What to watch

Today on TV

July 17, 2008

Reality Bites Back is a reality show. No, Reality Bites Back is a satire. You're both right! Comedy Central presents its first unscripted competition series, with 10 comedians vying for supremacy in parodies of some of TV's most popular reality shows. Among the spoofed are American Idol, Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance (re-imagined here as So You Think You Can Dive, with contenders getting 24 hours to become Olympics-worthy champs). With Michael Ian Black as host, Reality Bites Back airs after the revival of The Gong Show, which features offbeat acts evaluated by celebrity judges. Comedian Dave Attell hosts (9 p.m.-11 p.m., Comedy Central).

Network

LAST COMIC STANDING 8 p.m.-10 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11 / The remaining comics must fill their shopping carts with props for a show they must perform for shoppers in a household goods store. NBC.

SMALLVILLE 8 p.m.-9 p.m., WNUV, Channel 54 / Lois (Erica Durance) follows Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) to Detroit and discovers that he has found Kara (Laura Vandervoort). CW.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE 9 p.m.-10 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45 / Lady GaGa performs as two dancers are voted off. Fox.

Today on TV Recent columns

HOPKINS 10 p.m.-11 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2 / Doctors treat a young child who needs an organ transplant. ABC.

FEAR ITSELF 10 p.m.-11 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11 / A young woman (Briana Evigan) awakens in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. NBC.

SWINGTOWN 10 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13 / Tom (Grant Show) throws a pool party without conferring with Trina (Lana Parrilla), who is bitter about his affair. CBS.

Cable

MODERN MARVELS 9 p.m.-10 p.m., History / A look at how men's underwear evolved from woolen union suits to comfortable briefs and boxers.

VH1 ROCK HONORS 9 p.m.-11 p.m., VH1 / Bands including Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters and the Flaming Lips pay tribute to The Who.

MY BOYS 9:30 p.m.-10 p.m., TBS / P.J. (Jordana Spiro) confronts Andy (Jim Gaffigan) about his relationship.

KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST 10 p.m.- 11 p.m., Bravo / Mocking Oprah Winfrey, Kathy opens up the "Kathy Griffin Leadership Academy" in a Mexican town.

Talk Shows

THE VIEW Actress Jane Seymour; chef Bobby Flay; Delta Goodrem performs. (11 a.m., WMAR-2)

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO Actor David Spade; Coldplay performs. (11:35 p.m., WBAL-11)

LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN Actor Ricky Gervais; John Mellencamp performs. (11:35 p.m., WJZ-13)