped space. Grier plays most roles here, donning a fat suit to play a rapper who films an explicit promotional video for the No Child Left Behind program. It's worse — and better — than you can imagine.
Crash, 10 p.m. Friday, Starz: Uber weirdo Dennis Hopper is typically over the top as an unhinged record producer who enjoys abusing his chauffeurs and talking to his, um, equipment. Like the Oscar-winning film, this explicit series tracks the sordid, messy lives of several Los Angelenos across race and class lines. And, like the movie, it's hard to find a moral in the parade of corrupt cops, Asian gangbangers and desperate suburbanites whose stories cross and collide.
Crusoe, 10 p.m. Friday, WFLA: Filmed on location with a high budget, this revival of stranded 17th century Englishman Robinson Crusoe's classic story turns Friday into a friend rather than a manservant and Crusoe into an island refugee capable of building machines worthy of Rube Goldberg or MacGyver. Crusoe needs them when he's caught between murderous pirates and Spanish soldiers; cameos from Sean Bean and Sam Neill only add to the prestige.
TiVo
Final presidential debate, 9 p.m. Wednesday, all major broadcast networks, cable news channels, PBS and C-SPAN: With an increasingly desperate John McCain now 0 for 2 in debate performances, expect him and Barack Obama to stretch the rules as far as possible to avoid an actual debate. Here's hoping moderator Bob Schieffer has better luck than his predecessors in forcing a debate, rather than hosting a succession of focus group-ready mini stump speeches.
Ti-Maybe
Little People, Big World, 8 p.m. Monday, TLC: Reality shows can add a quick shot of drama by sending the star to visit troops in Iraq, where they marvel at bullet-riddled Humvees and pontificate about the danger. Still, little person Matt Roloff's trip to Iraq, bringing a physician expert in dwarfism to visit a family with three dwarf children, is touching. As a bonus, the focus on dynamic Matt cuts screen time for his bratty kids and unappreciative wife. the list
As the nation turns its attention to a presidential election, the couch potatoes editing the AOL TV site have picked their all-time favorite TV politicians. Here's my take on their list, putting it in the proper order and adding some worthy names.
10 President Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits), The West Wing.
9 Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox), Spin City.
8 State Sen. Clay Davis, (Isaiah Whitlock Jr.), The Wire.
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