Steer clear of Spike’s ‘Invasion Iowa’
William Shatner stars in the spoof documentary miniseries “Invasion Iowa” (9 p.m., Spike, nightly through Friday – April Fool’s Day). Shatner takes a cast of actors and a film crew to the Iowa town of Riverside and convinces locals that they are there to shoot a sci-fi film called “Invasion Iowa.”
But they are really there to document the effects of a dysfunctional film crew on an American town and how that town reacts when they learn that their collective legs have been pulled.
How much do we hate this? Let me count the ways.
If you are a shrill pundit or a Fox News talking head (and they are often one and the same), “Invasion Iowa” could be fodder for your latest “Hollywood Hates the Heartland” diatribe. But what’s the fun in that?
If you are a film buff, you’ll cringe at the dopey Hollywood stereotypes that abound here. Shatner barges around like an idiot star, brandishing his Emmy and eating a truck driver’s french fries right off his plate.
He doesn’t merely wear a beret; he sells his own line of felt hats, called “Shats.” He’s accompanied by a fey “spiritual adviser,” who serves up every La La Land cliche imaginable. And badly, at that.
And am I the only one who’s had his fill of William Shatner? The freshness date on his “irony” act has long since expired.
He’s a canned ham more curdled than cured. “Iowa” takes the worst aspects of “The Simple Life” and then ups the ante.
Both shows are about very minor celebrities abusing the kindness of strangers. But “Iowa” adds insult to injury by having Shatner pontificate about the wonderfulness of his victims and how badly he feels about his ruse.
Skip “Iowa.” It’s a complete waste of time.
Two catastrophes linked by geography but separated by more than a century are explored on PBS.
“Wave that Shook the World” on “Nova” (7 p.m., KSPS) examines the geology behind last December’s deadly tsunami.
“Krakatoa” (8 p.m. KSPS) recalls the 1883 volcanic eruption that ranks among the most violent natural disasters in recorded history. The explosion of Krakatoa, in Indonesia, was equal to thousands of atomic explosions and could be heard for thousands of miles.
The blast blew massive amounts of dust and debris into the atmosphere, cooling the temperature of the Earth and changing the color of the sunsets all over the planet for years to come. In fact, these atmospheric changes and the travel of the airborne particles gave scientists their first evidence of the jet stream and other currents – discoveries that are at the heart of modern meteorology.
Other highlights
Ten to go on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox).
Lorelai’s act of compassion is mistaken for a night of passion on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB).
Longitudes and attitudes on a two-hour installment of “The Amazing Race” (9 p.m., CBS).
A 10-year-old’s coronary rattles the cranky doctor on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).
A teen needs protection from her mother on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).
Dunbar’s old partner takes a bullet on “Blind Justice” (10 p.m., ABC).
Series notes
A bikini-clad corpse on “Navy NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … Jeff Goldblum returns to “Will & Grace” (8 p.m., NBC) … Four-panel humor on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Robert’s choice on “All of Us” (8 p.m., UPN).
On back-to-back episodes of “Scrubs” (NBC), bad news (8:30 p.m.), and Carla and Turk need help (9 p.m.) … George worries about Angie’s lunch with her ex on “George Lopez” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … Janie’s melodious past on “Eve” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Jim discovers a stolen memento in his pal’s coffin on “According to Jim” (9 p.m., ABC) … A reunion with Mom gives way to the case of the missing mascot on “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN) … A stab at comedy on “The Starlet” (9 p.m., WB).
Michael’s branch may be downsized on “The Office” (9:30 p.m., NBC) … Rodney’s priorities threaten his marriage on “Rodney” (9:30 p.m., ABC).