TV: Five shows worth watching tonight: Jan. 30
Your select viewing guide for Monday, Jan. 30
REALITY William Shatner's Weird or What? History, 7 p.m. ET/PT Give William Shatner credit for finally finding his niche. The Montreal native, who turns 81 next month, still sells out arenas around the world for his speaking tours and turns out several new spoken-word CDs and books each year, and every so often he manages to squeeze in a TV show. Shatner is in his third season hosting this series that attempts to lend semi-serious credence to three stories that seemingly baffle scientific explanation. Like tonight: In Arkansas, a skydiver survives a plunge without a parachute. In England, scientists try to determine whether a schoolgirl has harnessed electrical power. And in New York, a man appears to have been vaporized in a fire. Or was he?
DRAMA House Fox, Global, 8 p.m. ET/PT In terms of career momentum, Bridget Mendler is bursting out all over. The 19-year-old actress has been drawing notice for her ongoing role in the Disney Channel series Good Luck, Charlie and in films like The Clique. Tonight she tackles a serious dramatic turn playing a homeless teenager being treated by Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) for a myriad of debilitating symptoms. When her condition calls for invasive surgery, the patient finally opens up about her true identity, which includes life with a drug-addicted mother. All bedside manner falls to the wayside when the mom shows up to collect her daughter.
REALITY Fear Factor NBC, 9 p.m. ET/PT The second coming of Fear Factor has worked out nicely for NBC. Since its return last month, the bizarre reality concept has garnered respectable ratings for the peacock network, which likely means the show will return for another edition some time this summer. In tonight's season closer, host Joe Rogan goads the contestants into risking life and limb for the $100,000 grand prize. In the first stunt, the players are yanked off a cliff's edge and sent spinning into space on a bungee cord attached to a hovering helicopter. And yes, if you've seen the promos, the contestants actually have to lie in a tub full of leeches – but only if they eat 10 leeches first! Shouldn't this show be on The Food Network?
REALITY Canada's Greatest Know It All Discovery, 10 p.m. ET/PT So you think you're pretty clever, do you? Match your wits – and ego – against the 10 individuals in this new TV competition. The eight-part series challenges average Canadians in the fields of general knowledge, problem-solving skills, co-operation and game-playing strategy. Tonight's opener introduces the contestants, more than a few of whom have egos in accordance with their higher brain power. For their first assignment, they're divided into two teams and challenged to construct the strongest four-walled structure possible with available materials. Daniel Fathers hosts.
MOVIE The Boxer Vision, midnight ET, 9 p.m. PT It is not by accident that Daniel Day-Lewis has won two Academy Awards. The British thespian fully immerses himself into every role he takes and has only appeared in four movies since appearing in this powerful 1997 drama. Day-Lewis delivers a searing portrayal as former boxer Danny Flynn, who comes home to Belfast following years in prison and reconnects with his old flame Maggie (Emily Watson), whose own husband is behind bars. In an attempt to revive his old neighbourhood, Danny starts up a non-sectarian boxing club in a gym, much to the ire of local IRA lieutenant Harry (Gerard McSorley)