Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
January 8, 2004

January is jumping in the world of television. 

"Average Joe 2" airs on NBC Mondays at 10 p.m.  Unlike, "Joe Millionaire 2," which suffered because everyone knew the premise the second time around, this show wisely taped the second edition before the original "Average Joe" aired.  Former WCAU reporter Andrew Glassman is the executive producer of the show.  This round was taped in Hawaii (because everything is better in Hawaii.)

Ryan Seacrest's assault on America continues with the debut of his daytime show "On the Air with Ryan Seacrest" Monday at 5 p.m. on WXTF ("Judge Judy" moves to 4 p.m.). Of course, he's no fool.  He'll be back to host "American Idol 3" on Fox January 19 with judge/stars Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson.

Another one of my favorites from last year - "Surreal Life" is returning for another season on WB Sunday at 9 p.m.  This year's "celebrity" housemates are Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy, Erik Estrada, Vanilla Ice, Traci Bingham, and Trishelle Canatella from "Real World Las Vegas."

Speaking of "Real World," MTV's latest installment is set in San Diego this year.  It airs on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.  The word on the street is that it will finally do a season in Philadelphia this season.

Also, "The Osbournes" returns to MTV's "10 spot" on Sunday nights.  The episodes were filmed before Ozzy's recent accident.

Viewers can enjoy new episodes of "Sex and the City" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO Sunday at 9 p.m. 

ABC offers "Celebrity Mole Yucatan" on Wednesdays at 10 p.m.  Corbin Bernsen, Stephen Baldwin, Mark Curry, Angie Everhart, Dennis Rodman, Ananda Lewis, and Tracey Gold are evidently the celebs that couldn't get into the "Surreal Life" House.

"The Apprentice" with Donald Trump airs on NBC Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.

Lifetime's original shows "The Division" and "Strong Medicine," which is set in Philadelphia are back with new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m.

"Things Just Keep Getting Better" with new episodes of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" on Bravo Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

And it's not January, but February 1st is close enough to get excited for "Survivor All-Stars" on CBS premiering after "The Super Bowl."