Posted on: Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Tube Notes

Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Fire Me ... Please" debut, 8 p.m., CBS. This is the week that TV reloads and launches summer reality shows. The strangest concept is "Fire Me." Two people start their first day on the job in two separate locations with a goal of being fired by 3 p.m. The one who comes closest, without being late, wins $25,000. As a game, it doesn't work. There are few rules and nothing bars people from waiting for the final minutes then being so loudly obnoxious that they have to be ousted. As an exercise in improvisational comedy, however, it's kind of fun. It's great to see workers wing it as they make up bizarre behavior. The business owners are in on the gag, which explains how all the hidden cameras got there. The managers (who do the firing) and co-workers are not. Anyone who has had a wacky co-worker — or who has wanted to be one — will enjoy "Fire Me."

Of Note

"Blow Out" season-opener, 6 p.m., Bravo. Last season, Jonathan Antin was a struggling loner, easy to root for as he started his Beverly Hills hair salon. Now the salon is a success and he's faced with more responsibility, from styling jobs (some as much as $5,000 each) to conferences in Baltimore about his new product line.

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" season-opener, 7 p.m., Bravo. During spring training, the guys give makeovers to five Boston Red Sox guys, who then play a fund-raiser to rebuild a kids' field ravaged by a hurricane. It's all well-intentioned but the makeovers are superfluous. The Sox already have confident looks that their beautiful wives seem happy with. One, Johnny Damon, even flies in his own stylist for the show.

"Can't Buy Me Love" (1987), 8 p.m., ABC Family. This likable little comedy has a nerdy high school kid hiring a beauty to pose as his date. The film is of interest now because the dateless guy is played by Patrick Dempsey — the "Grey's Anatomy" co-star now considered one of TV's hottest hunks. Maybe there's hope for all of us.

"House," 8 p.m., Fox. In this rerun, a teen has night terrors.