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Movies & TV

NOW Picks : Television

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Who’s next

You don’t have to be a Klingon-spouting sci-fi geek to dig Dr. Who . Esteemed NOW theatre critic Jon Kaplan is a huge fan of the time/space-warping adventure series, and I’ve never once seen him wearing Spock ears or arguing about whether Han or Greedo shot first. David Tennant (Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire) is the 10th actor to play the titular Time Lord in the popular British series’ 44-year history, and for this incarnation he’s joined by a new sidekick, a med student played by Freema Agyeman . Together, they seek out new life and new civilizations in a galaxy far, far away (or something like that). Begins Monday, June 18, at 8 pm on CBC .

Cycle fever

Even a non-cycling schlub like me gets excited come time for the Tour de France . Something about the speed, the stamina, pushing the body beyond what it seems capable of…. Or maybe it’s the potential for ass-over-handlebars multi-bike pileups and serious road rash. Kind of like Indy racing without the seat belts and the smell of burnt rubber. Sure, we were all getting a little sick of the sight of Lance Armstrong in that yellow bib, to say nothing of the rocker girlfriend and the surviving-ball-cancer thing. But we’re past that, so cycle on. Live daily coverage runs July 7 to 29 on OLN .

Hollywood heavies

Just like the movies, most summer TV shows are pure fluff. (Look no further than National Bingo Night and Who Wants To Be A Superhero?.) But if you’re in the mood for something with a little substance – and you’ve already caught up on The Shield and The Sopranos – Out Of Order is just the ticket. For starters, its cast is stacked with noteworthy names. There’s Eric Stoltz as a screenwriter with a wandering eye and a clinically depressed wife, played by Felicity Huffman , who self-medicates along with her washed-up movie producer pal ( William H. Macy ). There’s real-life director Peter Bogdanovich as a director, Deadwood’s Kim Dickens as a sexy soccer mom and Justine Bateman , last seen in Men In Trees, as a cougar in the making. Airs Tuesdays at 10 pm on Showcase starting May 29.

Get real

Speaking of cougars, older gals on the prowl figure prominently in one of the slushy slew of reality series hoping to repeat the summer launch success of a little show called Survivor. In fact, Survivor guru Mark Burnett has two shows – the wannabe Hollywood director series On The Lot co-produced with Steven Spielberg , and the cashing-in-on-the-Pirates Of The Caribbean craze Pirate Master . The latter pits would-be Jack Sparrows against each other aboard a 179-foot square rigger as they buckle swashes in search of buried buccaneer booty. Infamous exes Shar Jackson (Kevin Federline’s pre-Britney skank, ah, paramour), Angie Everhart (ex of Sylvester Stallone and Ashley Hamilton) and Marla Maples (The Donald’s ex) dish relationship advice on The Ex-Wives Club (urp, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit). NBA star Shaquille O’Neal tries to help children live healthier lives on Shaq’s Big Fat Challenge . And Aussie tennis star Mark Philippoussis (winner of the 96 Australian Open) plays bachelor on Age Of Love . The series sees the 31-year-old courting a group of six “kittens” in their 20s and seven cougars (betcha were wondering when I’d get around to that). On The Lot airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on CTV and Fox Pirate Master begins Thursday, May 31, at 8 pm on CBS The Ex-Wives Club airs Mondays at 9 pm on ABC Shaq’s Big Fat Challenge begins Tuesday, June 26, at 9 pm on ABC Age Of Love begins Monday, June 18 at 10 pm on NBC.

Soccer surge

Danny Dichio may not be a household name, at least not on the level of a Mats Sundin or Chris Bosh, but to football fans (that’s soccer to you heathens) he’s one for the record books. Literally. The Toronto FC forward scored the home team’s first-ever goal in the team’s first victory. And if you haven’t yet been to a game, CBC has you covered. The Mother Corp is airing 14 regular-season games. Craig Forrest , former Canadian national team goalkeeper, provides analysis of the matches alongside veteran play-by-play commentator Nigel Reed . Mitch Peacock , one of the most knowledgeable Major League Soccer commentators in Canada, reports from the sidelines and hosts feature stories during CBC’s MLS telecasts. Check www.cbc.ca for schedules.

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