SATURDAY
E! True Hollywood Story:
Johnny Depp
Star!, 9 p.m. This is just the kind of show that actor Johnny Depp hates, particularly since it's about himself: a hyped-up hagiography that lovingly remarks on his drug-and-booze-addled years as a rite of passage. And yet, as a woman who'd watch just about anything featuring the 40-year-old actor's actor, this cheesy hour is as irresistible as his big brown eyes.
SUNDAY
The Passionate Eye:
The Royals and Their Pets
Newsworld, 10 p.m. When you don't own a pet, listening to others ramble on about their animals gets boring fast. It's like listening to cute stories about someone else's kids when you're not parentally inclined. This hourlong documentary about centuries of British Royal family pets and regal animals on other continents suffers from the same problem. It's full of posh, eccentric folk who dote on their dogs, and it's mostly dogs, many of them specifically sovereign bred. There's also Katharine MacDonogh, author of Reigning Cats and Dogs, who offers historical anecdotes. We're shown how the Queen only seems to relax around the kennel, and how her beloved corgis don't often listen to her command. But mostly we meet Princess Michael of Kent in her home and garden as she delights in sharing riveting trivia about her four-legged brood. The Royals and Their Pets is a juicy bone for monarchists and dog fanciers.
TUESDAY
The Real Spartacus
History, 8 p.m. British military historian Mark Corby traipses around the Italian countryside retracing the steps of Spartacus and his slave army. This British doc is crammed with specifics about the terrible lives led by Roman slaves; cruelties never really brought up in the feature film Gladiator. Corby tours ruins and spins stories about the sordid life of the slave class, though his main goal is to find out more about the man who rose from the dregs of society and stunned the Roman Empire with his slave revolt.
WEDNESDAY
Antiques Roadshow 25 Years
Newsworld, 10 p.m. What makes you laugh in this retrospective of the popular British series are the glimpses into the personal lives of Antiques Roadshow's well-known appraisers. Seems the world of antiques can be quite stressful, so we get to see how they get away from it all, whether it's playing drums in a band, bee-keeping or gardening (a hobby that cer-amics guru Hugo Morley-Fletcher admits leads to viewer complaints about his dirty fingernails). There's vintage footage going back to 1977, comedy spoofs and the appraisers talk about their favourite finds as we watch clips from the original show. Roadshow's visits to Toronto and Ottawa receive a mention from pottery nut Henry Sandon who says he received more kisses from fans in Toronto than he has in 45 years of marriage.
THURSDAY
World Idol
Fox, CTV, 9 p.m. Don't forget the spine-tingling finale as one person is crowned best karaoke singer in the universe! Quite honestly, this could be bad for their careers. In anticipation of the third American Idol season starting in a few weeks, true fans won't want to miss the behind-the-scenes special American Idol: Life on the Road at 8 p.m. on Fox.