Is Jennifer Love Hewitt in on the joke?

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May 03, 2012 12:00 AM

TUNE IN TONIGHT by Kevin McDonough

While I've never been a huge fan of talk show host Chelsea Handler, I'm curious about tonight's "Chelsea Lately" (11 p.m., E!, TV-14). The host, also an actress and author, has a good sense of the ridiculous and absolutely no scruples about discussing the intimate, embarrassing and disgusting.

Both talents should come in handy when chatting with Jennifer Love Hewitt, whose new Lifetime series, "The Client List," is ridiculously disgusting. For the uninitiated, "The Client List" is about a hapless single mother who drives 200 miles a day to work at a massage parlor, where sexual "extras" are on the menu. The show would be tragic if it weren't so stupid and absurd. Given the material, I'm curious to see what Handler makes of "The Client List" and its star.

The 2009 documentary "65RedRoses" (9 p.m., OWN) makes its television debut. It tells the story of Eva Markvoort, a woman who fights a genetic disorder and bonds with fellow patients while awaiting a crucial transplant.

"Roses" sounds important, well-meaning and redemptive. In short, it's like much of the prime-time programming on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

It's no secret that OWN has been struggling since its debut in January 2011. It's never easy to start a new network, even when its founder was the h! ost and executive producer of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." And that show's history demonstrates the evolution of its star's and its audience's sensibilities. Winfrey began her show competing for sensation and sleaze with the likes of talk show hosts Geraldo Rivera and Jerry Springer. It would take decades for her to start her book clubs, her charity and her exalted personal style, with its emphasis on uplift.

It's become clear that OWN has too much educational "Oprah" and not enough fun, celebrities-jumping-on-the-couch "Oprah." It's become the eat-your-broccoli network.

Winfrey, one of the most successful and resourceful media titans of the past generation, must be aware of this. It should be interesting to see how, or if, she can put the entertainment back in her namesake network.

TONIGHT'S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Each study group member reacts to tragedy differently on "Community" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

Another finalist goes home on "American Idol" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).

A new nemesis is exposed on "Missing" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

Angie Jordan's (Sherri Shepherd) boutique line is launched on "30 Rock" (8:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Finch wants Reese to recharge his batteries on "Person of Interest" (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

Jim and Dwight join forces to fend off competition from a sister branch on "The Office" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

Jake's numbers enable Martin to help a French woman find her birth mother on "Touch" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

"James Cameron: Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth" (9 p.m., National Geographic, r) follows the director of "Avatar" in a record-setting dive.

Leslie continues to campaign on "Parks and Recreation" (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

Lisbon and Cho reconsider relationships past and present on "The Mentalist" (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).!

< span> An apparent case of gang violence may require a fresh look on "Awake" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

After an airline catastrophe, the pilot needs protection on "Scandal" (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

CULT CHOICE

Robert Blake and Scott Wilson star as murderous drifters in the gritty 1967 black and white adaptation of Truman Capote's true-life crime saga "In Cold Blood" (8 p.m., TCM).

SERIES NOTES

Of marriage and space missions on "The Big Bang Theory" (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) ... Klaus' plans go awry on "The Vampire Diaries" (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).

Jen and Audrey attend a concert on "Rules of Engagement" (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) ... Prom night is less than enchanting on "The Secret Circle" (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) ... Exams loom for anxious residents on "Grey's Anatomy" (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT

Peter Bergen is scheduled on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" (11 p.m., Comedy Central) ... Zach Galifianakis, Aaron Paul and Switchfoot appear on "Conan" (11 p.m., TBS, r) ... Lena Dunham sits down on "The Colbert Report" (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central).

Stephen Colbert and Chloe Grace Moretz appear on "Late Show With David Letterman" (11:35 p.m., CBS) ... Jay Leno welcomes Robert Downey Jr., Katharine McPhee and Toast To Freedom on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) ... Scarlett Johansson and Roger Daltrey appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (midnight, ABC).

Martha Stewart and Carson Daly visit "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" (12:35 a.m., NBC) ... Craig Ferguson hosts Julie Andrews and Michael Emerson on "The Late Late Show" (12:35 a.m., CBS).

(Kevin McDonough can be reached at kevin.tvguy gmail.com.)

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