VIEW FROM THE COUCH

by Kellie Abrahamson
Spring is here and that means spring premieres. Some of our favorites are coming back to wrap up their seasons, including Fringe (April 1, Fox) and Glee (April 13, Fox). Other spring premieres include Bones (April 1, Fox), Stargate Universe (April 2, Syfy) and One Tree Hill (April 26, CW). • New seasons from some of the biggest shows on TV are starting in April as well. Showtime’s period drama The Tudors makes its way back for its 4th season on the 11th and MTV’s “reality” giant The Hills returns for season 6 on the 27th. We’re also incredibly excited for the 4th season of Friday Night Lights, NBC’s criminally underrated drama about the trails of a Texas high school football team. The new episodes begin on April 30th. More premieres include Wife Swap (April 2, ABC), Merlin (April 2, Syfy), Chopped (April 6, Food), Top Chef Masters (April 7, Bravo), Army Wives (April 11, Lifetime), Deadliest Catch (April 13, Discovery), The City (April 27, MTV) and Dinner with the Band (April 27, IFC). • Brand new shows are also making their way onto the TV landscape this month. Over on CBS Jerry Bruckheimer’s newest series Miami Medical hits airwaves on the 2nd. The show stars Omar Gooding, Jeremy Northam and Mike Vogel. Also premiering this month is horror drama Happy Town. After catching the first two episodes of the show (thanks, ABC!), we think this thriller about a small town riddled with dark secrets has a lot of potential. See for yourself on April 28th. Other series premieres coming your way include Private Chefs of Beverly Hills (April 9, Food), Brandy & Ray J (April 11, VH1), Basketball Wives (April 11, VH1), Treme (April 11, HBO), What Chilli Wants (April 11, VH1), Tough Love (April 12, VH1), Double Exposure (April 12, Bravo) and Secrets of the Mountain (April 16, NBC). • You’ve heard the good news, here’s the bad: our favorite looks-challenged Latina is signing off for good this month. ABC’s adorable comedy series Ugly Betty got the boot earlier this year and the final episode will air on April 14th. The show won three Emmys, two Golden Globes and countless other awards during its run, but ratings have lagged since being placed in the “Friday night death slot” at the start of season four. We’ll miss you, Amiga! More shows gone (but not for good) this month are How to Make it in America (April 4, HBO), Celebrity Fit Club (April 5, VH1), The Michael Vick Project (April 6, BET), Southland (April 6, TNT), Shear Genius (April 7, Bravo), The Marriage Ref (April 8, NBC), Undercover Boss (April 11, CBS), Life Unexpected (April 12, CW), Melrose Place (April 13, CW), Millionaire Matchmaker (April 13, Bravo), Human Target (April 14, Fox), The Sarah Silverman Program (April 16, Comedy), Spartacus (April 16, Starz), Damages (April 19, FX), Accidentally On Purpose (April 21, CBS), Who Do You Think You Are? (April 23, NBC), Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (April 23, ABC), High Society (April 28, CW), Ugly Americans (April 28, Comedy) and The Life & Times of Tim (April 30, HBO). • Finally, there are a few special events airing this month. The 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will take place on April 18th on CBS. Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood will all perform. Over on Fox, ratings giant American Idolwill put on their annual benefit show Idol Gives Back on the 21st. Beneficiaries for this year’s event include Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More and the United Nations Foundation. Tune in and give generously. Last but not least, CBS will be airing their TV movie When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story on April 25th. Starring Winona Ryder and Barry Pepper, the film tells the story of the enduring but troubled love between the co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
New on DVD
April 6
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Rated R)
I’m No Dummy (Not Rated)
Dirt! The Movie (Not Rated)