Two weeks ago, Court TV changed its name to truTV, reflecting a new focus on reality and young male viewers that extends well outside the courtroom.
Perhaps no show better demonstrates this new identity than “Most Shocking,” the series that trains cameras on real criminals who do really stupid things, like engage in high-speed chases and argue with cops. The show returns for its fourth season tonight at 8 p.m.
“Shocking” was one of the programs that inspired truTV owner Turner Networks to make the brand switch. The network introduced a new programming block focused on more adrenalin-packed, criminal-focused reality shows two years ago, changing its tagline to “Real, Exciting, Dynamic.”
The primetime block was so successful, often doubling timeslot averages from the prior year, that last year Turner decided to turn its whole schedule over to the brand.
“Shocking” will be a big part of truTV’s success or failure. The show is entering its fourth season, though it debuted only 14 months ago. Its premiere episode scored the network’s best-ever ratings in the 8 p.m. Wednesday timeslot among adults 18-49, drawing 727,000, and does particularly well with males.
TruTV has gotten off to a strong start, posting double-digit increases over last year during its first two weeks. But “Shocking” does face tough competition tonight with part two of “American Idol’s” season premiere on Fox and a Duke-Florida State basketball game on ESPN that could draw away some of the network’s target men 18-54.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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A look at the connection between parenting and childhood obesity.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“American Idol” (R)
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More auditions, this time from Dallas.
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8 p.m.
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Travel Channel
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“Feasty Boys Eat America” (N)
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The duo travels to New Mexico to learn about the varieties of chilies.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Comanche Moon” (D)
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The final installment of the “Lonesome Dove” prequel.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“ Cashmere Mafia” (D)
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Mia gets into it with an editor she hired to re-launch a men’s magazine.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“Law & Order” (D)
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A seemingly harmless case is turned up a notch when the defense lawyer is murdered.
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10 p.m.
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Discovery
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“Smash Lab” (N)
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Series premiere. Engineers spend time crashing things together to see how they work.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Ugly Betty” (D)
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Betty’s new perfume has strange side effects.
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8 p.m.
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Discovery
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“MythBusters” (N)
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First of a two-parter that looks at James Bond-like spy myths.
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8 p.m.
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TNT
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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LeBron and the Cavs take on Timmy and the Spurs in San Antonio.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)
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Should bounce back some this week as it airs against mostly reruns.
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9 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Indiana
travels to Minnesota to take on Tubby Smith’s rejuvenated Golden Gophers.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Without a Trace” (D)
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The crew thinks an antiwar group may have something to do with the disappearance of a veteran.
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10 p.m.
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MTV
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“Run’s House” (R)
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Season finale. JoJo terrorizes his sisters before they move to Los Angeles.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Actor Sylvester Stallone guests.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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Melinda runs into a ghost who blames Jim for his death.
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9 p.m.
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USA
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“Monk” (D)
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Monk tries to find whoever broke into his safe deposit box at the bank.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“ Las Vegas” (D)
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Delinda and Danny go to parenting school.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Numb3rs” (D)
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Don believes the serial rapist he’s tracking is a police officer.
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10 p.m.
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USA
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“Psych” (D)
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Henry, Shawn and Gus help look for a man who’s missing from a retirement community.
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Maryland
and North Carolina face off in an ACC contest.
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6 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Clemson takes on Duke in another ACC matchup.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Men without shirts are questioned by the cops.
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9 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Kentucky
versus Florida in what should be a good SEC game.
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10 p.m.
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Animal Planet
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“Guinness World Records: Amazing Animals” (N)
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Chris Rose hosts a look at record-setting animals from around the world.
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10 p.m.
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ESPN
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“Tennis” (S)
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Early-round play at the year’s first major, the Australian Open.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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12:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“NHL Hockey” (S)
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NBC begins its regular hockey coverage with a game between the Rangers and Bruins.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“NFL Football” (S)
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The AFC championship game.
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6:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“NFL Football” (S)
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The NFC championship game.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (R)
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A widow who runs a non-profit horse-riding operation gets the “Home Edition” treatment.
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9 p.m.
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HBO
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“The Wire” (D)
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Hey, just like real life: Management at the Sun has bad news for employees.
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10 p.m.
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E!
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“Girls Next Door” (R)
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Holly encourages people not to wear fur and poses for a PETA ad.
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10:30 p.m.
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VH1
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“My Fair Brady” (R)
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Season premiere. Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry think about having kids.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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