As United States of Tara concludes its first season (Sunday, 10 pm/ET on Showtime), our leading lady is on the cusp of confronting a possible key to her multiple personalities, with her family (mostly) there to support her. Tara's (Toni Collette) decision to go off her medication for Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has had significant impact on everyone around her. Each family member seeks closure, while new questions are raised. TVGuide.com caught up with Diablo Cody — the series writer and co-producer with Steven Spielberg — to get her take on the final freshman episode, find out where the show's going next season, which alter was the toughest to tackle — and why it was compared with her Oscar-winning script for Juno. Plus: Check back next week for the scoop on Cody's 90210 appearance with Tori Spelling and more.
Read it all, after the jump.
read more
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
8 pm/ET HBO
Never underestimate a woman's intuition. An ebullient Jill Scott stars as Precious Ramotswe, a woman who opens the titular agency after her father dies. In the breezy, two-hour premiere episode — which was written by Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and the late Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) and directed by Minghella — Precious sets up shop and investigates all sorts of female-centric malfeasance. The postcard-pretty series, based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith, was filmed entirely on location in Botswana. A nearly unrecognizable Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) costars as Precious' odd assistant.
Read on for previews of Amazing Race 14, United States of Tara, Masterpiece Classic and The Simpsons.
read more
Showtime's United States of Tara tackles fresh territory with its portrayal of a woman with dissociative identity disorder (DID, played by Toni Collette) through the prism of a suburban family. TVGuide.com spoke with co-writer Alexa Junge (Friends, West Wing) and Brie Larson (who plays Tara's daughter, Kate) on how the show balances quirky moments and the delicate subject material, what it was like working with the show's creator and co-writer, Diablo Cody, and why real life isn't PG.
read more
Barbara Walters Special
7 pm/ET ABC
Red carpet? Barbara Walters don't need no stinkin' red carpet to snag A-listers for her Oscar preshow. Tonight's lineup includes two of the most talked-about nominees: first-timers Anne Hathaway and Mickey Rourke. Guest Hugh Jackman wasn't nominated, but he is tonight's Oscar host. Besides, he won an Emmy in 2005 — for hosting the Tonys. (Jackman also won a Tony in 2004.) Then there are the Jonas Brothers. They may not have any ties to the Oscars, but does that really matter?
Read on for previews of 81st Academy Awards, Flight of the Conchords, Eastbound & Down and United States of Tara.
read more
There's an episode of Family Guy where Peter gets to do an "everyman" editorial segment on the evening news with the tagline: "You know what really grinds my gears?" Then he rambles about something that annoys him. It's hard not to think of this bit every time something really off happens on one of our favorite TV shows. We asked around the office to see what stories or characters really "grind our gears" lately.
The Office
Why the heck can't Jim plan a simple party for Kelly? Yes, it's funny that he and Dwight are the party-planning committee, but Jim is thoughtful and sweet, not a moron. Why can't he buy a nice cake and some balloons and put together a fun party? This is the same guy who bought Pam a teapot she mentioned once and filled it with all sorts of fun inside jokes. But he can't spell Kelly's name? Come on.
Lost
We're really getting tired of all the island trekking: from the beach to New Otherton to the caves to the hatches. Can't they just stay in one place for an episode? Read more of our pet peeves after the jump.
read more
