What was on TV? Mon, Dec 13, 2004

Bush nominated Bernard Kerik but he withdrew his name amid a scandal involving his employment of an undodumented nanny. Let's see what was on TV.

8:00 One on One on UPN

4x11 "Mojo No Mo'"

Available on PlutoTV

This is a New Years' Eve episode, and it has a really great set-up: single dad and his best bud Duane both bid on dates with their love interests at a pot-luck/date auction thingy. But there's a mix-up, and they end up on dates with each other's love interests! This is classic stuff, really putting the "situation" in situation comedy.

There's too much early-aughts meanness towards women and sexual harassment, but I have a weakness for stuff like this, mismatched pairs, misunderstanding, awkward parties, the works. Elsewhere, Flex's daughter Breanna is jealous of her boyfriend Arnaz' sexy French bandmate. But I kind of hate Arnaz? He's really inconsiderate and dismissive! Let the French girl have him! At least Breanna's best friend Spirit (one of the show's most reliable laugh-getters) gets her man at midnight!

This episode was written by MyLyssa Scott. She worked on One on One for three seasons.

This episode was directed by Maynard C. Vigil I. He started out as a stage manager, working in that capacity on The Cosby Show, Silver Spoons, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and more. He has also directed 28 episodes of television.

9:00 Girlfriends on UPN

5x11 "All the Creatures Were Stirring"

Available on Netflix and PlutoTV

This is exactly what you want from a Christmas episode all about friends an not family. The finally-together Joan and William head for Puerto Rico but get stuck in a hilariously terrible Cincinnatti hotel. There are rats, a creaky mattress, and white people everywhere, but they're happy because they're together on Christmas. Awww.

But the B-plot is my favorite. Maya, Lynn, and Toni relish the opportunity to bask in Joan's gorgeous apartment (relatable!) without having to put up with her Christmas obsession. Watching them destroy all the Christmas paraphernalia is great. But then they discover that Joan never got to celebrate Christmas with her family and now she relishes the opportunity to celebrate with her friends, and they all find a new appreciation for the season. Awww.

This episode was written by Regina Y. Hicks. She wrote the classic Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock and was the showrunner for Central Park. She is currently the showrunner of The Upshaws.

This episode was directed by Leonard R. Garner Jr. He has directed episodes of Wings, Just Shoot Me!, Eve, Raven's Home, and more.

10:00 Las Vegas on NBC (repeat)

2x04 "Catch of the Day"

Available on Peacock

Sometimes you need to watch some really stupid TV. And this was really stupid. Lobsters go missing, and it's a Defcon-1 for James Caan (he's basically Andy Garcia in Ocean's 11, but a little cuddlier). You get to hear this titan of cinema say things like "where are my lobsters?" Geoff Stults propositions a former Sports Illustrated model and then reveals he has cancer, then HARD cut to the sleazy opening credits. Michael Buble guest stars as himself. He does mime and stand-up comedy. Like I said, it's very stupid, and I enjoyed it very much.

This episode was written by Michael Berns. He wrote on Queer as Folk, Invasion, and Greek.

This episode was directed by Peter O'Fallon. He has directed episodes of Northern Exposure, Legit, and UnREAL.

What Else Was On

• MTV's The Challenge involved something called a "pop culture bike ramp." Now I wish I'd watched it.
• The Sci-Fi Channel premiered a two-part miniseries adaptation of Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea cycle starring Shawn Ashmore, Kristen Kreuk, Danny Glover, and Isabella Rossellini. Critics reacted with a shrug, and fans of the books reacted with vitriol. But they had Battlestar in the can, so it all worked out.

TiVo Status

The three-hour Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince and The Office Christmas Special from across the pond (2 hours). 5 hours with 23 hours of space left.