It's Oscar time

It is time for some major events this week on TV. Look for two non-TV show programs to dominate the week: the 81st Academy Awards and President Barack Obama’s address to Congress. One will be exciting and informative, and one will be boring and depressing. At this point, it’s unclear which is which.

What to watch
SHOW: 81st Academy Awards

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Sunday on ABC
The Oscars get the watercooler talk going like no other award show, and this year should be no different. Though some of the major category nominees are slightly sketchy – I’m looking at you, “The Reader” – there is enough star power to get audiences to tune in. All the attention will be on Heath Ledger, “Slumdog Millionaire” and the Best Actor category, but I’m sure there will be a surprise or two that will have the industry buzzing Monday morning.

SHOW: “24”
EPISODE: “5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.”
WHEN: 9 p.m. Monday on FOX
Look, “24” will never regain the creative spark the show had in its early years, but this season is more impressive that the piss-poor effort fans had to wade through in season six. We’ve seen the plot threads that are playing out right now all before – the information leaks, debates over torture and Jack Bauer invincibly killing baddies with ease – but there is just enough glaze of newness to make the show one hell of a ride week to week.

What to TiVo
SHOW: “Lost”
EPISODE: “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”
WHEN: 9 p.m. Wednesday on ABC
“Lost” becomes the first show to make a repeat performance in the column – and for good reason. As the title of this episode suggest, this super-sized outing will tail Locke during his post-donkey, wheel-turning adventures, all the way up to his suspicious death that propelled Jack to attempt suicide and drunkenly scream at Kate. Along the way expect appearances from the extremely creepy Mathew Abaddon and the always-intriguing Walt.

SHOW: “Eastbound and Down”
EPISODE: “Chapter 2”
WHEN: 10:30 p.m. Sunday on HBO
This high-profile laughter with major talent behind it – Will Ferrell produces, Danny McBride stars – will pick up even more buzz when Ferrell steps in to guest star as an owner of a car dealership. The show, which follows McBride as a washed-up baseball player returning to his hometown to teach at his old middle school, is getting mixed reviews, but Ferrell’s appearance in the second episode is enough to make me want to watch it sometime through the week.

Rant of the Week
Hat tip to FOX for trying to build a block of sci-fi programming on Fridays with the “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Dollhouse” tandem, even if it is off to a rough start. “Terminator” moved over from Mondays to a 27 percent ratings decrease and “Dollhouse” premiered with a thin 4.7 million viewers and 2.0 share of the coveted 18-49 demographic when the two began airing together last week.
Fans may be up in arms about how FOX is trying to “kill” the shows by moving the shows to the Friday night death slot, but FOX didn’t have much choice. Its schedule is jam-packed with ratings monsters like “American Idol,” “House” and “Lie to Me,” so there was no other night. Not to mention, both shows have had their issues – “Terminator” had horrible ratings on Mondays and “Dollhouse” is a creative train wreck – so FOX is smart by keeping risk and expectations low.
It may upset the online fanboys, but neither of these shows will be back next season. And it’s not because FOX put them on a weak night.