Critic's Corner

By Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff, 10/20/2003

"An Actual Autopsy With Dr. Michael Baden" airs tonight at 10 on HBO. Yep, you heard right.

"The Next Joe Millionaire: An International Affair" premieres at 8 p.m. on Channel 25. The sub-subtitle is "An Actual Lobotomy With Bachelor David Smith."

"I Love the '80s Strikes Back," but didn't they throw the first punch? The latest VH1 excuse to dip into its archives airs all week, starting tonight at 9.

We can only hope the person who said "Let's have them drink the liquid from cow eyeballs" at the "Fear Factor" meeting isn't watching HBO tonight at 10. "Fear Factor" is at 8 p.m. on Channel 7.

On "Yes, Dear," Jimmy becomes a houseguest on "Big Brother." That's CBS-speak for "went to prison," at 8 p.m. on Channel 4. MATTHEW GILBERTNEWS & TALK SHOWS"The Early Show" at 7 a.m. on Channels 4 and 12. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Good Morning America" at 7 a.m. on Channels 5, 6, and 9. (Closed-captioned)"Today" at 7 a.m. on Channels 7 and 10; 10 a.m. on Channel 7. Actor Mark Ruffalo ("In the Cut"); former first lady Barbara Bush. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Martha Stewart Living" at 8 a.m. on Channel 64; 9 a.m. on Channel 38.(Closed-captioned)"Living It Up! With Ali & Jack" at 9 a.m. on Channels 4 and 6. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The John Walsh Show" at 9 a.m. on Channels 5 and 9; 11 a.m. on Channel 10. Hazing occurring at the junior-high and high-school levels."Live With Regis and Kelly" at 9 a.m. on Channel 7. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Jerry Springer" at 9 a.m. on Channel 56 and WPIX. A man has trouble choosing between women; a woman confronts her boyfriend's mistress; a woman wants her boyfriend's former lover out of their lives. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Texas Justice" at 9:30 a.m. on Channel 25. A couple claims a deal with a woman to fix her car is bogus. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Wayne Brady Show" at 10 a.m. on Channels 5 and 9; 2 p.m. on Channel 64. Singer Donna Summer; journalist Willow Bay; actor Christopher Masterson; actress Jami Gertz. (Closed-captioned)"Montel Williams" at 10 a.m. on Channel 12; 4 p.m. on Channel 25. A pregnant woman is shot four times during a staged carjacking; a man attacks his former girlfriend shortly before her due date, causing her to lose the baby; a man stands accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend. (Closed-captioned)"Ricki Lake" at 10 a.m. on Channel 38; 11 a.m. on Channel 64. Guests rely on lie-detector tests to find out whether their companions are ready to commit to monogamous relationships. (Closed-captioned)"Maury" at 10 a.m. on Channel 56 and WPIX. Hidden cameras and polygraph tests catch cheating men. (Closed-captioned)"Ask Rita" at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 64; 12:30 a.m. on Channel 50. Joan Severance."The View" at 11 a.m. on Channels 5, 6, and 9. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" at 11 a.m. on Channel 7; 1 p.m. on Channel 50; 3 p.m. on Channel 10. TV personality David Smith ("The Next Joe Millionaire: An International Affair"). In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Sharon Osbourne Show" at 11 a.m. on Channel 56; 1 p.m. on WPIX; 4 p.m. on Channel 64. Actress Jenny McCarthy; singer Olivia Newton-John; actor Raoul Bova; competing chefs. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Jerry Springer" at 11 a.m. on WPIX; noon on Channel 56. A woman suspects her husband has started cheating again; a transsexual has two secrets to tell; a man finds out his girlfriend is leaving him for another woman. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Good Day Live" at noon on Channel 25; 1 p.m. on Channel 64."Charlie Rose" at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Channel 44. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Maury" at noon at WPIX; 1 p.m. on Channel 56. Interior designers transform viewers' homes. (Closed-captioned)"Dr. Phil" at 3 p.m. on Channel 4; 5 p.m. on Channel 6."Oprah Winfrey" at 4 p.m. on Channels 5, 9, and 10. (Closed-captioned)"New England Business Day" at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on NECN."Greater Boston" at 7 p.m. on Channel 2; 12:30 a.m. on Channel 44. (Closed-captioned)"Chronicle" at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 5. (Closed-captioned)"NewsNight With Chet Curtis" at 8 p.m. on Channel NECN."Sports Wrap" at 10:45 p.m. on Channel 64."Late Show With David Letterman" at 11:35 p.m. on Channels 4 and 12. Actress Sharon Stone; Raveonettes perform. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" at 11:35 p.m. on Channels 7 and 10. Actress Drew Barrymore; pianist Harris Wang, 6; Shelby Lynne performs. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Sharon Osbourne Show" at midnight on Channel 56. Actress Gabrielle Union; actor Jonathan Lipnicki; Steadman performs; break-dancing. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" at 12:35 a.m. on Channels 4 and 12. Actor/director Danny DeVito; actor Michael Vartan; Jet performs. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Late Night With Conan O'Brien" at 12:35 a.m. on Channels 7 and 10. Actor John Leguizamo; actress Anna Paquin; writer/director Louis C.K. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)"Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 1:05 a.m. on Channels 5, 6, and 9. Guest cohost Anthony Anderson; actress Denise Richards; "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone; Saves the Day performs. In stereo. (Closed-captioned)