America's Got Talent on NBC

After last week's many tragedies, we were grateful to lighten up this week with some good old fake drama: a ghastly goodbye, the return of a very undead celebrity, and a Bachelor reunion so silly we hope it was staged. Welcome to Top Moments, refreshingly phony edition. See the list after the jump. read more 25 Comments

America's Got Talent
9 pm/ET NBC
The good, the bad and the ugly. That's essentially what is going down in these early star-search audition shows. But the good acts will slowly separate from the others, leaving them behind to advance to the "Vegas Verdicts" and a chance to score the ultimate $1 million prize. Tonight the colorful hopefuls showcase their talents in the fourth audition installment.

Read on for previews of American Masters, Primetime: Crime, RENO 911! and New Adventures of Old Christine. read more 4 Comments

Some recent ratings highlights:

• America's Got Talent on Tuesday tallied an audience of 11.3 million total viewers — a drop of 12 percent from its previous premiere, but still the night's most watched program. Its second outing dipped 8 percent, to 10.39 mil.

• ABC's The Superstars opened to a not-entirely-super 4.34 mil on Tuesday. In turn, the (thankfully) already-renewed Better Off Ted only managed 1.87 mil.

Take a quiz on reality competition shows

• On Wednesday, ABC's Wipeout scored 7.7 mil, topping So You Think You Can Dance in the 8 o'clock hour. All told, Fox's Dance averaged ... read more 7 Comments

Season 4 of America's Got Talent (premiering Tuesday at 9pm/ET on NBC) has a lot to live up to after the British version's Susan Boyle-enhanced record ratings. But judge Piers Morgan has no doubt the American version will thrive as well — perhaps even with Boyle's help.

Morgan says Boyle, who finished second in the British version of the show, might perform for American viewers as well.

The Cleaner
10 pm/ET A&E
 "Clean" doesn't always mean "bright" as evidenced by the gloomy second-season opener, which features guest star Whoopi Goldberg. The main story follows William's attempt to help a national-news anchor, played by Gary Cole, who claims to have been clean for years, but William knows better. The irony is that the man is a spokesperson for recovery. There's also little light behind the scenes, with William's troubled marriage and news of a friend's terminal illness.

Read on for previews of The Superstars, America's Got Talent, NYC Prep and Primetime: Family Secrets. read more 1 Comment